Never underestimate the impact that a correct decision can have on your life. Any wrong decision can ruin a relationship, career, or life. To have a sense of life satisfaction, we need to make wise choices, But when a challenge arises, and the road of life hits bumps, confusion suddenly comes. It’s natural to get confused when different options have pros and cons.
As we move through life, sudden occurrences require our attention and quick thinking; Should I give this person another chance? Should I use this job opportunity? Should I change my house? Under pressure to make the right choice, our decisions may be wrong. So what to do? Everyone always wants to make the right decision, But is this possible? The truth is not Because no one is perfect anyway. But you can improve your decision-making skills to make the best choice in any situation more confidently.
What is decision-making?
In psychology, decision-making is a cognitive process that leads to selecting a belief or a course of action among several possible alternatives. Decision-making is the process of identifying and choosing other options based on the decision-makers values, preferences, and beliefs. Every decision-making process produces a final choice that may or may not lead to immediate action.
To be able to make the right decision in different situations, there are simple solutions that we will explain below.
Keep calm.
Bad decisions are often made when you feel less relaxed. You may be in a situation where you feel anxiety, frustration, stress, pressure, and anger. These emotions are not ideal for making good decisions. Before making any decision, you should keep your composure.
Here’s a great relaxing exercise you can do to restore your sense of calm and positive thinking.
- Choose a quiet place and sit with a straight back.
- Place one hand on the abdomen just below the ribs.
- Place the other hand on the chest.
- Breathe deeply and slowly through the nose. Let your mind and the hand on your chest focus on filling your lungs with air.
- Hold the breath you have inhaled for about two seconds.
- Exhale slowly for about four counts. You can exhale through your mouth or nose.
- Repeat the entire process. Try to do this six to ten times in 10 minutes.
Don’t have time to do this exercise for 10 minutes? Do you need to make an urgent decision? If you can, close your eyes and breathe deeply and slowly to give yourself a quick relaxation.
Here are a few more suggestions to calm down and get rid of anxiety;
- Walk
- Listen to music
- Exercise
- Study
- Meditation
- Play with pets
Free yourself from negative thoughts and feelings.
Negative emotions can be very detrimental to making good decisions. Acting on decisions influenced by negative thoughts and feelings can lead to choices that are not wise and logical and hinder your progress. Some of the negative emotions that you should avoid are as follows;
Feeling hopeless:
When you are desperate, you will hope for almost any possible solution within reach. So it is essential to keep your positive thinking. Yes, sometimes you feel like the world is ending and there is no hope, but remember that this feeling is born of despair, and there is always an excellent solution to reach.
Feeling afraid:
When you are afraid, you make decisions that make you feel safe. This can prevent you from progressing and cause you to stagnate. To carefully examine the situation and make the right decision, you must give yourself time, overcome fear, and make a brave decision.
Feel guilty:
Many people make decisions out of guilt. You may be in a situation where you have to make a certain decision due to external pressures. This feeling will eventually lead to a choice made to make someone else happy, and you may end up regretting that decision in the future. Wait until you can make a rational choice, and don’t let someone make you feel guilty about making a decision you are not 100% sure of.
Feeling rushed:
If you feel like you have to make a decision right away, you may make quick and impulsive decisions you haven’t thought through. Haste always leads to terrible and wrong choices.
Collect information.
You must have enough information about the subject before making any decisions. Suppose you think you don’t know everything about the situation. In that case, you won’t be able to make a choice that is the best option available. Next, we will tell you how to collect the necessary information.
Do some research:
If you are in a position to research it, take the help of the Internet and search everything there.
Don’t know which apartment to choose for moving? Research public transportation stops, grocery stores, neighborhoods, etc.
Have you found your desired career but don’t know how to start it? Look for the prerequisites and skills required, the budget required to start, the quality of its labor market, etc.
It doesn’t matter what you want to make the right decision about; the Internet is your friend! A big world of everything you want to know about and different people’s different experiences is on your computer, which can be the most extensive help to you.
Ask questions:
If someone has asked you to decide on an issue, don’t hesitate to ask them questions. It is your right to want more information about the matter. Someone who has asked you to decide should be fine informing you of all aspects.
Do not be influenced by other people’s opinions:
This means that everyone can give you correct and logical advice. Most people, at least subconsciously, have a biased view of some part of the story or person, and they probably can’t give you the right advice.
Ask the opinion of your close and trusted people.
Need help with making a decision? Talk to someone you can trust and ask for their opinion. Friends, family, co-workers, or anyone else you can trust are all excellent options to ask for feedback. But be aware that asking how many people for their opinion can confuse you the most.
Another way is to look for people who have been in the same situation as you and had to make a decision. Talk to them and use their experience to make the right decision.
Be patient.
Above, we talked about making decisions in a hurry. If you want to make the best decision, you must ensure you are on time. Here are some tips that can help you.
Give yourself time:
Give yourself time to review the situation and weigh the available options. Pause, think about possible decisions, think about your reactions to them, and take a deep breath. If you find yourself in a situation where you are asked to make a quick decision, ask for more time to think.
Sleep:
Sleep is a wonderful way to organize your thoughts. After you’ve decided and feel confident about it, go to bed and see if you feel the same way in the morning.
Stay away from the topic:
Many people make their best decisions when they are slightly off-topic and unfocused. So distract yourself with other things. Let there be space between you and the situation. The real solution may come to your mind when you don’t expect it.
Be your own devil’s advocate:
If you reach a conclusion, try to defend the opposite decision with arguments and become your own devil’s advocate. If you get to the point where the other decision makes sense, you may need to reconsider. This is a very common form of decision-making, and researchers have found that it can positively affect your thought process and decision-making.
Organize your thoughts.
When making big decisions, many thoughts and clutter in your mind can be annoying. It is essential to organize your thoughts before making a decision. Here are some ways to organize your thoughts.
Make a list of available options:
What are all your choices? List them all in an organized manner. This way, you can see your options without cluttering your mind.
Make a list of possible outcomes:
Now that you have reviewed the available options list the possible outcomes of these decisions. This will help you see which choices will work best in the long run.
Make a list of pros and cons:
Still, trying to make the right decision? Write the pros and cons of each. Some negative options may clarify everything, and some positive aspects are constructive to reach certainty in decision-making.
Talk about it:
If all the ways we’ve said so far have failed, talk about it. You don’t have to go to someone to talk; talk to yourself! Talking out loud about cluttered thoughts can be a miracle to organize your thoughts and reach a conclusion.
Make a decision that will clear your conscience.
Your decision should not affect your conscience negatively. Your choices should be in line with your moral principles and personal beliefs. In the following, we will tell you how to be sure of making the right decision.
Think about the people who will be affected by your decision:
Will your decision affect other people? Yes. You have the final say on the decisions that change your life, but you may also want to consider how your choices affect those you care about.
Be honest with yourself:
Think about what is important to you. Do you value family? What are your goal and desire? Social justice? Financial benefit? Law? Whatever it is, let this value guide your choice.
Do not make decisions to annoy others:
Taking revenge on someone who has hurt you or wronged you can be accompanied by pleasure, but this pleasure should not be the primary motivation and reason for your decision. Besides, the best option is to move on with your life with kindness and forgiveness.
Trust your instincts.
Your intuition is worth trusting. If all else fails, remember your first feelings about the subject. These feelings often reflect your innermost preferences. Of course, it might not be your first choice, but your instincts are a sure guide if you need help figuring out which decision is best.
In general, don’t overanalyze. Those who are forced to make decisions based on emotions can feel better about the outcome of the decision. Look inside yourself for a moment and see what decision gives you a positive and better feeling. The truth is that the better you are at making decisions, the more accurate your intuition is. So keep practicing; Soon, your instincts will be too reliable to make the right decisions.
What is decision-making in psychology?
In psychology, decision-making is a cognitive process that leads to selecting a belief or a course of action among several possible alternatives. It is the process of identifying and choosing other options based on the decision-maker’s values, preferences, and beliefs.
What are some ways to keep calm when making a decision?
Some ways to keep calm when making a decision include doing a relaxing exercise, walking, listening to music, exercising, studying, meditating, and playing with pets.
What are some negative emotions that can affect decision-making?
Negative emotions that can affect decision-making include feeling hopeless, feeling afraid, feeling guilty, and feeling rushed.
How can I collect information to make a decision?
You can collect information to make a decision by doing some research, asking questions, and not being influenced by other people’s opinions.
What should I do if I need help making a decision?
If you need help making a decision, you can ask the opinion of your close and trusted people, look for people who have been in the same situation as you, and had to make a decision.
How can I be patient when making a decision?
You can be patient when making a decision by giving yourself time, sleeping on it, staying away from the topic, and being your own devil’s advocate.
How can I organize my thoughts when making a decision?
You can organize your thoughts when making a decision by making a list of available options, making a list of possible outcomes, making a list of pros and cons, and talking about it.
How can I make a decision that will clear my conscience?
You can make a decision that will clear your conscience by thinking about the people who will be affected by your decision, being honest with yourself, not making decisions to annoy others, and trusting your instincts.
Should I trust my instincts when making a decision?
Yes, your intuition is worth trusting. If all else fails, remember your first feelings about the subject. These feelings often reflect your innermost preferences. Of course, it might not be your first choice, but your instincts are a sure guide if you need help figuring out which decision is best.
