Better Decision Making

Do you ever struggle with decision making?  

Because I’m a life coach, people often approach me and ask me for advice on what decision they should make.

And I never tell them what I think. (well, mostly never!)

Because my job as a life coach isn’t to give advice on what you should do.

My job is to help you see your own brain and discover your own thinking, so that you can make the best decision for you.

Because I will never know what the best decision is for you.  

But, here’s a trick I use with my clients to help them make a decision they can stand behind.

Rather than just a pro/con list, ask yourself this question:

'What is my reason for making/not making the decision?'

For example, if you are thinking about moving, ask yourself the reason you want to move.

(This requires some brutal honesty in order to make a decision you feel really good about, but dig deep - you can do it!)

• Maybe you want to move because your home really is too small – or too big.

• Maybe you want a more prestigious neighborhood.

• Maybe your neighbors drive you crazy.

• Maybe you want a better entertaining space.

• Maybe you want more/less yard to take care of.

• Maybe you want more/less space for your kids to come and stay.

List all of the reasons you can think of for why you want/don’t want to make a particular decision.

And then you ask yourself if you like your reason.

Don’t ask if you like the decision, ask if you like your reason.

When you can get behind your reason, it’s a whole lot easier to get behind your decision.

And there is no perfect reason, just reasons you like and don't like.

Reasons that connect to who you really are and your values, and reasons that don't.

This can take some thinking to really get to the place where you are honest with yourself about your reasons, and I can promise you will want to self-edit as you go, only writing down the things that seem virtuous and kind and appropriate, but get them all down on paper.

See what's really going on in your brain and you'll find it easier to make a decision you can stand behind.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Want to look at this concept more in-depth?  

Check out podcast #109 Your Reasons Matter . . . A Lot