When we struggle to make a big life decision about what's next, it's often because we feel the pressure to live out our "best life." It's the idea that choosing the wrong thing would lead to us living out a less optimal option.

This thinking is extremely harmful and untrue.

Each of us has multiple phases of life and therefore types of lives within us, and there is no one "best" answer as to how we live them out. The multiverse theory takes this a step further and suggests that there are multiple parallel universes out there. Multiple versions of us.

"If you could live out multiple lives, what would they look like?"

This is the question that Stanford lifestyle design professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans ask to help their students loosen their grip on feeling like they need to make The Right Decisions.

How many different lives could you envision yourself living and feeling fulfilled? For the average person, the answer is around 7 totally different lives. Regardless of whether you're wondering what career move to make next, which city you should live in, or figuring out your finances, imagine at least 3 different ways the next 5 years could pan out.

Then, ask yourself, what kinds of things are you testing and exploring in each alternative version of your life? What experience or learnings will you gain?

Why do this?

Research has shown that generating more ideas leads to better solutions. And in the case of lifestyle design, it's a tool that will help you gain inspiration for things you may want to explore in this one life that you have.

Let's get into it.

Life #1: What would life look like if you continued on the path you're on now and it turned out great?

This is you envisioning a full life with the things you're doing now or that big idea you've been thinking about chasing.

What projects are you working on? Where are you living? Who are you living it with? What experiences or vacations are you taking?

Life #2: What would you do if you couldn't do in Life #1?

Alright, Life #2. Ask yourself the same question - what would the next 5 years of this life look like? Make sure you don't fall into the trap of imagining a different variation of Life #1.

Life #3: What would you do if you knew no one would laugh?

This one's your hail mary. Let your imagination run wild.

Last step: reflect

By doing this exercise, you've hopefully loosened the grip of feeling like There is One Right Decision. Effective lifestyle design starts with generating options.

Before you can decide the next step in your life, explore what's out there. You're not deciding the rest of your life, just the next step.

Don't rush into the first option that's in your mind. Hold space for the unknown so you come up with something that's truly inspiring. You're worth it.

If you liked this mini essay, I share weekly ideas on how to design a creative, focused life on my personal newsletter.