Article © Pathway to the Soul 2006
http://www.pathwaytothesoul.com

Top Tips for stress free Decision Making

Are you currently facing a major decision in your life or do you struggle to make day to day decisions ? If so read on to find out how you can make stress-free, clear and easy decisions and how you can relax and look forward to the results they bring whatever the outcome.

1. Use a win-win model

Often when we are facing a decision we see it in black and white terms with right choices and wrong choices. We are determined to do everything possible to select the right choice and if we dont, we believe the consequences will be terrible. This type of thinking paralyses us and we become afraid to move either way for fear of making the dreaded wrong choice.

Start to switch your thinking to the believe that the ‘wrong’ decision is an impossibility. Start thinking that either decision will ultimately bring you to the outcome you want and along the way will bring you opportunities to learn and to grow. Admittedly, one option may bring you to your desired outcome faster but perhaps the slower route is the route you need to take at this present time. It may bring you goodies that you might have missed out on.

2. Focus on the most important things

People can overload the decision making process with so many variables that what is really important gets lost. What should be a straight forward decision gets confused with minor considerations and you lose the focus for making the best decision.

In all decisions there are one or two factors that are the most important. Take some time to stand back from the decision and all the information available to you and to get clear on what these are. Then ensure that you hold these at the forefront of all considerations.

3. Take a Logical Approach

Approach decision making in a logical manner. First list all your options. Next find out as much about each option as you can. Talk to people who may be able to give you information, do research on the internet or through books and seek guidance from any source available to you.

From your research ascertain the following for each option:

• Does this option meet the most important factors I have identified
• What are the benefits of this option
• What is the cost of this option (financial and non-financial)
• How is this option likely to impact me in the short / medium and long term
• What is likely to be the best case scenario with this option
• What is likely to be the worst case scenario with this option

4. Trust your Instincts

Taking a logical approach is important to make sure you can see a full picture for all your options but ultimately it is also very important to trust your instincts. You are continuously picking up information unconsciously in the environment around you. This information which often comes in the form of gut instinct or good or bad vibes or feelings is often not translatable in to facts and figures or logical information but is none the less very valuable.

If an option looks good logically but your instincts are telling you that it is not the option for you, then trust your instincts. Equally trust your instincts if they tell you strongly that something is right but logically there appears to be a better option.

5. Get some Perspective

Most people take themselves and their decisions far too seriously. Learn to lighten up and put your decision in perspective. Most decisions are not the life and death matter that we make them out to be. Start to build trust and confidence in your self and tell yourself that whatever the outcome you will be able to handle it and in fact you will learn and grow from it. Then relax and enjoy whatever comes your way.

6. Correction is not a bad thing

It is very important to commit yourself to any decision you make and give it all you’ve got. But if it doesnt work out, then change it ! Many of us are so invested in making the ‘right’ decision that even if we find we dont like the path we have chosen, we hang in there for dear life.

This can be because we afraid of what people will say or because we are back in the mis-thinking that there was a right and wrong decision and that we’ve been stupid enough to make a wrong one.

Dont let pride get in the way. Remind yourself of all you’ve learned along this route and that hind sight is a great thing and then simply change path.

© Pathway to the Soul 2006

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