Face Your Fears

Before we even start, understand that decision making can be fearful for some. The bigger the decision, the greater the fear. 

So take a minute to examine your fears to identity what plagues you the most. 

For major decisions, ask yourself what do you fear the most about making it? How fearful are the consequences of making the wrong decision? 

Is the decision a permanent one that can never be changed, or can you make adjustments to improve on your initial decision?

Write these down if that helps you clarify your thinking. 

What Are The Worst Case Scenarios

Let's take step one a little further, and examine the worst case scenario. For each possible choice, if all goes wrong, what will that look like?

Pushing each possibility to the very worst that could happen, somehow makes it less frightening. Now, at least you can see upfront what are the possibilities. 

Understanding how the worst case could happen helps you put together a better plan for mitigating disaster should it come. 

Collect As Much Information As Possible

The best decisions are the informed decisions. 

With all the resources we have available today, it will pay to do a little research to make the best informed decisions that you can. 

Decisions will want to be made in a more logical and strategic way. Without the right information, we leave ourselves subject to emotion. Those emotional responses can lead us down the wrong path. 

Stay calm and base your decisions on facts presented in a logically structured foundation. 

Use The "Five Whys" Technique

Ever talk to an inquisitive child who always asks why after everything you say? The "Five Whys" technique works the same way. 

When contemplating your decision, ask yourself "why" at least five time. Each time you will be surprised what new information you'll come up with. 

Think About Who's Affected

Consider how your decision affects you. The first consideration is how it affects you personally. Does it fall in line with your values or will it help you reach your goals? 

If the decisions aren't congruent with your core values, it will eventually lead to unhappiness. 

Next, consider how your decisions will affect others who will be impacted by them. Will it create undue pressure or conflict?

Double check that your decisions don't create any compromising positions for them. 

Make A List Of Your Final Choices

With all the choices swirling in your head, it may be a good idea to make a written list of the possibilities. 

Don't try to evaluate them until you have all the possibilities written down. 

Now you can weigh them according to the benefits they bring. You can even ask others to help evaluate the pros and cons. 

Trust Your Instincts

You probably already have a sense of which decisions are the right ones. This might be your gut instincts showing you the right way. 

Even though your decisions are based on research and logic, having a good gut feeling is also important.

Research shows that people who feel good about their decisions tend to be more satisfied with them.

The saying is "consult your head and your heart when you are making tough decisions".

Have A Backup Plan

No matter how good you think your decisions are, it is always wise to have a backup plan.

There is such a thing as "the unexpected" that can creep it's way into every decision you make. So it's always good to make a plan A and plan B. 

You may not be able to avert every unforeseen event, but at least you are thinking ahead.

Question?

Watch This for Some More Motivation