HEADS... No, wait, TAILS... No, no, no, HEADS HEADS HEADS... Yes, this time, it’s final. Does that sound like you are making an important life decision? Don’t worry. I get you. In this tale of life, you are the hero deciding which way is wiser and crossing your fingers to make sure it is indeed the right one! It’s not easy. It’s not even supposed to be.
Life is all about making decisions
Whether it’s your personal, professional, or social life, decision-making is inevitable. Even the small ones can alter the course of your life. Before you reach your goal, you will have to pick THE ONE, a million times. And sometimes, that can be scary.
But the fear of choosing the wrong one should not be the reason for not deciding at all. Tossing a coin might help you choose what to wear but will surely not help you decide the company you should get into for your job. So, get rid of the negative thoughts and read along to know the ways to become a good decision-maker!
Meditation and focused breathing
Our mind is cluttered with a million thoughts and the time to decide always seems less. So, how can you make the right decision at the right time? It’s simple. With a calm mind! That’s where meditation and pranayama come into the picture. They help you declutter your mind, which in turn helps you have better clarity, a strong intuition, and a clearer picture of the consequences. If overthinking is one of the reasons you can’t make the decision, check out this guided meditation to help yourself overcome it.
According to research, even a 15-minute focused-breathing meditation every day can help us make quick and smart decisions. Sudarshan Kriya is one such powerful breathing technique. Everything in the universe works in a particular rhythm and so does our breathing. This simple technique helps to harmonize our body, mind, and emotion through cyclical and rhythmic breathing.
If you haven’t tried Sudarshan Kriya yet, you can learn it at any of The Art of Living centers. But before that, if you want to know more about this wonderful technique, check out the free intro session.
Brainstorming
If you can’t decide, discuss. Start discussing with yourself. We are always better when it comes to advising our friends. So, list your options and ask yourself what advice would you give a friend in the same situation. Remember why you would give that advice.
Listen to your friends, family members, your colleagues, or the other people that you trust. Try to talk with people of different ages. Everyone will have a different perspective. You don’t have to do what they say, but their experience and opinion can help you make the right decision.
Pros and cons list can never go wrong
The most effective decision-making technique is ‘The Pros and Cons List’. It is a simple way to understand the advantages and disadvantages of a decision. It helps you objectively look at a situation and decide accordingly. Understand the what, who, when, where, and why of the situation, and include that in your list. Also, don’t shy away from including the pros and cons listed out by others. They are as important as yours.
Consider the Impact
The bigger the number, the harder it will be for you to decide. So, if you have several choices to make, rule them out one by one. Then, consider the impact of each one of them and limit your choice. It will help you think critically and decide better.
Evaluate the impact of your decision based on the environment it will affect. For example, if it is a professional decision like shifting to a new head office, assess how it will affect your career, your life, and the people around you. Once you know what’s important, you will know what to do.
Take the risk to decide
It’s you who has to decide in the end. So, don’t delay. Don’t procrastinate. Whether it is replying to your boss, sending a mail to an investor in your business, or telling your friend about something. Mark a timeline and make a decision at the right time.
The more you delay, the more chaotic the choices will become. So, after you have accessed everything, with a leap of faith based on your gut feeling, make that final decision.
Be okay with the consequences
No decision is ever right or wrong; they just have consequences. If the decision you make has wrong consequences by any chance, then learn from it. Learn to be okay with it. If you are hard on yourself for deciding a certain way, you will be hesitant to make a decision the next time. So, make peace with the previous decision, learn from it and move on.
Decision-making is a crucial aspect of your life. Practice all the tips mentioned above in your daily life and you won’t be anxious anymore to make a decision. And remember – whatever be others’ advice, yours is the only decision that matters.
