Do you ever feel like you need to find the “perfect” option before making a decision? What’s stopping you from just choosing? 

Are you feeling stuck between two major decisions in your life right now? You might be experiencing fear — fear of failure if the choice you make doesn’t work out or if you’re not accepted. Fear of missing out on the other option (or options).

A fear of failure if the choice you make doesn’t work or you won’t be accepted. 

Or maybe… there’s something else holding you back.

There are two key factors that might be at play: 

1. Practical Obstacles 

Big decisions often come with practical steps that need to be completed before you can even move forward — like applying for a visa, studying for a benchmark test, or waiting on an acceptance letter. These necessary steps can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s completing a qualification, preparing for a move abroad, or sending resumes to multiple companies, it can feel like running a marathon before you even get to make your choice.

On top of that, some options come with added costs, time commitments, or further studies, which can make the decision feel even more daunting. 

2. Self-doubt 

Even once you’ve overcome the practical obstacles, you start second-guessing yourself. Is this really the right choice? What if I regret it? What if I’m not good enough?

So how do you actually decide?

1. Write down the Pros and Cons

Be truly honest with yourself. List everything — big or small. This exercise will help you to put things into perspective and determine if your fears are a genuine gut feeling… or just a minor issue that can be managed. 

2. Clarify Your Values and Priorities 

Before you get too deep into research, take a moment and ask yourself:

What truly matters to me?

What are my non-negotiables?

What kind of lifestyle do I want?

For example, if work-life balance is a top priority, a high-pressure corporate job might not align with your values. If adventure and cultural immersion are important, living abroad could be a better fit. Write down your top values and see how your options align with them. 

3. Do your research 

Torn between traveling to Japan or Sweden? Start exploring what daily life in each country looks like. Debating between a studying law or pursing an art degree? Look into what those careers really involve — salaries, work hours, long-term prospects. Talk to people in the field. Reach out to university advisors, current students or professionals. Ask them questions about their experiences, and if possible, get real-world insight into what the journey actually looks like.

4. Reality Check

We make choices every – some consciously, like what to wear or what job to apply for, and others unconsciously, like leaving the house 10 minutes early and unknowingly avoiding an accident. 

We overanalyse decisions, convincing ourselves they are the biggest choices of our lives, and that once we decide, there’s no turning back. The truth is, most decisions aren’t permanent. You may realize in a few weeks, months or years that your choice no longer serves you – and that’s okay. 

Find Peace in the Process: 

1. You need to make a decision. 
2. You need to experience it to truly know what it’s like. 
3. More choices and opportunities will come your way. 

We’re often controlled by fear of the unknown but gaining insight into what your future could look like can help ease that anxiety. 

Many of you reading this might be waiting for something magical to happen —like someone calling you and offering you your dream job, or a spot at your top three university choices or a friend spontaneously planning your trip to Croatia. 

But waiting rarely brings change.
Action does.
And sometimes, it’s as simple as a Google search, sending that email, or reaching out to someone who’s done it before.

Here’s the truth: you won’t really know what something is like until you try.

Maybe you decide to become an au pair in Europe, only to realize it’s not what you expected. That doesn’t mean it was a mistake. Sure, it might be hard to pivot after investing time, energy, and money — but every experience teaches you something about yourself: what you like, what you don’t, and what you want going forward.

Even if a decision doesn’t go exactly as planned, it’s still valuable. You might learn to love it, stick it out to save money for your next adventure, or discover a new opportunity you hadn’t considered before. 

Most people don’t regret trying something – even if they would have wished they had done it differently. They still gained new skills, perspective, and unforgettable memories. 

So, will you wait in fear, or will you take the leap?

Even if it’s the “wrong” choice, it may be the choice that helps you find yourself. And it just might turn out to be the best decision you ever made.