I have to make a tough decision - whether to do something or not. I have to weigh how my decision will impact others. I have to communicate that decision to people. I have to consider how that decision will impact my personal life. What will happen if I decide wrong?

At least that's how my thinking started out. Then I stopped, and took a breath.

What is it that I have to make?
I get to make a decision to do something.

Who is the decision for?
The decision is for me.

What is the decision for?
The decision is for choosing what I do.

What are the implications of the decision?
None that can't be overcome.

Then, why am I so afraid of it?
I guess I am not.
I can make the decision, ship it to the people who need to know it, and go on living my life.

What caused so much anxiety?
I didn't stop to define what I needed to do, who it was for, what it was for, and what happens as a result of it. I was scared of how others might perceive my decision. But that perception ultimately doesn't matter, life will go on.

I learned three things from this problem that I recently solved.

1. Creating an outline of what I fear helps. Can’t color in what you don’t see.

2. You don't get better at being an artist unless you ship your work. And,

3. Someone who makes decisions, makes art.