Am I Making the Right Decision?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakefowler/6242689412/

Sometimes when faced with two clear paths (or more), a pause is most valuable. The roads are before you, and you cannot see where the roads lead, because further down each path, there may be more crossroads. When we are faced with a decision, we assume several things: 1. The decision is permenant, as if there will be no more alternatives down the line. 2. The future you are picturing (picking) will come true the way you think it will, (as if you can see the future). 3. The choice you pick is the right decision. But we wont know until we are able to look back and see more clearly where that decision put us.

To rephrase your directive, do not think “am I making the RIGHT decision”, think “am I making a good choice”.

To make a good choice, you need to consider 5 things:
1. Your gut (intuition)
2. Your mind (logical)
3. Your loved ones (affecting others)
4. Your alternatives (other choices)
5. Your time (no hasty decisions)

Do not consider your emotions. Making decisions when emotions are raw or fresh, regardless if they are happy emotions, (Oh he is so wonderful I will leave my whole life for him….popular in movies, because the movie ends, and your life doesn’t) or angry emotions, (my wife got me so mad, I am leaving, permenantly).

Listening to your gut, ask yourself: Does the new situation feel good, will I be comfortable and relaxed?
Listening to your mind, ask yourself: Does this make sense? Think about all the possible outcomes, and the obstacles you will face with both choices.
Thinking of your loved ones, ask yourself: What will they gain/lose from my decision? Am I willing to put them through the pain or will their joy overcome the pain.
Thinking of alternatives, ask yourself: Is this your only choice? Are their other options? Staying in your current situation is an alternative, is that a choice?
Thinking of time, ask yourself: Must I make the decision right now, or can I wait a week or a month? When MUST the decision need to be made?

Be aware of your pitfalls, that may stop you from making the right decision: Fear, uncertainty, lack of confidence, previous decisions that went wrong, or just not making a decision. As said by the great rock band RUSH, “you are making a decision, by not making a decision”.

My best friend (my husband) always says, when you are a pilot, and you are heading down the runway, at some point, it is up to you to take off, or abort. Once you made the decision to fly, you got to go, or you’ll crash.

So, take it slow down the runway, take your skill, plane and environment into account, make the decision to fly or abort. If you abort, there will be another day to fly. If you decide to fly, focus well, throttle up your engines and fly! Once you have made it, face it with all your energy and enthusiasm, you’ll be airborne. Enjoy the flight.

photo credit: Jake Fowler via photopin cc
photo credit: Daniel Pascoal via photopin cc