How to Make a Decision & Second Guess

Personal decisions impact others around you.

People make thousands of decisions each day, some on the spur of the moment and some with deep, pensive concentration. Not every decision is critical to your physical, financial and emotional health. However, many decisions require extra time to weigh the pros and cons. Personal passion and preference should influence decisions. Even the most personal and emotional decisions may also depend on quality research, accurate facts and fair consideration. After a careful evaluation, you may still second guess your decision. Some apparent obstacles are too difficult to overcome. Identify the red flags, abandon the decision and move on to realistic choices.

Instructions

1. Make an informed decision by investigating all of the relevant facts. Include your personal history in any similar situation. Research the decision. Ask for business references in a business opportunity and follow up on them. Visit the website and work site of a potential employer. Listen to friends' and family members' insights into personal relationships.

2. Create a list of pros in favor of the decision. List ten pros in favor of each decision, if you are comparing more than one option. Consider financial benefits, immediate benefits, long-term benefits, advancement opportunities, social support, positive environment, personal commitment and passion.

3. Write out a detailed list of the cons of the decision. Choose ten negative effects of each option. Consider financial detriments, loss of opportunities, emotional cost, physical demands, impossibilities, personal preferences, stressful situations and non-compassionate environments.

4. Reduce each list to the three most appealing pros and the three most concerning cons. Compare the pros against the cons based on categories. Weigh the financial benefits against the financial cost. Consider your personal passion and comfort level.

5. Finalize your decision in writing. Write it down on a piece of paper with the main reason for your decision. Put it in your pocket, purse or briefcase. Keep it in there for a week. Sleep on it. Step away from the decision-making process. After a week, take action in favor of the decision if you feel good about it.

6. Abandon the decision after a week if you start to second guess it. If you feel weighed down and burdened by the decision, write down the reasons why. Rate each concern on a scale of one to 10, with one meaning that the concern is manageable and 10 meaning that the obstacle cannot be overcome.

Tips & Warnings

• You can only make the right decision if you are honest with yourself about all the applicable facts. A good decision will feel easy and effortless and make you feel excited about the opportunity. Do not confuse this with a "too good to be true" opportunity.

• Abandon a decision that presents a clear obstacle that cannot be overcome.

References

• Decision-Making-Confidence.Com: How to Make a Decision
• Good Life Zen: 9 Ways to Make a Decision
• PsyBlog: 13 Ways to Quickly Improve Your Decision Making