Chapter 192: Stop Spinning Your Wheels

Use AI to cut through the noise and make confident, informed decisions that actually feel right

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It’s Wednesday. How Many Big Decisions Are Sitting in Your Brain Right Now?

Maybe it’s that project you’re not sure you should take on.
Or a career move you keep putting off.
Or something personal, like whether it’s time to finally relocate.

You keep thinking about it, running through every possible scenario, but you’re still stuck.

Here’s the thing: Tough decisions drain us because they combine uncertainty with emotion. We want to make the “right” choice, but the path isn’t obvious, so we keep spinning.

That’s where AI comes in. Not to tell you what to do, but to help you break the decision down, clarify the factors that matter, and get you to a choice you can actually live with.

Why Tough Choices Are So Draining (It’s Not Just You)

There’s a reason you can breeze through small decisions like picking a lunch spot but get paralyzed over bigger ones.

Tough decisions usually mean:

• Too many variables: You’re weighing factors that all feel important.
• High stakes: The outcome feels like it will have lasting consequences.
• Emotional overload: Your personal feelings cloud the “objective” analysis.

This is where traditional decision-making breaks down. Lists of pros and cons? Helpful, but limited. Gut feelings? Useful, but not always reliable.

AI gives you something new: a way to process complexity at scale without losing sight of your human values.

How AI Helps You Decide Without Deciding for You

Let’s be clear. AI isn’t here to make your choices for you. It’s here to help you get to the clearest, most informed version of your own decision.

How? By:

• Gathering and analyzing data: Pulling in the facts you need, fast.
• Modeling scenarios: Showing you how different choices might play out.
• Highlighting blind spots: Pointing out what you might be overlooking.
• Structuring your decision: Helping you organize complex information so it stops feeling like chaos.

AI turns the decision-making process from a tangled web into a clear, navigable path.

5 Steps to Use AI for Better Decision-Making

1. Define the Decision (Even When It Feels Messy)

Half the stress comes from not knowing what you’re really deciding.
AI can help you narrow the question. Instead of “Should I quit my job?” it can guide you to ask:

• “What matters most in my work life right now?”
• “Which options align with my top values?”

The clearer the question, the better the decision.

2. Collect Relevant Information (Without Drowning in It)

We get stuck because we don’t know when we have “enough information.”
AI can aggregate data quickly — whether that’s market research for a business choice, cost comparisons for a move, or success rates for a particular strategy — so you’re not lost in 500 browser tabs.

3. Weigh Your Options Objectively

Pros and cons lists are good. Weighted decision matrices are better.
AI can help you assign value to different factors based on what matters most to you, not just what’s loudest in your head.

4. Run the “What-Ifs”

AI can model scenarios. What if you take the risk? What if you don’t? What does the likely timeline look like? This isn’t about predicting the future perfectly. It’s about understanding potential outcomes before you choose.

5. Check It Against Your Values

Sometimes a choice looks great on paper but feels wrong.
AI can guide you through values-based reflection by asking:

• Does this choice align with your long-term goals?
• Does it support the life you want, not just the moment you’re in?

Tools You Can Use

• ​Consensus – AI that summarizes research so you can make evidence-based decisions.
• ​Perplexity AI – For deep-dive research on complex topics.
• ​Notion AI – Use templates for weighted decision matrices and reflective journaling.
• ​Mindsera – AI for structured decision-making and thought exercises.
• ​ChatGPT – For brainstorming and refining your decision-making framework.

From Overthinking to Clarity

Human: “I’m torn between staying at my current job, which is safe, and taking a new role at a startup that’s exciting but risky. I can’t decide.”

AI: “Let’s clarify your priorities. Which matters more to you right now: stability, growth, or excitement?”

Human: “Honestly, growth and excitement are at the top, but I’m scared of losing security.”

AI: “Understood. I’ll create a weighted decision matrix based on your priorities. I’ll also model what your next year might look like in each scenario, including financial and lifestyle impacts. Then we can review and see which option aligns best with your values.”

Human: “That… actually makes it feel manageable. Let’s do it.”

How It Feels When You Decide With AI

• Less overwhelm: You see the big picture clearly.
• More confidence: You know your decision is informed by data and your values.
• Faster resolution: You spend less time spinning and more time acting.

When you stop drowning in uncertainty, you can finally move forward.

Your Next Step: Stop Spinning, Start Deciding

Tough decisions don’t have to paralyze you. AI can help you process the complexity, weigh what matters, and make confident choices that feel right.

So, what big decision could you finally move forward on if you had the right support? Try these steps this week.

Have a great rest of the week.

Nikola Harper, Editor, Workflow Wednesdays, 10xYOU​

PS: You can always email me directly at nik@10xyou.us​

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