By Katy Ripp
Over the last few months, we’ve talked about why decisions can feel heavy and how defining your values can add clarity to the choices you make every day. But there’s one more piece that matters just as much, and it’s the part that often gets overlooked.
Trusting yourself to decide in the first place.
Even when you’re clear on what matters, it’s easy to hesitate. Not because you don’t know what to do, but because you want to get it right. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that a good decision is one that works out, and if it doesn’t, we made the wrong choice.
So, we think it through one more time. We look for a little more certainty, and we ask for one more opinion.
Most Decisions Aren’t Permanent
We treat decisions like they’re final — once you choose, you’re locked in. But most decisions are directional. You take the role and shape it once you’re in it. You take on the project and adjust the scope as you go. You say yes and then figure out the boundaries.
The decision isn’t the end point — it’s the starting point. That’s when the pressure begins to lift, because you give yourself permission to adapt.
You may change your mind when you have new information or you might refine a process that isn’t working. You’re allowed to say, “This made sense at the time, but it doesn’t now.”
That’s not inconsistency — it’s awareness.
What Actually Builds Confidence
Most of the pressure we feel comes from believing we have to get something right the first time. But you don’t have to be perfect! The key is staying engaged with what happens next.
That’s where confidence actually comes from. It stems from realizing that you can handle any outcome — good or bad. You decide, you adjust, and over time, you realize you’re more capable than you thought.
A Small Shift
When you start approaching decisions this way, things become more clear and there’s less indecision. You won’t ask others what they would do. This isn’t because you suddenly know everything, but because you trust yourself to figure it out.
Think about a recent decision you made. Instead of asking if it was right, ask yourself if it reflected what was important to you at the time. If it did, that’s enough.
The takeaway is: When making a decision, if something needs to change, you can adjust.
Permission granted.
Katy Ripp is a certified coach, business strategist, and podcast host of “#ActuallyICan.”
