Confusion in making decisions?
By Azim Shaikh
(MSc, B.Ed)
We have to make decisions on a daily basis. Despite the fact that decision-making is an essential part of our lives, most people lack an understanding of its basics. Decision-making skills play a significant role in shaping our future. The decisions we make determine the college we attend, the company we work for, and even the person we choose as a life partner. This highlights the importance of developing decision-making skills. From deciding whether to wear a red dress to a friend's wedding to making a life-changing choice like quitting a job, decision-making is pivotal.
Let’s break it down. According to Oxford Languages, a decision is "a choice or judgment that you make after thinking about various possibilities." Some people tend to overthink their decisions, while others act impulsively without thinking enough. Both extremes are counterproductive. To navigate this, here are the steps of effective decision-making:
1. Identifying All Possible Options
This is often the most challenging step, particularly for those prone to overthinking. Overthinking can lead to stress, negativity, and even self-doubt, making it difficult to identify all the viable options. It’s also important to filter out "noise"—irrelevant thoughts that seem like genuine options but are not.
For example, a student deciding between a nearby local college and a reputed college far from home essentially has two practical options. The thought of abandoning their education due to confusion is "noise," not a genuine choice.
2. Comparing and Weighing Options
Having a clear objective in mind is crucial for this step. Once you’ve identified all relevant options, compare them by:
Listing all the positives (reasons) and negatives (consequences) of each option.
Weighing these positives and negatives against each other.
An option with strong positives and weak negatives should typically carry more weight.
For instance, a student choosing between a reputed college far from home and a local college nearby may weigh the benefits of reputation against the inconvenience of relocation. If the student is willing to move, they might choose the reputed college. However, if relocating is a significant negative and studying at a reputed college is only a minor positive, they may prefer the local college instead.
3. Committing to Your Decision
Once you’ve made your decision, stand by it. Commitment reflects confidence in your choice. If the first two steps were followed systematically, the selected option should theoretically be the best among all relevant choices. Regretting missed opportunities or second-guessing your decision is often counterproductive.
By following these steps, you can clear your mind of unwanted "noise" and make decisions with greater clarity. Most decisions yield consequences in the future, meaning there is no guarantee they will always turn out to be the best choice in hindsight. However, a systematic approach ensures that any negative outcomes are due to the unpredictability of the future, not carelessness in decision-making.
A Word of Caution: This guide may not apply to complex situations involving multiple people or options that are not directly under your control.
By adopting these principles, you can refine your decision-making process and minimize confusion.
(Image Credit: ¹Ribhav Agrawal, ²qimono sourced from Pixabay)
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