This morning, I met the Goddess of Indecision. She’s not a monster, but she definitely lives in the monsters and friends closet. Because she is a part of myself that I don’t always want to see.
Goddess, why are you here?
She has four arms, at least 2 hairstyles, a bunch of different patterns in her clothes. And she knows exactly what she wants to do–well, maybe. Or maybe not. Although Indecision never appeared as a Goddess before, I do feel like I know her well and don’t feel all that comfortable around her. She wants to do it all. And she wants to do nothing at all. She fears failure and also fears success. She jumps from one thing to another or just zones out in front of the computer screen. And she doesn’t know why she’s here.
But what does she have to teach me? One thing I recently learned about myself is that I’m a multipotentialite–a person interested in many different things. (You can read more about it on Puttylike.) But this Goddess of Indecision brings fear–not just a variety of interests. She doesn’t contain that happy flitting from one interest to the next of a person with many interests. Instead, she fears making the wrong choice. She’s kind of breathless.
But goddesses have more than one aspect. So what aspect lies hidden–what gift waits to be discovered in this as yet unappreciated Goddess? Psychologist and philosopher William James said, “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.” My pantheon has many goddesses–some more helpful than others. And if Indecision came calling, there’s a reason for it. She points to something deeper that I have not resolved.
Here’s another interesting quote: “Patience is decisive indecision.” James Richardson.
What is the other side of the Goddess of Indecision?
A Goddess of Indecision is a Goddess going nowhere. It can be good to pause before making a decision–but then it’s necessary to make one. As I learned in my courses in Waldorf Education, life is empty and meaningless–and it’s empty and meaningless that it’s empty and meaningless. At some point, we just need to make a choice. Later we can make a different choice if we want. Chocolate or vanilla–choose.
In some ways, the decision isn’t as important as just choosing something. We constantly correct our corse when we are in motion, not by standing still.
Dear Goddess of Indecision–thank you for reminding me to pause and consider my many options–options which I am blessed to have. But now I will choose to move forward until I come to the next crossroad–where our paths may meet again.
