How to Decide When Both Options Feel Right

Making a life-changing decision can be stressful, especially when both options seem equally good. For example, you might be thinking about changing your job, moving to a different city, or starting something completely new. In these moments, you may feel stuck — not because one choice is clearly better than the other, but because both offer different kinds of value.

Understanding the Rubber Band Model in Decision Making

The Rubber Band Model is a simple but powerful tool that can help you understand your dilemma better. Instead of making a traditional pros and cons list, this method asks you two important questions: “What is holding me?” and “What is pulling me?” These questions focus not just on logic, but on your emotions and motivations. What are the reasons you want to stay where you are? And what are the things attracting you to the new option?

What Holds You vs. What Pulls You: A New Way to See Dilemmas

The idea is similar to a rubber band that stretches between two points. One side represents the forces that keep you in your current situation, such as stability, routine, or fear of change. The other side represents what pulls you forward — the desire for growth, new experiences, or personal goals. When you explore both directions, you can see more clearly which one matters more to you.

From Confusion to Clarity: Making Tough Choices with Confidence

This model helps you realize that it’s okay to feel torn. Sometimes, making a choice doesn’t mean picking the “better” option — it means understanding yourself better and choosing what fits your life right now. As the book The Decision Book says, “A peacefulness follows any decision, even the wrong one.”

In the end, what matters most is moving forward with clarity and confidence, knowing that either path can bring value — as long as it’s true to you.