#1
But this day I got to the mail first and found a flyer for a summer camp (free!) at a local college. I never would have known about it otherwise.
At that camp, I learned about a public school that was residential (and free!) for math and science focused students. The Catholic school I was attending at the time worked hard to keep students from finding out about this place.
I found out about the school with only a few months to spare in order to submit my application. And I got in.
That school changed my life. It got me out of a deeply toxic household, connected me with treatment for my depression, and set me up for college in a way I never otherwise could have accessed.
I was a first generation college student, but that school connected me to scholarships, introduced me to faculty, and gave me lab work skills all before I graduated high school. I went to undergrad and grad school on a full ride and I’m a college professor now.
And I never would have gone down this path at all, but for checking the mail that day.
Various sources suggest that the average adult makes between 33,000 and 35,000 decisions each day—an astonishing number that’s akin to the seats in a sports stadium. Now, imagine processing all that in just 24 hours!
That figure might sound unrealistic, even silly, but the truth is that many of these choices happen automatically, driven by the information we’ve subconsciously stored about what is “good” or “bad.” Gerald Zaltman, a professor at Harvard Business School, notes that 95% of our cognition occurs in the subconscious mind. This is essential; our brains would overload if we had to evaluate over 30,000 decisions individually.
However, when it comes to more intentional decisions—like applying for a new job, entering a relationship, or moving to a different city—these choices demand significantly more mental effort. The more we deliberate, the more we may hesitate.
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#3
From the moment of her diagnosis, I immediately told my company they were taking the backseat and her health and spending time with her was my only priority, and I wouldn't waver on it.
What followed was a heartbreaking, frustrating, and upsetting time where her health rapidly deteriorated. But the time allowed her and I to have conversations and moments that are among the most beautiful moments of my life.
I helped her through anguishing pain and reciprocated a small amount of the love and sacrifice she gave to me when she was a single mother raising me.
In the end, my employer was fine. My job was safe. My career endured. My mom passed away eight weeks after we learned about that stupid disease.
The only solace was that I decided to spend as much time as possible with her and actually did it.
So, how can we improve our ability to make decisions that feel like they could alter the course of our lives?
To gain some insight, Bored Panda reached out to spiritual career coach Rebecca Kirk, author of You’re Here for a Reason.
“By learning to listen to our intuitive voice—often felt as a gut feeling, an excited wave of energy, or sometimes just a faint whisper,” Kirk explains.
“But it’s not only about listening to that voice,” she insists. “It’s also about having the courage to act on it, especially when it doesn’t make total sense to your logical mind. There are signals within your body that, when connected with, can save you from overthinking.”
When contemplating a decision, our intuition often surfaces first, only to be followed by our logical mind, which can sometimes talk us out of it. “I see this with my coaching clients considering a career change. They might have a sense of a more fulfilling path, but fear of potential pitfalls takes over, leading them to dismiss it,” Kirk says.
#4
And I’ve also been drinking less on the evening I do drink. It’s been a good change.
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Intuition can indeed be elusive. Many people argue it pales in comparison to the tangible weight of facts.
“I believe both intuition and facts are crucial and each has its place in decision-making,” Kirk states. “However, society has placed too much emphasis on facts, causing us to disconnect from one of our greatest gifts—our innate intuition.”
“Sometimes, facts can only take us so far. I love this quote by Einstein, which captures the relationship between the two: ‘The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.’ Once we’ve listened to our intuition, we can then call on logic to help us implement our decisions.”
To amplify that internal voice and shed light on our uncertainties, Kirk recommends stepping back from the decision-making process for a while.
“Get outside, meditate, and create space for the answers to emerge,” she suggests. “Also, reflect on what might be holding you back. Is there an underlying fear, like the fear of making a mistake or worrying about others’ opinions regarding your heartfelt choices?”
“Trust in your ability to handle whatever comes your way. There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ decision—only opportunities for growth and evolution,” Kirk adds. “Consider that the consequences of indecision might actually be worse than those of making a choice! It can leave us in a stagnant state, draining our time, energy, and mental space from something more productive.”
#10
Made transitioning into college and so much easier with so much more confidence.
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EDIT: Thank you all kind strangers for the kind words and support, much appreciated!