Not one day goes by where we do not have to make a decision. Some decisions are completely innate and require very little thought. Deciding what to wear, what to eat for lunch or which route to take to work are not the type of life-altering decisions that people dwell on. While these are “no-brainers” for most people, those who tend to over-think every minute detail of their lives can find it difficult to make such decisions. These people tend to feel overwhelmed by the decision-making process. Learn how to be more decisive and make better decisions by using the following guide.Do We Decide To Be Decisive?
It is not necessarily the act of making decisions that is so frightening, it is uncertainty of the results and repercussions of those decisions that we tend to fear the most. Just as no one is truly afraid of heights, they are simply afraid of falling.Making effective and sound decisions is an art that is learned through life experience. We learn how to make decisions during childhood, although we do not always realize that we are being taught to make decisions. Children almost instinctively choose to play with a particular toy based on the pleasure derived from that toy. Although this is an innate and simplistic decision, a decision making process is evident, nonetheless. Children do not have the contemplative or reasoning skills to recognize that they have made a decision based on which toy he or she prefers. By choosing a specific toy, the child has experienced the decision-making process based on the result he or she experienced last time. The child will most likely choose that same toy again when faced with similar circumstances.
As we grow older, the decisions become more complex and the ramifications of our decisions are more significant. As children, we see our parents make decisions every day, some small and without impact on us. Other decisions are more intricate and we begin to feel the impact of the decisions that are made on our behalf.As parents, we are required to make decisions for another human being and the results of those decisions can dramatically change the life of our children. There is a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety that can accompany making choices that affect another person and his or her well-being. Not only are we faced with making decisions, but we are accountable for the outcome and must take responsibility for the repercussions of our decisions.Learn From Your MistakesWe are human, we are not perfect and are bound to make mistakes. Making a bad decision from time to time is inevitable. It is what we do about those mistakes that teach us the most. The only way we can really know whether we have made a good decision or a bad decision is by making those decisions, taking responsibility for the results, and taking steps to correct any poor decisions we have made.
Making Better Decisions
Having had the experience of making poor decisions and having to deal with the outcome of those decisions will serve as a tool to help you make better decisions in the future. The key to making better decisions is to educate yourself and make certain that you are fully informed about the contributing factors. Undoubtedly, most of us have heard the phrase “knowledge is power”. If you educate yourself and make an effort to learn as much as you can about the issue, you will find the power within yourself to be decisive.The worst thing you can do when faced with a decision is to overanalyze the issue. Overanalyzing the situation will only make the decision seem more overwhelming. When faced with indecision, keep in mind that most bad decisions can be remedied and nothing is permanent.Things to Consider When Making Decisions
First, determine just how important the decision is and what impact the decision has on your life. If you are choosing colors for your wedding and you cannot decide between “blush pink” or “bashful pink”, how can you expect to feel confident in the decision you have made to marry the person you have chosen? You have completely lost sight of the significance of your wedding. Is the actual shade of pink going to play a huge role in how strong your marriage will be and what does the color have to do with the vows you are exchanging? This is not a life altering decision.
If you are considering a career change, not only is the decision going to affect your livelihood, it may also have a huge impact on your family and your ability to provide for them. There may be repercussions from leaving your position and you may be faced with taking a pay cut or a lower-level position with another company. The reasons for leaving your job may have everything to do with your family; your job may be creating such high levels of stress and anxiety that when you are at home, you are releasing all of these negative emotions on your family.Secondly, name all of the people your decision will have an impact on. Leaving your job will affect not only you, but your life partner, children, coworkers, business partner, etc. Ultimately, the decision you make is your own and your decision should be directed towards your own happiness. You must still bear in mind that when you are surrounded by people who rely on you, every decision you make affects them aswell.If you have already sought another position and the terms are acceptable, logistically, financially, and professionally, your choice to leave will most likely benefit your family.If you have nothing on the horizon and plan to take a month or two off before looking for work, it may present a whole different set of circumstances for your loved ones. Financially it may not be wise, unless you have prepared for taking time off work and have at least three to six months of money saved to cover your living expenses. It may cause undue stress by putting your partner in a position where he or she has to seek employment, work longer hours or force your children to give up activities in order to save money.
Share the burden
When faced with decisions that impact other people, include them in the decision-making process. Obviously the decision making abilities must be age appropriate, but even youngsters can be included in a family decision and allowed to provide their input. You will be teaching your children a valuable life lesson and laying the groundwork for how they approach decision making in their own lives. You will also be making a decision that affects those around you by hearing other points of view that you may not have considered. The end results will have been a collective decision, therefore, the responsibility for the outcome will also be collective. If the results of the decision were not what you hoped for, you have the opportunity to discuss the issues as a group and take the appropriate steps to remedy the situation.Making decisions does not have to be an overwhelming process. The most important thing to remember when faced with an important decision is to determine what type of impact the decision will have on the people involved. Many bad decisions can be remedied, however, the more people the decision impacts, the more difficult it will be to remedy the situation. When making a decision, determine how your choice will impact your life and as well as the lives of others, and respond accordingly.