Key Tips on How to Make Good Decisions in Life

Tips on How to Make Good Decisions in Life

 

There is a single mental move you can make which, in a millisecond, will solve enormous problems for you. It has the potential to improve almost any personal or business situation you will ever encounter … and it could literally propel you down the path to incredible success. We have a name for this magic mental activity … it is called DECISION. – Bob Proctor

 

Mankind has been blessed with the free will of making decisions. 

These decisions can enrich our life or can cause them to take a turn for the worse. 

Not a day goes by that we don’t make dozens, even hundreds of decisions, most without even thinking.

Making choices is important. 

The life you’re living right now is the sum total of every choice that you’ve ever made. 

You navigate the world and move towards your future, choice, by choice, by choice.

Those choices are responsible for your current situation with money, your relationships, your health and wellness, your career and creative fulfillment, and even the kind of spiritual practice you have.

We don’t often think about it, but our collective experience of reality is rooted in small personal decisions, a conglomerate of all the daily, mundane choices that build up to being elements of the bigger choices that run the world.

Daily, we decide when to arise, what to eat, what to wear, and what route to take to work or wherever our destination leads.  These are made with little pause or thought. 

Others require a little more insight such as where to vacation, who to date, who to marry, which car to buy, and which neighborhood is best for security and schools.

Whether major or minor, the decisions we make affect our lives to no small degree and those decisions must be made. 

Some of us approach decision-making with reluctance and dread being afraid of the consequences. 

Sure, almost any decision we make could involve conflict and dissatisfaction. 

Yet, we must take control and make the decision and accept the outcome, good or bad.

This is important to realize as ultimately your whole life is dominated by your decision-making process.

The health of your mind and body, the well-being of your family, your social life, the
type of relationships you develop … all are dependent upon your ability to make sound decisions.

So, how is a person expected to develop this valuable mental ability?

Quite simply, you must do it on your own.

It is however important to understand that it’s not difficult to learn how to make good decisions in life.

Armed with the proper information and by applying certain disciplines in your life, you can become a very effective decision-maker.

 

The Importance of Making Good Decisions

Decision-making is a lot like bill paying. 

Both must be done and usually within a certain time frame.  If we’re late paying our electric bill the consequences can be the discontinuance of power or a late fee. 

If you fail to make a decision promptly it could be taken out of your hands and placed in the hands of others.  Avoiding decisions or avoiding paying bills may seem like the easier route to take but results are rarely desirable. 

The person who fails to develop their ability to make decisions is doomed because indecision sets up internal conflicts which can, without warning, escalate into all-out mental and emotional wars. This is known as ambivalence. Ambivalence can be explained as the coexistence in one person of opposite feelings toward the same objective.

Being in a state of constant ambivalence is not easy or fun. Usually, if a person does allow it to continue they will become very despondent and virtually incapable of any type of productive activity.

It is obvious that anyone who finds themselves in such a mental state is not living; at best, they are merely existing.

Making a Decision or a Series of Decisions Changes Everything

Why?

Because if you want to change your life and bring it into greater harmony with your natural state of well-being and ultimately also make this world an even better place, then you have to make a set of decisions that are going to bring you into alignment with this state.

For most of us, we can’t just simply make up our minds and make a different set of decisions.

If this was true, we’d all completely fulfill all of our New Year’s Resolutions in record time.

To make a different set of decisions often means that you have to change the stories you tell about who you are.

• People who feel lovable make a different set of decisions.

• People who feel powerful make a different set of decisions.

• People who are emotionally wise make a different set of decisions.

• People who trust themselves make a different set of decisions.

• People who feel vital and alive make a different set of decisions.

• People who feel safe being authentic make a different set of decisions.

• People who are decisive make a different set of decisions.

• People who know how to manage fear make a different set of decisions.

• People who value themselves make a different set of decisions.

 

Decision versus Indecision

According to Bob Proctor, a very basic law of the universe is “create or disintegrate”.

Indecision causes disintegration.

How often have you heard a person say, “I don’t know what to do” or heard yourself say, “What should I do?”

Think about some of the indecisive feelings you and virtually everyone on this planet experience from time to time: Examples include:

LOVE THEM – LEAVE THEM
QUIT – STAY
DO IT – DON’T DO IT
GO BANKRUPT – NO DON’T
GO TO WORK – WATCH TV
BUY IT – DON’T BUY IT
SAY IT – DON’T SAY IT
TELL THEM – DON’T TELL THEM

Everyone, on occasion, has experienced these feelings of ambivalence.

If it happens to you very often make a decision to stop it.

The cause of ambivalence is indecision, but this can be avoided if you learn to make sound decisions at the outset.

Furthermore, the greatest stumbling block you will encounter when making important decisions in your life is circumstance.

We let circumstances stand in our way when we should be giving it everything we’ve got. More dreams are shattered and goals lost because of circumstance than any other single factor.

How often do you find yourself saying, “I would like to do or have this but I can’t because…” Whatever follows “because” is the circumstance.

Circumstances may cause a detour in your life but you should never allow them to stop you from making important decisions.

 

Napoleon said, “Circumstances, I make them.”

 

Many people try something once or twice and if they do not succeed, they feel they are a failure.

Failing does not make anyone a failure, but quitting most certainly does, and quitting is a decision. By following this line of reasoning, you would have to say when you make a decision to quit, you make a decision to fail.

Everyone remembers Babe Ruth for the 714 home runs he hit and they rarely mention that he struck out 1,330 times.

Remember the world will soon forget your failures in light of your achievements. Don’t worry about failing, it will toughen you up and get you ready for your big win.

Winning is a decision.

And a key decision can alter your life.  Accept this fact and approach it with eagerness. 

 

 

  “If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”- Thomas Edison

 

How to Make Good Decisions in Life 

Decision-making requires a plan.

If you don’t know where you’re going then one decision is as good as the other.

Herewith is a simple but effective 3 step plan:

• Identify the purpose, and determine exactly what has to be solved and when. 

It might make the problem become clearer if you make a pro and con list.  Study the list and the different choices and evaluate each in terms of consequences.  If I make this decision what will happen and if I make another decision this is the result.

 

• Gather information on the decision to be made, determine the best alternative, and put that decision together with enthusiasm, into action.

 You might be criticized for making the wrong decision but you’ve done the best you can do with all the information available and you moved forward.  You made a decision.  You did something before being run over from behind.  The only people who are never criticized are those who do nothing.

 

• Evaluate and reflect on the outcome of your decision.

Spend a small amount of time reflecting on your outcomes. This is not a time to be critical but a time to look at what could be done differently if things are not going according to plan. Look back only to learn from your past decisions but don’t dwell on them.  Move ahead and focus on your future. 

 

It’s a good feeling to make a conscious decision about yourself and your life and each time you do this the process becomes easier and your confidence builds. 

Commit, make a difference, and take control of your life.

 

Tips on How To Make Quicker And Better Decisions at Work

Many aspiring leaders seek to become more efficient decision-makers.

Being a good decision-maker is a sought-after skill. It can often be the difference between a promotion or a pink slip.

In today’s uncertain times this skill lets you stand out on the team with quicker and better decisions. How do you become more accurate and effective at making decisions when it counts?

 

1. What is the objective of the mission? 

Know the objective of the decision and know your mission on the team.

Ask yourself: “What are we really trying to do here?”

Write it out, brainstorm, and discuss. Is it your role to solve this problem? Do you have the tools needed?

 

2. Seek Out Wisdom And Knowledge

Seek out, wise counsel. Really.

If you are surrounded by more experienced professionals who have done what you are about to do, ask questions, and inform yourself. Do needed research.

Don’t let pride or proving that you have it “all under control” blind you to great resources that are readily available all around you.

 

3. It Does Not Have To Be Perfect

Don’t overthink – just start. Make a plan. An imperfect, real plan.

Start doing the work that is deciding and solving. Take note of the effects and responses to your action.

This way you can adjust if needed.

 

4. Adjust Early

Be humble – adjust early if needed.

Don’t run the train off the track because you are unwilling to admit that you made a mistake. If your choice was wrong, own up to it in a professional way and make things right to the best of your ability.

It’s better to win the fight after a change of tactics than to get knocked out by your own ego and pride.

 

5. Control What You Can Control

It is important when making decisions to know what you truly have power over.

If it’s not your decision to make, stay out of the control room. Also – use this adage to relieve stress. Only focus on what you have the ability to decide on. This means staying focused and being able to take action without becoming overwhelmed by the details.

Decision-making does not have to be a tedious and stressful process.

With the right attitude, planning, and strategy you can become a faster, more efficient, and competent decision-maker. This is a great tool for the corporate world and everyday life. 

 

In Closing

Your life is important and, at its best, life is short. You have the potential to do anything you choose and to do it well. But, as decisions can not be avoided in life, when the time for making a decision arrives, you must make your decision where you are with what you’ve got.

You can virtually eliminate conflict and confusion in your life by becoming proficient at making decisions. Learning how to make wise decisions in life brings order to your mind, and of course, this order is then reflected in your outside world … your results.

 

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Tips on How to Make Good Decisions in Life