How do I make the right decision?

Every day we make hundreds of insignificant decisions from the time we wake up until we close our eyes at night. And throughout our lives we will have to make some significant decisions about our education, career, relationships, finances, family, faith and the list goes on and on.  Unfortunately, the decisions get tougher as we age but I’d like to think that as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned more about how to make the right decision.

Your “gut” is a fascinating tool and when I’ve trusted mine it has guided me in the right direction. More often than not, we ignore that unsettling feeling we have at the bottom of our stomach. Or pass it off as “just nerves”, but strangely and uniquely, our bodies and minds are connected. It’s a sign! When we pay attention to our physicality and what it is trying to tell us, it can be a powerful tool. Sometimes its referred to as intuition or a sixth sense, whatever you call, it happens to make us pay attention. Don’t take it lightly, listen to it with patience, understanding, and trust. 

So while it is great to think you know everything, quite frankly, it can be quite empowering to accept that you don’t. When you are able to acknowledge that you have more to learn it opens the door for you to be taught.  Others have come before and gained invaluable insight so it is worthwhile seeking their input. Pride can be very dangerous, and block you from getting the insight or information you need to make a good decision. It doesn’t mean you have to do what they tell you, but carefully weigh what they share with your own wisdom and experience. What they have to offer just may give you what you need to make the right decision for yourself. 

The path to good decisions is paved by a plethora of bad ones. It’s okay; it’s a normal part of the process. However, it is an essential tool for making better decisions to own your mistakes. We all know Einstein’s definition of insanity is “doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome”. Take responsibility and learn from them. To effectively make decisions we must take a closer look at our mistakes and what went wrong in order to take steps in the right direction.