Whenever motivational speakers toured our school, one thing they said always stuck with me: the power of decisions. Academically, it was easy for me to decide to work hard and see it through. I couldn’t understand why others didn’t do the same. Wasn’t the distance between a decision and success that short? Sometimes it is, but other times, that distance feels uncrossable.
I came to truly know fear when I started trying new things. The first time I stepped on stage and lost my voice or when I tried to answer questions but was too paralyzed by anxiety. Those moments taught me that a decision isn’t everything when fear gets involved. Sometimes, the space between a decision and success is a battlefield. Therefore, it’s incredibly important for us to witness other peoples progress with empathy. Our differences mean we have to overcome different hurdles and that’s okay. No one has to be performing at your level, and you don’t always need to be where everyone else is.
Luke 14:28-30 reminds us to weigh the cost of our decisions. While spontaneity adds color to life, a good life can’t be built solely on rash decisions. While you may not necessarily be building, your plans still have costs—time, energy, commitment. Are you willing to pay the price?
When I was deciding where to host my newsletter, I lost so much time to choice paralysis. I agonized over templates and color schemes, searching for the “perfect” option. The overwhelm left me stuck. Eventually, I chose Substack because it offered convenience and simplicity, taking the pressure off and letting me focus on what I do best: writing. This experience taught me a valuable lesson—lean into people or tools with more experience instead of trying to figure out everything alone. You don’t need to know everything to start; you just need to be willing to learn.
Trusting the process means starting with what you have, not waiting until you have 100%. It’s about believing in God’s providence. When Jesus says in Matthew 5:37 to let your yes be yes and your no be no, He calls us to be decisive and honor our word. This extends to the promises we make to ourselves. If you constantly break those promises, how can you trust yourself? Grand declarations about your future mean little if you take no steps to make them a reality.
Self-awareness plays a crucial role in understanding the motives behind your decisions. Are you building your future, or are you self-sabotaging? The answer lies in your actions. Programmed decisions—the ones we make almost unconsciously—are often driven by hope or fear. If you’re truly hopeful about the future, you’ll live the present fully, preparing for what’s to come. Ask yourself: Have I done everything I can toward that end?
The decisions we make about how we spend our time and energy reflect our values. Without a plan beyond your daily obligations, life can feel like an endless loop. You’re responsible for the life you want to live. Sometimes we let others make decisions for us, so we can blame them for our misery. But trusting yourself means believing you can face failure and come out stronger.
This is where abstract reasoning becomes essential—using wisdom from past experiences to guide your future decisions. As you build self-trust and take steps of faith, trust that God will redirect you if you’re on the wrong path. He is the way, especially when you’re stuck. So, try. Fail. Live.
Breaking free from action paralysis required me to examine the root of my decisions. Were they driven by fear or hope? Both are four-letter words, but their outcome couldn’t be more different. Decisions made out of fear left me burnt out and discontent, affirming my insecurities and keeping me stuck. On the other hand, decisions rooted in hope taught me to trust God’s guidance. I realized I couldn’t step out in faith if I refused to move.
Sometimes, we’re so afraid to act that we hide behind Bible verse about waiting, instead of boldly approaching the throne of grace to seek direction. Fully embodying your potential is terrifying, but you can do hard things. Believe that. The transition from fear to hope is something to celebrate.
Practical Tips for Self-Awareness and Decision-Making
Pause and Reflect: Before deciding, ask yourself, Am I acting out of fear or hope?
Start Small: You don’t need to have it all figured out. Take the first step with what you have.
Seek Wisdom: Lean into God’s guidance and the experience of others to avoid unnecessary overwhelm.
Honor Your Word: Keep the promises you make to yourself. Small wins build self-trust.
Embrace Failure: Trust that even wrong decisions can lead to growth if you’re willing to learn from them.
The journey from fear to hope isn’t always linear, but every step forward is a victory. Trust God, trust yourself, and keep moving.
Word play
Abstract reasoning – also known as abstract thinking is the ability to understand and think about complex concepts that are not tied to concrete experiences, objects, people or situations and see the broader significance of ideas and information.
Bible Study
James 1:5
Psalm 32:8
Isaiah 30:21
Musings
Thank you for joining me in this eighth post of the Self-Awareness Series! If you’re new here, don’t forget to subscribe for more reflection and resources on self-awareness. For those who are already part of our community, welcome back! To help you dive deeper, here’s a free printable journal prompt designed to guide you in exploring self-awareness and emotional health.
If you’re ready to take your journey further, check out my eBook How to Get Started with Self-Awareness, where I share practical tools and insights to kick-start your self-awareness journey.
Until next time, seek within, and rise above.
