4 Keys to Making Good Decisions
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!
Have you ever dreaded making a decision? I'm not talking about choosing what you will eat for dinner or deciding if you want the blue sweater or the red one. I'm talking about heart-pounding, sweaty palms, asthma-invoking dread that surfaces when you have to make choices that are potentially life-altering. It's that fear of decision-making that fosters our indecisiveness! We tell ourselves that if we just do nothing about it then we're off the hook. Perhaps everything will just work itself right? But deciding not to decide is essentially deciding!
It doesn't matter if you're young or old, making smart choices is vital. Becoming successful in life starts with making good decisions. Someone should be able to look at your decisions and see where you are headed. Over the years, I developed a set of questions that I call the "T Test" to help guide me through periods of indecisiveness. If you're on the fence about something, ask yourself the following questions:
The TELL Test
Would I want anyone to know about this choice I'm making? Would I tell anybody?
If you’re making a decision and you worry about what others will think, then it could be an indication that it’s not the right thing to do. If the choice you are making would have serious, negative implications if the word got out, then chances are the decision is unethical. Those types of choices can lead to secrets. And it's those secrets that can ruin your reputation and character. Your public life and your private life should match.
“The man of integrity walks securely but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9
The TROUBLE Test
Will it harm other people? Will it cause trouble for others?
One of the biggest mistakes we make in life is to forget how much our actions effect other people. Each day we are tempted to make decisions that are the best thing for us but may have a devastating effect on others. There is no such thing as it will only effect me. Everything you do has an effect on someone whether it be directly or indirectly.
The TEMPTATION Test
Am I being tempted to do something that goes against my values?
Are you tempted to do something you told yourself you would never do? Do you feel rushed? Do you feel pressured to do something that you don't have a peace about? If you answered yes then it could be that some external factor is pushing you to do something that you shouldn't do. Always remember: Make decisions based on PURPOSE, not pressure!
The TIME Test
Am I investing my time wisely? Does this choice add value to my life? Am I investing in things that are going to matter in the future?
If you want to make an impact with your life - you've got to control your time. Time is the one thing in life we can’t get more of. Effective people figure out what is essential and what is trivial in life. They spend more of their time doing the essential things and less time doing the trivial things.
Periods of struggle arise when we find ourselves having to choose between whats best for our life and whats easiest for our life. This is a hard place to be in especially if you have ever found yourself in a tired or depressed state. You want a quick fix. You want to do what’s easy. But next time you find yourself at this crossroad, try these questions to help you sort it out. Making good decisions the first time is the key to living a life with no regrets.
Have you ever had to make a tough choice? What steps did you take to help you make a decision? Share your thoughts in the comments below.