We live in a world of opinions. Google, ChatGPT, social media, friends, and family are all very
willing to influence your thinking. In many ways, this is awesome. I don’t have to waste my time
trying bad restaurants in a city my best friend has already visited. Or do a lot of research before
a product purchase if it can be summarized for me after one prompt. But when dealing with
complex issues, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Getting too many opinions can cause you to lose confidence in your own ability to
make decisions. If you are constantly relying on others, you train yourself that you
cannot rely on yourself. You’re a smart person and can trust your own judgement so
make sure one opinion you are seriously considering is your own.
2. Consider the source. If you have a trusted friend, that opinion may carry more weight
than consensus on a social media post. Are you asking someone who has been there
before or who is an expert on the topic? Or is someone simply giving their opinion and
has no background knowledge? Also, Keep in mind you might not be getting all the
information; only what the poster wants to share.
3. Your situation may seem similar but may have differences; if something doesn’t
seem to apply exactly to your circumstance, that’s OK. There are many ways to
approach something and only you know exactly what you are up against.
4. Different things work for different people. It’s great to get opinions/ideas and try them
out. But don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t work for you. As above, your situation might
be slightly different or you may require a different solution that fits better with your life,
how you work etc.
5. Analysis paralysis can lead to procrastination. With the volume of information
available to you, it’s tempting to keep going; especially if there is not a very hard
deadline for making your change or navigating your situation. Know when to say when
and don’t use more information as an excuse to push things off.
Balance, as always is the key. If you need help finding you Balance Plan, book a free call!
