Most People Hate Making Decisions

Summary

The Dr. Laura Podcast

Episode: Most People Hate Making Decisions
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: June 7, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Laura delves into the common human aversion to making decisions. With her trademark no-nonsense style, she explores why people tend to procrastinate or overcomplicate even the smallest choices. Drawing from personal experience and her work as a teacher and advisor, Dr. Laura offers practical strategies and wise perspectives to help listeners become more confident and decisive in everyday life.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Most People Hate Making Decisions

• Dr. Laura identifies decision-making as a universal struggle:

  "Most people hate making decisions. I don't. I'm very good at decisions." (01:52)

• She distinguishes herself as someone who acts quickly and doesn’t overcomplicate, encouraging listeners to emulate this approach:
  • Assess options swiftly and pick one.
  • If it doesn’t work out, “you can try something else.”
  • Don't “overthink it and don’t over worry it”—there’s a way out of everything except death.
• On the fear of making 'the wrong decision':

  "Your biggest fear—what if it’s the wrong decision? What the hell does that mean?" (02:18)

• She argues that in most daily scenarios, there isn't a strict 'right or wrong' choice:

  "There’s no right and wrong to most decisions. There’s just your choice." (02:56)

• Dr. Laura identifies procrastination as a byproduct of this fear.

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Tips to Become a Better Decision-Maker

1. Be Honest About What You Really Want

• One main reason for indecision is not liking any of the options, or desiring something entirely different.
• Listeners should distinguish between what they want and what others expect them to want:

  "...what do you really want? Which means you have to distinguish what I really want from what everybody else wants me to do." (03:36)

2. Real-Life Example: Dr. Laura’s Career Decision

• She shares a personal story about resisting the expected academic path (postdoctoral research) after her Ph.D.:

  "I hated the idea of being locked up in a lab anymore, hated it. But that’s what everybody expects." (03:55)

• Despite feeling tension from others’ expectations, Dr. Laura prioritized her happiness and pursued teaching, landing a position at the College of New Rochelle, run by the Ursuline Order of Nuns.
• This experience was deeply fulfilling, highlighting the importance of following one’s own interests rather than societal pressures:

  "Because it’s my life. Mine, mine, mine, mine." (09:17)

3. Action is Better Than Inaction

• Dr. Laura urges people to make some move, even if none of the choices seems perfect:

  "So do something rather than nothing." (10:44)

• If none of the alternatives stands out, “flip a coin,” because acting opens up further possibilities.
• Once an action is taken, you can either adapt or move on:

  "From that position of having done something, you can either turn it into something you like or at least tread water long enough till you figure it out." (10:33)

4. Practice Making Decisions

• To build decision-making confidence, she recommends practicing with small, low-stakes choices:

  "Start out like, okay, I don’t know what to have for dinner... Give yourself 30 seconds and a decision has to be made... Just make yourself practice with it." (11:19)

• Accept that sometimes the result won’t be ideal:

  "Sometimes you’ll end up with something you don’t like. You can always bring it back to the store and make a better meal next time." (11:33)

• Core message: Most decisions are not life-and-death, so don’t treat them as such.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There’s a way out of everything except death.” (02:09)
• “What the hell does that mean, the wrong decision? ... There isn't a right or a wrong decision.” (02:18)
• “One of my fondest memories was playing some two by two basketball with nuns in the old style habits…” (05:22)
• “Don’t do something because you’re supposed to.” (10:28)
• “Doing something is better than nothing. So if you have a bunch of alternatives, but none is great... flip a coin.” (10:44)
• “Practice, practice, practice, practice... Just practice with it.” (11:25)
• “It’s not life and death, friends. It’s not life and death.” (11:37)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:46 – Introduction to decision-making topic
• 01:52–03:42 – Dr. Laura on why people struggle with decisions
• 03:43–06:01 – Personal story: Choosing teaching over research post-PhD
• 09:15 – Reinforcement of following your own desires vs. expectations
• 10:15–11:52 – Practical tips: Take action, practice making decisions

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Final Takeaways

• Dr. Laura stresses the importance of self-honesty and the courage to go against expectations.
• She demystifies decision-making, framing it as a skill to be honed rather than a high-stakes gamble.
• Listeners are encouraged to act, iterate, and practice, reducing anxiety and building confidence over time.

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If you’re stuck in indecision, Dr. Laura says: Don’t overthink it. Pick something, go with it, and remember—most choices are smaller than you think.

Transcript

[Dr. Laura]

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okay then, right now we're going to

talk about making decisions.

Hurry, hurry, hurry. Make a decision.

Hurry, hurry.

Most people hate making decisions. I don't. I'm very good at decisions. What are the options? That one if it doesn't work out and you have another opportunity, you can try something else. I don't overthink it and I don't over worry it because I know there's a way out of everything except death. You probably are over complicating it. Your biggest fear what if it's the wrong decision? What the hell does that mean? The wrong decision? I want to see this movie or that movie. There isn't a right or a wrong decision. I want to make veal scallopini or roast chicken. It's not life and death. There's no right and wrong to most decisions. There's just your choice. People procrastinate. So I want to give you some little tips to think about. First, be honest with what you really want, what you really Want real reason? You might have trouble making up your mind. Is that the options presented for frankly, you don't like any of them. Maybe you want to try something entirely different. Be truthful to yourself. What do you really want? Which means you have to distinguish what I really want from what everybody else wants me to do. I remember when I finished my Ph.D. at Columbia University. At the med school, The normal transition was to do what they call a post doctoral research working for yet some other professor. And everybody kept waiting for me to apply to somewhere. And I hated the idea of being locked up in a lab anymore, hated it. But that's what everybody expects. And they look at you like you wasted your time, they've wasted their time with you. You're not doing the normal transition.

I felt some of that tension, but

I didn't care ultimately because I remember when I told my thesis professor I do not wish to continue this lifestyle of killing rats and doing no chemical experiments. Nope. What did I really want? I really wanted to teach. So I applied for teaching jobs and taught at the College of New Rochelle run by the Ursuline Order of Nuns. What was at the time, I don't know if it is now, cute, adorable, physically wonderful. School students were terrific. Cannot tell you what a great experience that was. One of my fondest memories was playing some two by two basketball with nuns in the old style habits, you know, the long black dress and then they would take the back part of the hem, pull it through, push it down in the waistband so it would be like pants but not really and we'd be out there shooting hoops. I loved the nuns. The nuns were great, gracious, fun, brilliant. Well, the Ursuline Order is. These are exceptional academics.

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[Dr. Laura]

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Anyway, that's what I preferred to do rather than be stuck in a lab doing research. Didn't want to do it. So I went up against what you're supposed to do, what everybody expected me to do. Because it's my life. Mine, mine, mine, mine. And I loved teaching. That was a lot of fun. Loved working with the students. I mean, there's always an odd and sundry, annoying, not so nice student, but 99% of them were just great. I remember one I came into my office and one of the students is sitting behind my desk in my chair. I walked in and I went, mm, you're in my chair,

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boy.

[Dr. Laura]

Into power, aren't you? And I said, you're only going to find out if you don't get out of my chair. She got out of the chair. There's always one, right? So be truthful with yourself about what you really want. Don't do something because you're supposed to. And remember that doing something is better than nothing. So if you have a bunch of alternatives, but none is great. But we do need to make a move. I don't know, flip a coin. Because from that position of having done something, of doing something, you can either turn it into something you like or at least tread water long enough till you figure it out. So do something rather than nothing. Last but not least, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice. Start out like, okay, I don't know what to have for dinner. I don't know what to shop for, to buy, I don't know which. Give yourself 30 seconds and a decision has to be made in whatever it is you live with. Just make yourself practice with it. Just practice with it. Sometimes you'll end up with something you don't like. You can always bring it back to the store and make a better meal next time. It's not life and death, friends. It's not life and death. 1-800-375-2872.

If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform,

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[Dr. Laura]

As people age, it's normal to ask what more they could be doing to take care of their health. It's important to be proactive, especially when it comes to your brain health. Don't wait for something to feel off before taking action. Make your next checkup count. Ask your doctor about your risk factors for dementia and a cognitive assessment. Visit Brain Health Matters.com for more information and resources provided by Lily hi Besties.

[Tinks]

It's Tinks if you need a little inspo, a little tough love, or just someone to tell you that everything is going to be okay. Come hang out with me on my podcast. It's Me, Tanks. We talk dating, confidence, friendships, healing, leveling up, and all the things we're working on together. I share my frameworks, your questions, and yes, plenty of chaotic stories. New episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So whether you're on your hot girl walk, commuting, or hiding from your ex on Instagram, I've got you. Listen to It's Me Tanks. Wherever you get your podcasts.