Where does the ability to make decisions come from? Is it knowledge, wisdom, practice, or innate ability? Indecisiveness can feel like a hobby—a branch of the art of procrastination. It’s the delightful act of pushing today’s decisions into the future. But if you can’t manage the present, how do you expect to manage the future? After all, the past was once a present, and the future will soon be.

Consider how we avoid decisions in everyday life. If someone asks, “Do you want coffee or tea?” the common reply might be, “Either is fine.” When pressed to choose, you might say, “Okay, maybe coffee.” And then your companion might respond, “Why not tea?” After a few more back-and-forths, they might decide, “Alright, I’ll make coffee.” And so the mental ping-pong continues.

Choosing from a restaurant menu is another exercise in indecisiveness. With pages full of dishes, you deliberate: “Chapathi with dal? No, maybe chapathi with bhindi masala. Or perhaps with kadai vegetables?” Even if you’ve visited the restaurant many times, it’s still a struggle. After half an hour of discussions, someone finally orders: “I’ll have potato-stuffed chapathi—make it less spicy.” And then comes the dreaded question, “Starters, sir?”—a ploy to keep you busy while the main course is prepared.

We spend so much time oscillating between trivial choices. This behavior likely stems from an innate fear of taking responsibility. If someone else makes the decision, you won’t be blamed if things go wrong. This fear becomes ingrained over time.

Can such avoidance be practiced in the workplace? Some people manage to do it, though it requires skill.

Teaching children decision-making is crucial. From a young age, children should be given the freedom to make choices. Whether it’s picking clothes, deciding what to eat, or choosing what to buy, they should be encouraged to decide. And as adults, we should support those decisions without criticism. These small choices prepare them for making larger decisions later in life.

What should I write about next—this or that? I’m confused!

Contd. 313. I Meet the Maker - Part 1