Episode 4: “I Might Make the Wrong Decision”

Catch this episode on Apple, Spotify, or Android. 

If you ever catch yourself agonizing over every option – from switching jobs to picking tonight’s dinner spot – and wishing you had a magic crystal ball, this episode is your sign to pause.

We’ll uncover the subtle ways “I might make the wrong decision” hijacks your peace, and I’ll walk you step by step through spotting anxious thoughts, allowing the nerves that come with uncertainty, and finally choosing a bridging belief that sets you on a path of real confidence.

By the end, you’ll have a simple strategy for making decisions that feel right for you, without polling everyone you know or losing sleep over what-ifs.

What You'll Learn

• How the thought “I might make the wrong decision” often shows up as subtle indecision, overthinking, or second-guessing – and why noticing its early signs can save you tons of stress.
• Why we tend to avoid or overcompensate (e.g., exhaustive research or seeking everyone’s approval) when we fear making a “wrong” choice, and how self-awareness can gently disrupt that pattern.
• The role of “confirmation bias” in fueling negative stories about your choices, plus simple ways to find evidence that you can, in fact, choose well.
• What bridge thoughts are (e.g., “It’s possible I can handle any outcome”) and how they help shift you from paralyzing doubt to calm confidence.
• A practical, incremental action plan (picking a small, low-stakes decision to tackle solo) that trains your brain to trust itself, even if you’re unsure or anxious.

Episode Transcript

INTRO

If you’ve ever found yourself in a spiral over whether to switch careers or even just feeling stuck between two seemingly good choices—then this episode is for you. I see this all the time with the successful women I coach: we tell ourselves "I might make the wrong decision," and suddenly every choice—big or small—feels like it carries the weight of the world.

This might look like waking up at 2 a.m. thinking, "What if I regret moving neighborhoods? Should I stay in my secure job or leap to a new role?" Sound familiar? I got you. In today’s episode, we’ll explore how to catch this sneaky thought before it spirals, how to let yourself feel the natural jitters around it, and ultimately how to start trusting that you can make a choice and handle the results—no matter what. Think of it as a gentle shift from doubt to self-assurance.

SEGMENT 1: CREATE SELF-AWARENESS

One of the first (and most crucial) steps to quieting the limiting belief “I might make the wrong decision” is to become aware of this often-subconscious thought that can hijack your daily life—sometimes without you even realizing it's happening. Maybe you keep re-drafting someone's performance review at work—“Should I phrase it this way or that?”—because you dread the possibility of sounding too direct. Or maybe you’ve tried to pick a restaurant for a girls’ night and ended up searching every review site, texting each friend for preferences, worrying if everyone will like your final pick.

I’ll confess: I’ve been there, too—my group chats can get hilariously long when I overthink a simple dinner choice! But it’s not just harmless indecision—it can create a real anxiety spiral. The mind quietly whispers, “Watch out, you could blow this,” and that’s when it starts feeling like a full-time job.

So think for a moment: When was the last time you found yourself stuck in a decision, worrying about being ‘wrong’?

Let’s talk about two common ways we respond when we’re scared of messing up:

1. Avoidance: This might look like dodging choices entirely—hoping your boss, your partner, or fate itself will decide for you.

2. Overcompensation: Often showing up as endless research, people-pleasing, or insisting on perfection so nobody can question you.

I’ll be honest, I used to pride myself on being so prepared that no one could possibly find fault with me—endless spreadsheets, pros-and-cons lists, multiple drafts. But looking back, it was less about being ‘thorough’ and more about craving certainty and approval. I see this all the time in my clients, too.

Here’s a tip: your body often sends a warning signal before your mind fully registers it. A tightness in your chest, a racing heart, sweaty palms. These are red flags that say, “Hello, we’re terrified of making the wrong call!” If you ignore them, you can go deeper into avoidance or overcompensation.

Sometimes we think we need more time or more info, but we might actually need more trust in ourselves. If you can catch these early signs, you can stop the fear spiral from gaining momentum.

One more note: it’s so easy to feel annoyed or ashamed or assume indecisiveness as an identity. But self-awareness isn’t about scolding yourself. It’s about calmly noticing: “Okay, I’m worried I’ll screw up because I care a lot about doing things right.” Usually this perfectionist streak is fueled by a desire to avoid pain—like embarrassment or letting people down. So next time you feel that tension, try acknowledging it with compassion instead of judgment.

SEGMENT 2: ALLOW YOUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Now that you know it's possible to spot the “I might make the wrong decision” mindset—like trying on half your closet without settling on an outfit or wrestling with whether to accept responsibility for a big project at work—let’s explore what happens next, because letting those anxious feelings exist might feel weird or counterintuitive at first, yet is simpler (and more powerful) than you might think, and we’ll see how to hold that fear gently instead of scrambling for outside validation.

Picture this: you’ve done the first step, you see your pattern of overthinking or avoidance—maybe it’s about choosing a new place to live or worrying about what your boss will think if you propose a new idea. And now, your brain’s like, “Okay, got it, let’s fix this ASAP!” Because if there’s one thing high-achievers hate, it’s unresolved discomfort. But real talk: you can’t just snap your fingers and be fearless. That doesn’t happen overnight.

Allowing your human experience means giving yourself permission to feel all the messiness—yes, even the restlessness, doubt, and nagging fears—without sprinting for the nearest exit. Let’s say you’ve realized you’re terrified a new job might be “the wrong move,” and your first impulse is to ask ten more people for advice. Instead, what if you paused long enough to say, “Okay, body, what’s going on here? Where do I feel this tension?”

We often resist these uneasy feelings because we’re afraid they’ll confirm our deepest insecurities. For perfectionists, it’s doubly tough to admit we’re scared or unsure. There’s a fear that if we show any sign of wavering, we’ll lose credibility with others and even ourselves. But here’s a freeing truth: acknowledging worry doesn’t weaken you; it humanizes you. When I first embraced that my nerves were just a part of being human (and not a sign that something’s wrong), it was like I gave myself a permission slip to exhale.

So what’s one fear you secretly worry might be “confirmed” if you let yourself feel uncertain—failure, embarrassment, or letting people down?

Instead of checking in, many of us instinctively shut down anxiety with Netflix binges, mindless social media scrolling, or “just one more glass of wine.” No judgment here; I’ve been in that loop, too. But if you really want to cultivate self-trust, you need a new approach. The next time your mind tells you, “This is scary, run away,” consider letting that anxious energy be present for a moment. Notice it in your body—maybe it’s a pit in your stomach or a tightness in your jaw. Take a slow, deliberate breath and remind yourself that these sensations aren’t permanent, and they’re natural. If we don't allow them about one situation, they’ll surface about another.

Every decision we make is ultimately about wanting to feel a certain way—safe, successful, fulfilled. Once you identify the feeling you’re aiming for, you can simply ask yourself, “How can I create a sense of that feeling today?” If you want to feel accomplished, maybe you make a small, quick decision—like choosing tonight’s dinner—and celebrate it as a win. Building trust in yourself happens one doable step at a time.

This practice rewires your brain to see decision-making as a chance to grow, not something to fear. It also reminds you that you don’t have to ‘earn’ the right to feel good about your choices—you can decide to be proud of any choice you make.

Which feeling—peace, confidence, excitement—do you want more of when making decisions? How might you cultivate that feeling this week?

And hey, I get it: we all love a quick fix—especially if it comes with someone else’s reassurance. But here’s the paradox: seeking constant reassurance often reinforces the belief that you can’t trust yourself. Allowing the anxiety to exist—uncomfortable as it is—helps break that cycle. Each time you resist texting all your friends for validation or second-guessing your choice of restaurant, you’re proving to your brain that you can handle a little uncertainty. Over time, that’s how real confidence grows.

If you ever find yourself panicking, try this small exercise: place a hand on your heart and say, “I see you, I hear you, and it’s okay to be worried.” I know it might feel silly, but this small self-soothing gesture can calm your nervous system and gently remind your mind that you’re safe, just stretching beyond your comfort zone.

SEGMENT 3: ANALYZE YOUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Alright! By now, you’ve built some awareness of how the fear “I might make the wrong decision” appears, and you’ve practiced letting yourself feel those anxious jitters without sprinting for an escape route. But what’s next? This is the moment to pop the hood of your mind and ask, “What am I really believing here, and is it even true?”

We often weave entire subconscious dramas in our heads—like, “If I choose the wrong job, my career is doomed,” or “If I buy the wrong house, my family will never be happy.” When we actually stop and give ourselves space to question these narratives, we see a lot of assumptions—and not much hard evidence. The space I offer you is right now as you're listening to this podcast.

Sometimes I challenge my clients to show me the ‘receipts’ for their worst-case scenarios: “Where’s the proof you don't make good decisions?” Almost always, they’ll realize they’ve made mostly solid calls in the past—picking supportive friends, moving to a city they love, or nailing that nerve-wracking presentation. But guess what? Our brains love fixating on the one or two times something went sideways.

This is where confirmation bias sneaks in. If you believe you’re prone to messing up, you’ll pounce on every little misstep as ‘proof’ that you can’t be trusted, ignoring all the times you chose really well. It’s like having a personal assistant who only hands you negative Yelp reviews about that new sushi spot, never mentioning the five-star raves.

One way to fight back is by asking ‘What if?’—in a positive, open-ended way. Like, “What if taking that slightly less flashy job gives me the work-life balance I’ve always wanted?” or “What if I actually learn something awesome from a so-called ‘wrong’ decision?” This isn’t about forced optimism; it’s about reminding yourself that multiple outcomes are possible—and some could be surprisingly good.

I also encourage you to do a quick ‘success inventory.’ Think of three decisions—big or small—that you handled pretty well, even if they weren’t perfect at the time. This isn’t about sugarcoating mistakes; it’s about showing your brain that you’re more capable than your fear suggests.

Mark Nepo has a beautiful way of putting it: when we embrace the unknown, we open ourselves to wonder instead of dread. So what if your ‘wrong’ decision is actually just a different path to an unexpected but worthwhile outcome?

SEGMENT 4: ALIGN TO WHAT YOU WANT

So, here we are! You’ve poked holes in the story that says “I might make the wrong decision and ruin everything.” You’re recognizing anxious thoughts for what they are and seeing evidence that you’ve made good calls in the past. But sometimes there’s a gap between logically knowing you’re not doomed and actually feeling confident in a new decision. That’s where a bridge thought can help.

Instead of trying to catapult yourself from “I’m terrified” straight to “I’m 100% sure I’ll never regret this,” consider a gentler step in between—something like “I can handle whatever comes from this decision” or “It’s possible I’ll be glad I chose this.” That small shift can open a door in your mind, reminding you that you do have inner resources to adapt if things don’t go as planned.

I’ve seen incredible transformations when clients repeat bridge thoughts like this, almost like little mantras. Over time, they can expand into broader self-trust, shifting from “I might survive this” to “I can thrive, no matter what.”

So, what do you want? More peace, more freedom, more growth? Take a moment to picture your life if you had a bit more confidence in your decision-making. Maybe you wouldn’t agonize over every detail—like which airline to fly or which fabric your new couch should be. All that energy you save could go into a passion project, or simply relaxing more.

Ultimately, aligning to what you want means giving yourself permission to prioritize your own values, rather than trying to avoid worst-case scenarios 24/7. Over time, you’ll realize that the calmer, more trusting version of you is better equipped to handle curveballs anyway.

If you need a quick prompt, try asking: “What would I do if I knew I could handle the outcome?” You might be surprised how quickly your mind offers a clear direction when fear of regret isn’t hogging the spotlight.

SEGMENT 5: TAKE AN INCREMENTAL ACTION STEP

So, we’ve come a long way: from spotting the fear-driven thought itself to allowing the uncomfortable feelings to analyzing the validity of the so-called ‘worst-case scenario’—and finally realigning with a more grounded mindset. But how do you actually put all this into practice in the real world?

Here’s where a simple action step can lock in your new perspective. Because, let’s face it, reading or listening is one thing—but doing is where the magic happens. And you don’t have to start with life-altering decisions. Begin small.

Pick something low-stakes this week—like choosing a new recipe for dinner, deciding to buy something, or maybe deciding to take a day off of work. Then consciously apply the following steps:

1. Notice the Fear: Recognize when your mind starts whispering, “What if I get this wrong?”

2. Allow the Tension: Give yourself permission to feel any nerves or jitters without rushing to fix them.

3. Analyze & Reframe: Remind yourself of the bridge thought—“I can handle whatever comes.”

4. Decide & Follow Through: Make your choice and see it through. No second-guessing or endless re-checking.

5. Reflect & Celebrate: Look back on how it went. Did the sky fall? Probably not. Notice that sense of relief or pride in taking action, no matter the outcome.

The more you practice these steps, the more automatic they’ll become. You’ll start trusting yourself to pick a restaurant without reading 50 reviews, or to pitch an idea at work without obsessing over every word. And as your confidence grows on the small stuff, you’ll feel more prepared for those bigger crossroads—like job changes, relocations, or major financial decisions.

If you’d love personalized support turning these ideas into habits, my coaching program helps ambitious women make decisions with less stress and more clarity. Head to my website choosebetterthoughts.com to learn more.

And remember: progress doesn’t have to be complicated. Every time you move from paralyzed “What if?” to decisive “Let’s do it,” you’re building a foundation of self-trust. You’re proving you can navigate uncertainty AND come out stronger on the other side.

Alright, that’s it for now. Keep practicing these steps, and watch how your decision-making style evolves. You’ve got this. And if you stumble along the way, guess what? That’s all part of the journey. Thank you for listening, and I’ll catch you in the next episode, where we’ll tackle another sneaky thought that might be holding you back.