Decision Making: Taking Back Control
- Sarah Bodo
- Feb 12
- 3 min read
How do you make decisions? Do you feel you have the clarity to decide with confidence?
In the past, I often let life decide for me—whether by following paths that were expected of me or letting others recognize something in me before I did.
Looking back, it wasn’t all bad, but I realized something crucial:
💡 If I don’t take my life into my own hands, I’ll always end up in situations where I think, “Hmm, I don’t like this. Why did I let someone else decide for me?”
One of the biggest shifts for me happened when I moved to the US. Suddenly, I had to make every decision on my own. Some were easy—like choosing my apartment. I had always wanted to live downtown, close to restaurants, cafés, and theaters while still being near green spaces. That decision felt right, and I loved my time in Houston’s city center.
But then, there were other decisions I delayed. For weeks, I slept on a yoga mat because I waited for my partner at the time to be there before choosing furniture. I knew exactly what I wanted, but I held back.
The result? By the time we moved back to Europe, the last piece of furniture had just arrived. A small, seemingly trivial example—but for me, a wake-up call.
That moment taught me:
👉 I know what works for me.
👉 Waiting for others to validate my decisions only delays my happiness.
👉 If I had listened to someone else’s version of what’s “practical,” I would have ended up in a suburban town with a long commute instead of where I truly thrive.
Now, in France, I’ve found a balance—living between the city and the mountains, moving back and forth to experience both worlds. Because I know what makes me happy.
Why Is Decision-Making So Hard?
We make hundreds of decisions daily—from small ones like what to eat to big ones that shape our careers, relationships, and future.
And yet, so many of us sit on the fence. We wait, overanalyze, or let external opinions dictate what’s best for us.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
1️⃣ Not making a decision is still a decision. You stay stuck, letting the situation unfold without your input.
2️⃣ Too many options lead to paralysis. Psychology shows that after 2–3 choices, our brains struggle to decide. That’s why I don’t ask, “Where do you want to eat?” but instead say, “Restaurant A or B?”
3️⃣ Fear of being wrong holds us back. But in reality, most decisions aren’t final. You can adjust, iterate, or choose again.
At work, this applies just as much. I’ve made big strategic decisions based on what I believe in—like investing in a technology that I knew could drive huge cost savings in the long run. Was there resistance? Of course. But if you believe in something, you back it up, tell the story, and engage stakeholders. You don’t wait for approval—you lead the way.
That said, stopping a project is also a decision. I’ve seen teams hold on too long, even when it’s clear something won’t work. That’s why I built a team to define clear criteria—when to push forward, when to stop, and when to reevaluate.
What You Can Try
🛠️ Struggling with a decision? Try this:
✔️ Limit your options. Instead of “What should I do?” ask yourself, “Option A or B—what feels right today?”
✔️ Check in with yourself. Are you hesitating because you truly need more info—or just out of fear?
✔️ Set a deadline. Give yourself a timeframe, then commit.
✔️ Trust yourself. Not every decision will be perfect, but owning your choices is how you move forward. 💪🏻
So, what’s a decision you’ve been sitting on? What’s stopping you? Let’s talk—DM me or send me a message, and maybe I can help you navigate your options. 💬
Find Your Wave,
Sarah 🌊
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