Decisions and How They Shape Your Destiny

By Jackie White

Some decisions are easy like choosing your favorite flavor of ice cream. Some decisions are more difficult, like deciding whether to take a job in another state. The one thing that is common for all decisions we do make, is that somehow, in some way, they impact our lives.

Now, choosing vanilla ice cream over chocolate is not going to rock your world, but decisions like choosing to take that job in Montana will definitely change the trajectory of your life.
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Some of those bigger decisions we need to make in our life can be exciting and also paralyzing. So, how do you know how to make the best decision? Begin by working through the anatomy of making a decision model.

The Anatomy of Decision Making
​ 6 Steps to Confident Decision Making

FOCUS: Get clear on your outcomes.
What do you really want? Is it more money, adventure, experience, love, family?
ASSESS: Identify your options and assess possible consequences
Make a list of every positive result and negative consequence you can think of if you choose a certain direction. This list should be a brain dump of anything that you might think could impact your life in a positive or negative manner.
EVALUATE: Based on your assessment of possible good outcomes and bad outcomes, evaluate your options. Begin to cross out those on the list that are inconsequential and focus on those that are likely significant outcomes if you choose a certain direction. This is the time to be most logical and not overly-dramatic. You know what I am talking about…
MEDITATE: Many decision-making models leave this step out, but it is likely one of the most powerful tools you have to make the right decision. Take time to quiet your mind, be still, ask the Universe or God for insight on the decision you need to make. Sometimes, you need to let your mind take it in and “get back to you” after a good night’s rest.
DECIDE: Choose the option that makes the most sense and will yield the best outcome for your overall life plan.
ACTION: Just because you have made a decision, doesn’t mean that you have acted on it. Taking action is critical to moving your decision forward and your life forward.
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Push Your Decision Making to the Next Level
If you want to even further enhance your ability to make not just “safe” decisions, but to make significant impactful life decisions that could really propel you forward, then you need to do some up- front work on raising your expectations.

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If you raise your expectations and push yourself out of your comfort zone, your decisions will be reflective of that attitude and your desire to want more. Of course, you still have to do the diligence of assessing the opportunities, but also evaluating the risk versus reward equation. This piece of decision making is paramount if living the life of your dreams is really on your agenda.

Finally, for Gosh Sakes, do not avoid making decisions! Decisions are fueling your life’s direction. Work through the decision-making model and know that you have thoroughly assessed the decision in front of you. Then step out confidently and make/act on that decision! You can do it! Believe me, your life will thank you when you choose to move forward rather than stall out!
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Shine On!