Bang. Bang. Bang bang.

A lot of stuff is going on, most of which I cannot yet discuss. (Professional matters, I’m talking about. In my personal life, all is pleasantly on track.) I have decisions to make. I’m spending way too much time writing pro and con lists. And slamming my head against the table. Again and again. How do you decide what to do? Do you make lists? Do you consult with friends? Rattle the bones of your ancestors? Stare at tea leaves?

So! In other news, this is the funniest impersonation I’ve heard in as long as I can remember. And that’s a long time. I am quite old.

Comments

[erica]

Oh, I genuinely LOL'd at that video. Laughing = good.

For those big, difficult decisions: look at your long term goals, no matter how fleshed-out they are. Which path leads you closer to those goals, even if by a side-road? I sometimes have a hard time knowing exactly what my long-term goals are, but I know small things that I want (or don't want) in life, and try to make sure that every decision is leaning toward those things. Also... breathe deeply, and often. :)

[anne]

That is a brilliant impersonation. I also like the guy who does the "Werner Herzog reads aloud" videos, have you seen those?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvWh6PMi9Ek

[wm]

Make lists. Pros and cons. Listen to heart. Try to keep in mind long-term goals and values and how the various options line up with those. Good luck!

[kilowatthour]

I tend to deny there is any choice to be made up until the last minute at which time I grasp at what seems like the best option right then. This is entirely foolproof.

[Catizhere]

I think you already know which to do. The hard part is DOING it!! Cowgirl up, Alice. I come from the school of "I'll try anything once, twice if it doesn't leave a mark".

[Kari]

hahaha, that video is hilarious. I like the part when he gags.

[Ev]

I agree that you should toss a coin, but only because just before it lands, you'll know how you want it to hit.

[shadymama]

i would totally take a minute to meditate. sit up straight, ask the sky fer guidance, breathe deep. but, lady, if that doesn't solve it for me, honestly?

i flip a damn coin.

but the catch is - *you HAVE to do what the coin says*. no waffling after the coin has landed.

on the other hand? if the coin lands heads (and heads, fer me, is always a Yes) and you think "crap! oh no!" then you should go with No. because obviously you wanted No more than Yes, you just didn't know it yet.

i think i'm making this sound more complicated than it is...either way? hasn't failed me yet - and i have made some BigAssDecisions using this highly scientificated method.

good luck!

[Beth]

I just decide really quickly and act as if it's a done deal for a few days. If I feel like shit, I go with the other option.

Truthfully, all the good decisions I've ever made were based on my gut, and all the bad ones were based on what I thought I should do.

[Unplanned Cooking]

I wish my energy and time were limitless. It's so difficult to chose among the things I love to do... good luck!

[kaylen]

Um, canned spinach?? That's not what popeye eats. I love the ending!!

I'm a list maker. And a deep thinker when in the shower. I try to focus on just one issue in the shower and plan my attack. And then all other problems are put on hold until I take another shower. One problem solved a day!!!

[Megsie]

I say yes. Just like Blue Poppy told me to. It has worked for me. Here is her post:

http://bluepoppy.omworks.com/index.php?ty=2009

[BeeMDMom]

Generally, I talk about it with my closest folks: hubby, mom, then a couple of friends. I do some pro and con listing. Then I try to take a drive or get somewhere by myself where I can listen to my gut.

It's never been wrong -- the only decisions I've even slightly regretted are the ones in which I didn't listen to that little voice in myself and believe in her.

Good luck!

[nini]

Listen to your gut, instinct, little voice, whatever you want to call it. Stay true to that and it is 100% fail proof.

[Andi]

The problem with me making decisions is that I always try to start out scientifically. Rationally. You know, good head on my shoulders. Don't wanna do anything rash, oh no!

But then I get tired of hte process, and the headaches... And I impulsively pick something.

I really should just impulsively pick something from the beginning, but hey. I have to make pretenses, am I right?

And so far, I should add, my life has been pretty good.

[LivewithFlair]

Hey! A great question to blog! I ask: What decision is more aligned with my personal mission statement? I use this question to even decide who to have coffee with, what to devote blog time to, what courses to teach, etc. Hope this helps people!

[Jan]

Sometimes, I meditate and focus on removing the emotional blockage (anxieties and fears), often by picturing the worse case scenario, finding the emotion attached to that outcome, and opening to it until it eventually fades away. Then, I program my sleep to find the right answer and let loose of the need for me to find "the" right answer. Somewhere in the next few days I either know the right answer, or get fed-up with the process and pick something---anything---to get the ball rolling.In the long-run, no matter what decisions we make, it puts new events in motion. Then you just have to deal with the fall-out. Either way, it becomes material for blogging---yes?(loved the video).

[Megan]

Alice, this comment has absolutely nothing to do with this post. It has to do with redbook. And inadequacy. My inadequacy, not yours. So anyway. This is what went down.

I just got a new blackberry, Alice, and it is awesome and since it has internet it has been like this SIREN CALL wired directly to my brain and I'm all "internet internet INTERNET" and I've followed your various comical misadventures but recently have lost track of you (...sorry. I have no excuse.) So I was all "I will use my new internet power to catch up on/stalk Alice!" And I read your post about your redbook post about worrying and I really wanted to eplain to redbook how valuable you are but my phone was all "NO COMMENT FOR YOU" and normally that would annoy me but I was all, oh well, the blackberry giveth and the blackberry taketh away.

Look! I used a period!

So anyway I really felt this desire to explain this because DANGIT I have something to say but I couldn't find your email address and so I had to leave all this in a comment and it's hard because this phone has buttons which keep getting smaller, I swear (probably it's mad that I spelled blackberry without capitalization. Whatever) and you might not even read this so if you DO I just want you to know that I like you, and that is the gist of this I think.

Yeah.

Okay bye then.

[Paula/adhocmom]

Decisions are horrible. Best advice I've ever received on such matters? When you're on the fence, decide whether or not you want to get off, and HAVE NO REGRETS. Sounds cheesy, but the commitment to not having regrets makes a big difference.

[Lara]

Alice, I just love you and everything you write, so I'd say that if the decision is one that will give us "more Alice," or even share "some Alice" with more people, then I say the answer is, "yes!"

And if that doesn't help clarify things, then I'd second Holly's vote, way up there, for letting rum help with the decision.

Either way...lots of us in your corner!

[April Moore Skelton]

I am interested in hearing Alice's Personal Mission Statement. If unavailable, a Strategic Plan will also suffice.