Tips on making decisions.

From the moment you start out in the morning, everything that happens begins with making decisions. Your daily decisions however, are made subconsciously.

Most people live dissatisfied lives. They feel unfulfilled. They dislike their jobs, stay in relationships that they hate and are unhappy with their circumstances.

Why are these people reluctant to decide on taking new actions and gain control over their lives?

The vast majority of people are afraid of the uncertainties from the results of making decisions. They doubt themselves, feel insecure and uneasy. They fear that other people will not approve and they will lose their self-esteem.

Making decisions require courage. You are where you are now because of the choices you have made in the past. Whether you make a new decision today or remain with you daily subconscious habits and patterns of thinking will determine your future.

If you want to grow, mature and succeed you will need to make a commitment to direct your own destiny. Otherwise, you will be left with reacting to circumstances.

No matter what your role in life, you are posed with problems and choices to make each day. You either face or avoid them. If you exercise your power in decision making, you will trigger the actions and consequences will follow.

The result that is happening in your life is the accumulation of the numerous decisions that you have made.

Here are a few guidelines on making decisions.

• Identifying your problem or the situation that needs attention.

Whatever you do in life, the first thing you need to do is define what it is that you want to achieve or solve.

Write it down on paper. It gives you clarity. If you do not make it clear, you may end up overlooking the real problem or identifying it wrongly.

And you will tend to make the decision swiftly and easily based on your past solutions even though it has not worked.

• Reframe the problem or situation.

Look at it from a different point of view. When you are having an argument for example, look at it as an observer and see it as though it is happening to someone else. What would your reaction be?

When you see the problem differently you will create a different meaning and your experience will change. And you will create more choices when you see things from different perspectives.

• Ask good questions and gather information.

You need information to make new decisions. And asking the right questions gives you ideas and solutions. Ask yourself and others for views and that will spark your mind for creative solutions. Word your questions differently to further stimulate your mind.

If you rely on your limited list of choices based on the familiar and the most recent events, you are limited in your possibilities of creating new solutions.

• List your alternatives.

Combine and associate all your ideas. Consider the risks involved and the possible gains. Look at the pro and cons. What are the drawbacks?

With more alternatives, you will have more freedom to achieve a desirable outcome.

• Know your values.

Knowing your moral standards will help you in making decisions without thinking of immediate gratification or relying on your emotions. Your values on what you believe in and what you stand for will guide your decision making process.

• Decide.

If you are still unsure and see several desirable options, trust your intuitions. Your inner guidance will lead you to the right decision.

Toughen yourself mentally and remove any remaining doubts and uncertainties and make the decision.

Of course there is a risk making mistakes or making the wrong decisions but you can rectify the situation and correct your course.

We have been told many times that a wrong decision is better than not making any.

The countless decisions that you make through your journey in life will empower your personal growth. This habit that you develop is important to your success and your mental health.

It gives you a peace of mind knowing that you have control over your own life. Having control gives you the power to commit to your own rules and also having the flexibility to make corrective actions.

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