You Don’t Have to Stick with a Bad Decision

Sticking with a bad decision is not a triumph of commitment. It’s a failure of courage. The quicker you are to admit you were wrong, the sooner you can start making it right.

There are a number of reasons why people stick by a bad decision.

• Emotional investment: People often become emotionally invested in their decisions, especially if they've put a lot of time, effort, or resources into them. Admitting they made a mistake can feel like admitting failure, which can be difficult to accept.
• Fear of change: Even if a decision turns out to be bad, people may fear the uncertainty and discomfort that comes with changing course. They may worry about the consequences of abandoning their original decision and whether they'll be able to navigate a new path successfully.
• Cognitive dissonance: This is the psychological discomfort that arises when there's a discrepancy between beliefs and actions. People may rationalize their bad decisions to reduce this discomfort, convincing themselves that the decision wasn't actually bad or that things will improve if they stick with it.
• Sunk cost fallacy: This is the tendency to continue investing in a decision because of the time, money, etc. already invested, regardless of the likelihood of success. People may feel reluctant to walk away from a bad decision because they don't want to "waste" what they've already put into it.
• Social pressure: People may worry about how others will perceive them if they admit they made a mistake. They may feel pressure to maintain appearances or fear judgment from friends, family, or colleagues.
• Optimism bias: Many people tend to be overly optimistic about the outcomes of their decisions, even in the face of evidence suggesting otherwise. They may believe that things will eventually work out if they just keep pushing forward.

I want you to remember this, holding onto a bad decision isn’t a sign of commitment; it’s a lack of courage. The sooner you acknowledge your mistake, the sooner you can begin making things right. I’m Nicole L. Turner, your mindset coach, helping you shift the way you think so you can change the way you live. If you are in need of a mindset coach, you can reach me at https://www.detoxforyourlife.com/