Stop second guessing: Escaping the 'what ifs'

photo courtesy of Mary Stewart Finn

If you ever pause and think about past decisions, chances are at least one or two bring a twinge of doubt, possibly even regret. Making choices can be hard. This is especially true when you are prone to overthinking and overanalyzing everything like I do. Throughout high school, I’ve had to make hundreds of decisions. Some of them were simple, but many of them posed a challenge.

During freshman year, I was homeschooled and ran track and cross country with a local private school. When I decided to enroll the following year at The King’s Academy, I knew I would have to give up the team, community and sport I loved. For a long time, I questioned whether it was the right decision. Was coming to TKA worth it if I had to leave those friends behind? The “what ifs” felt like a burden, making it difficult to enjoy all of the exciting new opportunities I had at a new school.

In a scene from one of my favorite childhood movies, “Ratatouille,” Remy the rat is left stranded and distraught after being separated from his family and friends. Regret over the past prevents him from realizing he stands under one of the greatest restaurants in Paris. Chef Gusteau, a figment of his imagination, wisely reminds him, “If you focus on what you’ve left behind, you will never be able to see what lies ahead.”

This line may feel like just another one of Pixar’s “feel-good” sayings, but it contains a profound level of truth. Doubt and past remorse can be a tricky thing to get wrapped up in. Spending too much time wondering if you made a mistake can trap you in the past and prevent you from taking advantage of your current situation. Sometimes it is important to simply clear your head and set your sight on your present surroundings and future actions. Once Remy put aside his grief, he was overwhelmed with awe upon discovering the significance of where he stood.

With my own story, after several months, I gradually grew comfortable in my new environment. I made lots of friends and even pursued new interests and activities. With the time I could have invested in a sport, I got to explore areas such as journalism which I never imagined myself doing. The doubt that had plagued me no longer held its past weight and sting. I finally realized that the overthinking I indulged in was keeping me from finding joy in my new situation. 

Looking back now, I couldn’t be more grateful I made that decision. Giving up my team brought me so many more amazing and fulfilling experiences here at TKA. Maybe you’re currently faced with a tough decision or distracted by regret over a past one. Maybe it’s time you finally let those “what ifs” go and focus on today. Accepting and making the most of change that came from past decisions is sometimes the only way to enjoy the present and move forward. 

At the turning point of his story, Remy chooses to prioritize his cooking passion over the possible risk and danger it could bring. If he returns to the restaurant, there will be no going back. Still, he doesn’t let uncertainty keep him from exciting new possibilities. As he rushes back to Gusteau’s, he says to his father, “Change is nature, Dad. The part that we can influence. And it starts when we decide.”