There Is No Perfect Choice

My wife and I are slowly repainting every wall in our house. We began the process last year when renovating my home office for full-time use. A few weeks ago, we updated the kitchen and discovered a fantastic color for our bedroom. At this point, there are only a few walls that do not have a fresh coat of paint. And their time is coming very soon.

There are currently eight sample colors on the living room wall. And not just one place, mind you. I put the same eight swatches in multiple locations to see what they look like in different lighting throughout the day. It’s probably a bit much, but I want to make sure we choose correctly the first time.

I hate painting. It’s my least favorite home improvement project. Painting is messy and easy to screw up — two things I abhor. Plus, we have high ceilings, and I’m afraid of heights. So, choosing the perfect color means preventing future strife. That’s why we have eight color swatches on the wall right now.

The thing is, trying to choose the perfect anything is often a way to procrastinate and avoid making a choice.

I love trying out new writing apps. When there’s a new one, I often dive in and play around. Though, new apps typically don’t provide functionality that my current app (Ulysses) lacks. Further, the time I spent evaluating and playing is really time spent not writing.

It’s not just me. I often talk with writers who find choices as an excuse to avoid writing. Maybe it’s trying a new blogging platform or updating their portfolio website. Occasionally, it’s jumping between styles and topics. Granted, there isvalue in experimenting with writing and finding our voice. However, when we constantly spend time searching, we avoid creating.

My wife and I chose one of the eight colors and will spend Labor Day weekend painting (please send cookies for encouragement). If you’re facing a choice, consider your options, but don’t let them consume you. Decide and move on, so you can spend more time creating.