Every day, you make thousands of decisions. Yes, thousands. Research out of Cornell University estimates that adults make around 35,000 decisions a day. That’s about one every two seconds while you’re awake.
Some are small (“Do I want avocado toast or eggs?”), and others are life-changing (“Do I take that job across the country?” or “Do I marry this person who thinks pineapple belongs on pizza?”).
With that many choices, it’s no wonder people sometimes feel like their brain is the spinning wheel on a slow Wi-Fi connection. But here’s the truth: the real challenge isn’t making decisions… it’s making the right ones.
Two Signs You’re Headed for a Bad Decision
In my experience coaching thousands of high-performing individuals, two major culprits derail people from making the right call:
1. You’re Listening to Everyone Else Instead of God
We live in the age of “expert” overload, where everyone on social media seems to have a PhD in telling you what to do with your life.
Your mom has an opinion. Your best friend has an opinion. Some guy named “CryptoKing_87” in a Facebook group has an opinion.
But here’s the thing, if you’re drowning in other people’s voices, you can’t hear God’s whisper. When you pray and meditate you’ll receive guidance and clarity.
When you feel confused or stuck, it’s often because you’re filtering your life decisions through everyone else’s expectations instead of the purpose God placed in your heart. God’s guidance often comes as a quiet knowing, not a trending TikTok.
2. You’re Comparing Your Life to Everyone Else’s Highlight Reel
If you’ve ever felt like you’re “behind” in life because you don’t have the same house, car, six-pack abs, or beach vacations as someone on Instagram… congratulations, you’re human.
But comparison is one of the fastest ways to make a decision that’s not aligned with your calling.
Harvard psychologist Dr. Susan David says that when we compare ourselves to others, we’re more likely to make choices that are reactive instead of values-driven.
And the stats are wild: studies show that up to 60% of people feel worse about themselves after scrolling on social media and yet we still spend an average of 2 hours and 31 minutes a day doing it.
When you measure your worth by someone else’s yardstick, you’ll always come up short… mostly because they’re holding the yardstick and constantly moving it.
So… How Do You Know You’re Making the Right Decision?
Here’s a simple three-part check that has saved my clients years of regret (and a few questionable haircuts):
- Peace Test: Does the decision bring you peace, even if it’s scary? God’s will often stretches you, but it will also settle your spirit.
- Alignment Test: Does it align with your values? Does this decision help you become your ideal self? If you need to twist your principles into a pretzel to justify the decision… it’s probably not the one.
- Future Self Test: Imagine yourself five years from now looking back. Would Future You say, “Good call,” or “What were we thinking, champ?”
Final Thought
Here’s the ironic thing: making the “right” decision isn’t about knowing 100% of the outcome. It’s about trusting 100% in the One who’s guiding you.
The more you block out the noise, stop measuring your life against someone else’s, and stay grounded in prayer and God’s word, the more your decisions will start to feel… well, obvious.
And when they do? You’ll find that your confidence grows, your path gets clearer, and you’re far less likely to end up in that shower with the ice cream spoon.
Feeling Stuck? Let’s chat.
