There was a time in our lives when decisions and choices were made for us. As babies, toddlers, pre-teens and as teenagers. We most likely had an authority figure, especially our parents, have something to say about our choices.
But there comes a time when we have to step up and make decisions for ourselves.
If we are to be honest, we cannot confidently say that we have always made the right choices have we? In fact, we most likely have at one time or another other made decisions that have affected us or other people negatively. And there is no guarantee that we still will not fall into that trap.
Everyone’s desire is to look back on our lives and say, ‘that was a good decision I made, ‘I am going to make the right choice for sure’. Even if that did not happen, we should at least be able to say we learnt from a bad decision we made.
How do we make good choices?
If we want to maintain mental well-being, and not keep looking back on situations and the consequences of bad decisions, we are going to have to work on ourselves, learn from our mistakes and begin to make what is commonly referred to as ‘informed decisions.
Indeed.com described the term ‘informed decision’ as a choice that individuals make once they have all the information related to the decision topic. It involves analysing potential outcomes, benefits and risks associated with each option, and then deciding which choice is the best for you.
Making an informed decision improves confidence, creates realistic expectations, knowledge of one’s options and having better control concerning that decision.
To make an informed decision, it’s important that we are able to:
- Determine the issue by identifying the problem you want to solve. Ask yourself which option can help you achieve your goals and the obstacles that may present themselves.
- Perform extensive research on the subject. Gather data from credible sources that can offer insight on the subject, eg, books, internet, academic studies or articles written by experts or other experienced individuals, that can offer more insight on the subject.
- Consider the outcome and make a decision. After the research, analyse and compare positive and negative aspects of the outcome and make your decision.
- Discuss the outcome with one or more person(s). Depending on the kind of decision you want to make, it is good take bounce your ideas of a trusted and knowledgeable person.
Conclusion
Hopefully, taking the above actions will help you make the right choices. As mentioned, you may not be able to do this alone, so keep talking and seeking the support you need. You can do it!
I’ll leave you with this anonymous quote:
Your life is a result of the choices you make. If you don’t like your life, it is time to make better choices.
Anonymous