Some time ago, I talked to an older woman who told me about her youth and particular decisions she used to make (or not make). I’ll quote an excerpt from our conversation:

 “…I couldn’t have a few pairs of shoes. My parents bought me one pair that would suit all seasons and I was supposed to wear them until they became hollow or badly damaged. I remember when my friends and I used to puncture holes in them to get new ones. It was very similar to the costumes for school. Each of us got a uniform, in which we would appear every day during classes. There was no individuality shown, on the contrary. It seems to me that this rule was introduced to show the equality of all students. So that no one would feel inferior by being more ugly or cheaply dressed. I was not able to choose the clothes I wanted to wear. All the clothes I was getting were from someone older. It was completely normal for me, but I know that now everything has changed. When I see my grandson’s closet, I think it’s crazy, but in a good way. I dreamt of something like that myself and now that I see it, I try to understand today’s standards as much as possible. You have so many opportunities and so much freedom. It’s almost impossible, and even more so for me because I haven’t experienced such a thing myself. And the trips? I couldn’t travel because the borders were closed, all the countries were oriented only towards the natives, and all the trips to another country or continent were passing by. Only the richest could afford such pleasure. The lucky thing is that I’m holding on well and my husband and I are taking advantage of these opportunities. When I see people complaining about it, I wonder what they would say if they lived in my youth.”

What about now?

We have a slightly different life and many of us are complaining. Very often I come across a common opinion that we have too many goods and choices. The result is a lack of people’s ability to make decisions, let alone the rightness of those decisions. So it seems to you that if you had limited options, it would be easier for you to decide on something concrete? This is not exactly a true statement, but it makes the general indecision much easier. I assume you’ve come across a situation where a person with straight hair wants to have curly hair and vice versa. I come across such a phenomenon very often, actually almost always. Now let’s try to shift the same phenomenon to choices. Are you satisfied when there is no choice? And when you have a very small spectrum of it, can you be more specific about what you want?

Some time ago I had a nail dilemma. More specifically, I worked as a nail stylist. At the very beginning I had very few colours on the pattern book and everyone using my services was happy about it. I still remember the women’s comments, saying “It’s good that I don’t have to think too much about the choice”. After several visits of the same client, the choice for her became more and more difficult because there were no novelties in paint colours. Then the breakthrough came, I made some money and decided to invest it in new shades. The same client, who a few months ago was satisfied with a small amount of paint, changed her attitude with time. I saw her joy in having more paint colours to choose from. And now tell me that you don’t enjoy a lot of choice!

And what actually gives us a wide range of possibilities?

FREEDOM

We can dress as we please.

We can travel where we want.

We can study a course that interests us.

We can learn what we want.

We can sign up for extra classes to develop our passion and interests.

We can do anything, without any limitations.

Think about whether this wide range of possibilities is a problem or maybe your indecisiveness and lack of ideas about yourself. It doesn’t matter if you will have a lot or the opportunity to make a decision. For the person who has a problem with it, it will not make any difference. What matters is whether you can take it and whether you know what you want from life and from yourself.

Remember that you can do anything you want to do…

And the only thing that’s limiting you is your attitude.