Never has life involved so many decisions. Even asking for a glass of water and picking a roll from the bread basket in a restaurant requires several choices and that’s before you look at the menu! It’s not just the small stuff, either. Should I have botox? Should I retrain for a new job? Where should I live? No wonder many of us feel so overwhelmed that we end up stalling and letting events take their course. It’s not just the small stuff, either. Should I have botox? Should I retrain for a new job? Where should I live? No wonder many of us feel so overwhelmed that we end up stalling and letting events take their course.

Inevitably, we’re afraid of making the wrong decision. What if I say yes to the less expensive but unknown decorators to paint the house and they mess it up? What if I go for that promotion at work, but don’t get it? What if we move house for better schools but my children aren’t happy?

The trouble is, it’s actually more important to be decisive than we night realise. Not making a decision allows that choice to be made by someone else or even random external factors. Either way, we have less control over our own lives and are passive rather than active, in determining how our lives unfold. This has a huge impact on our happiness. People who feel responsible for their own position and decisions say they feel far more satisfied and fulfilled than those who do not. Good decision-makers often use a logical process that involves four stages and it always helps to isolate these steps..

Understanding the situation and problem
Working out what really matters
Coming up with carious options
Putting the preferred option into practice

Even if you’re the kind of person who deliberates over every choice, it is possible to train yourself to be more decisive. Here’s how..

Rediscover the real you – does your indecisiveness stem from losing sight of your own identity? When you have to be employee, wife and mother it’s easy to get into the habit of suppressing your own likes, dislikes and needs. Try making a list of your top three core values to reconnect. Ask yourself: What do I stand for? What do I believe in? What do I want to achieve in my life? What do I love and hate? Once we remind ourselves who we are, the decision-making process becomes easier because we can base all our decisions on our strengths and weaknesses, goals and ambitions.

How To Make The Right Decision Continued

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