Successful Decision-making Process February 28, 2007
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Author: Wendy Betterini
Article:
Decision-making seems like it should be a simple process, but
sometimes we can find ourselves vacillating back and forth
between one or more choices, truly unable to make a solid
decision.
One of the things that makes decision-making so unnerving is the
fear of making a wrong move. We may hesitate about making any
kind of decision because we’re not sure of what the outcome will
be. We get mired in “what ifs,” paralyzed by fears of what could
go wrong. We worry that choosing wrong will cause an avalanche
of bad luck to tumble onto our heads, or even worse, our
decision will be wrong AND irreversible.
However, even worse than making the wrong decision is letting
our fear prevent us from making any decision at all. This, in
itself, is a choice, and not always one that serves our highest
good. Rather than allowing ourselves to feel confused and
paralyzed with fear, it can be useful to have a simple
decision-making process to fall back on when we just can’t seem
to make up our minds.
Following are techniques that can help you gain the clarity to
make wiser decisions for yourself:
1) Clear your mind. First take a few minutes to get into a
relaxed state of mind and release all fears and worries. This
will help you to think more logically, rather than getting stuck
on emotional responses.
2) Listen for signals. Bring each choice to mind individually,
and pay attention to the responses from your body. Does one
choice make your gut tighten up in apprehension? Does another
choice make you feel a bit giddy or hopeful? Do you get a sense
of dread from any options? Your intuition is a powerful tool
that is always speaking to you. You just need to get quiet, tune
in, and listen to what it says.
3) Consider the pros and cons. This is an old trick that is
still quite effective. Rather than relying on your emotional
impulses, you can look logically at the benefits and downfalls
of each choice. Writing them down on paper is even better,
because it can help you to see clearly which choice seems most
beneficial. Sometimes this technique alone is enough to help you
decide one way or another.
4) Consider the consequences. Though few of us have the ability
to see the future in great detail, we can imagine a likely
outcome to any choice we make. By thinking about these potential
consequences, we stand a better chance of understanding which
choice would be better for us in the long run. Two good
questions to ask during this process are: “What could possibly
happen if I make this decision?” and “Is it likely to happen?”
Sometimes you’ll discover that your fears are out of proportion
to the likely consequences, and once you realize the likelihood
is small, you will be more confident in finally making a
decision.
5) Choose. That’s the hardest part, I know. But again, even NOT
making a decision is a choice in itself. Wouldn’t you rather
have control of your choices, rather than letting your inaction
bring about its own consequences? After using the techniques
above, you should have a pretty solid idea of which choice is
best for you.
Most importantly, remember that truly “wrong” decisions in life
are rare. Rather, each choice has a corresponding consequence.
Some of these consequences may seem positive, some may seem
negative, but ultimately none of them are really “wrong” for us.
(Except destructive choices that result in harm to yourself or
another. Those I would consider definitely bad or wrong
choices.)
But in a general sense, every decision we make simply moves us
down a particular path in life. If we later decide we don’t like
that path, we do have the power to choose another direction. But
even the paths we decide we don’t like have something positive
to offer us. We learn and grow in wisdom with every decision. We
get to know ourselves better and better, and each decision we
make later will be more in line with who we truly are, and the
lives we want to create for ourselves.
About the author:
Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer specializing in
self-improvement and personal development concepts. Visit her
website, http://www.WingsForTheHeart.com for free articles on
positive thinking, goal-setting, self-esteem, personal growth,
and more.
