Why it's okay to change your mind
How to navigate a change of heart.
Determination, and sticking to your guns, is often applauded. But, what about changing your mind?
Navigating a change of heart can be challenging, especially if you’ve already committed to a course of action.
However, sometimes it’s necessary for your wellbeing – or maybe it just feels like the right thing to do.
Whether you want to make a big change (like leave a job), or a little change (like cancel a social commitment), it’s OK to change your mind.
If you find it tough to do so, here are a few tips that might make it easier.
Build confidence in your decision making
It’s perfectly normal to question your decisions and feel doubtful about change.
Like anything, decision making is a skill and it takes some practice.
To build confidence, write a list of decisions you’ve made in the past that have turned out well. Do these decisions have anything in common?
Next, reflect on decisions you’ve made that turned out differently than expected. Perhaps these have things in common, too.
Being aware of how things have worked out in the past can help you make decisions for the future. Often, the only way to build confidence is to think things through, then actually take the action. Only then can we look back, reflect, and learn.
Talk to someone you trust
Often, talking about the decision with someone you trust will help you gain clarity.
Find someone who can help you brainstorm possible scenarios and problem-solve potential pitfalls. Ideally, you want to talk to someone who is both supportive and honest. Someone who has your best interests in mind!
Write it out
Finally, it can also help to get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
Start with a simple pros and cons list and see if that prompts further reflection.
Next, try writing an action plan for this change of heart. You could also use our Worry Map tool in the Mentemia app for this exercise.
If you know you need to change your mind, but you’re nervous about going through with it, try to focus on the positives. Write about what you’re looking forward to and how your life might improve.
No matter the type or size of your change of mind, writing it all down can be a cathartic release of all those jumbled thoughts and feelings.
If, after reading these tips, you do decide to change your mind, know that it’s OK – especially if you have done some due diligence and thought all your options through.