Life is full of choices

Making decisions affects every single person every single day. Sometimes, decisions are very important and will make the difference between life and death, but most are considerably less pressing.


First thing we should do is to identify the reason you are in a position to make a decision. Individuals tend to be very bad at figuring out precisely why they're doing something. For example, if it is 8am, you may find yourself wanting breakfast. Do you want breakfast because you're hungry? Because you've heard that breakfast is an important meal? Because you desire eggs and sausage? Figuring out the underlying cause of your decision will help you decide on a course of action.

And then, come up with action plans that solve your root problem. Sometimes you will find yourself in a position where courses of action are presented to you, but remember that you can often find alternatives. For example, if your father and someone posing as your father are standing in front of you, and you have a gun, and each implores you to shoot the other, you might decide to shoot neither, and try to determine which is truly your father through a full-proof method like DNA testing instead of your gut instinct.


Determine what is going to be affected by your decision. Often, the effects of your decisions will be limited to your life. If that is the case, you only need to decide how your life will be changed. Sometimes, others may be affected by your decisions as well, and it is important to consider the effect on their feelings, quality of life and impression of you when coming to a decision. For example, if the golf course at which you are a groundskeepers is being terrorized by a gopher, the use of dynamite, especially when high-stakes skins games are being played, may fundamentally alter the outcome of that game, not to mention the landscape.


Make your decision. Thoughtfully weigh the potential outcomes against the resources required to fulfill your decision, and attempt to choose the course of action that best addresses your underlying goal.