Indicision Strikes

August 2nd, 2008

I wonder if the inability to make a decision ever strikes really successful people?

Probably not.

Occasionally I am forced to make a decision and panic strikes - usually I fear that if I decide to get involved in the situation, I will be violently uncomfortable and will be proved a fool, a liar, or incompetant.  And since I can’t decide how to respond to these situations without insulting people, I end up not responding.

Which, you know, is really bad, too.

By not responding, I end up insulting (or disappointing) the person anyway.  But in my head, I am completely unable to do anything.  I’ll try several different responses, all versions of “I’d love to, but I can’t”, and each one feels pathetic.

My advice to another person in this situation might be, “Just deal with it - you don’t know what you could be missing!”  For me, I can’t help have scenarios flash through my head, and in my head, I know exactly what I’m missing.  Humiliation, rejection, awkwardness, and all sorts of other negative things.

I need ideas on how to get past this, because this has the potential to ruin my life.  Or at least never open me up to any new opportunities, ever.