What’s been a constant for years is that many people struggle to make decisions that impact their lives. For example, Is the cost of college worth it these days? Should I leave my career and follow my heart? Should I stay in this unhealthy relationship despite loving them?

Every day we have to make tough decisions, and I understand how difficult that can be. As a single mother and business owner who raised five children while in school, I faced difficult decisions every day. But, I also know there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Part of my work touches on helping people sort through their processes and options and deal with difficult decisions. I have learned that difficulty is part of the human experience and necessary for growth. Decisiveness is a skill and strength we all must learn to develop. Being decisive can provide you access to opportunities, help you to reach goals, boost courage and inspire fearlessness when facing challenges. These are just a few of the benefits.

So what happens when we’re indecisive? Being indecisive can cause potential harm, loss, anxiety, stress, and missed opportunities, among other things. If we are undecided on the little things, it can easily become a bad habit with more important things. When we’re indecisive, we open the door to allowing fear to take root. We can quickly start to worry about all the things that can go wrong and believe me; the sky becomes the limit with this mode of thinking. You begin to think the unknown is too risky to be worth it. Ultimately, you’re left with inaction—and a loss of opportunity.

Listen, life is too short for this form of overthinking. If you’re going to put that much energy into it mentally, work towards solutions, and create backup plans. Don’t ever go into anything expecting to fail. And even if something doesn’t work out THAT TIME, that doesn’t mean to stop trying. Learn from it and do it differently. After all, life is about taking risks, failing, and then overcoming those failures. When you make quick decisions, the payoff can be boundless. There is no failure unless you stop trying.

So, let’s look at three ways to improve your decision-making:

1. Learn to Let Go of The Fear of The Unknown

This is a “decision” I strongly encourage you to make now. Don’t fixate on worries about what may not happen. Instead, align your thoughts, emotions, and actions with intentions to make things happen. You are a co-creator of everything that happens in your life. Don’t let fear rob you of your success and peace of mind. And don’t be afraid to take risks. We’re not acting in our best interest when we’re scared to take risks.

2. Be Prepared to Bounce Back When Experiencing Challenges

Nobody makes the right decision 100% of the time. And even if they made the right decisions most of the time, there’s always a learning curve that provides enormous benefits to self-correction and improvement. Mistakes and failure are guaranteed. And failure is one of the most important precursors to success. You have to fail to learn your abilities, passions, and dislikes. Practice making quick decisions and rebounding from mistakes. This practice becomes a habit that makes you more resilient.

3. Find Harmony In Your Learning Experiences with Both The Good and The Bad

Learn to live in harmony with life’s good and bad experiences. Accept that you can’t control everything in your life, no matter how much you try. Life is full of ups and downs, and for good reasons. We are here to experience, most importantly, learn from those experiences. You can choose to improve upon what you’ve learned or keep making the same mistakes. This choice is always up to you. When you accept that life has bad times, you won’t be afraid to make quick decisions. Maybe you make the wrong decision, and you lose an opportunity. That’s okay—more will come. And remember, if you don’t like something, you can always make changes to suit your needs.

In closing, decisiveness helps you grow more as an individual. It also enables you to improve your self-image, your friendships, and romantic relationships. At its core, decisiveness is a form of self-care, and people who cultivate this skill enhance their outlook on life.