Making careful decisions

Hello reader,

I hope this finds you safe and well wherever you are reading this from. Today I decided to write something different and also quite difficult. Difficult because it is the kind of subject that you are likely to read a whole book about, so compressing those tons of information into a 3 minute blog post is a challenge.

Here it goes.

Have you ever sat down and thought about your life and certain decisions you have taken? I know you have. We all have. Whether decisions end up leading to a good or bad outcome, it affects our lives one way or another. 

In a recent post about Facing my regrets I spoke about the decisions and choices I made over the years which I am not proud of because I veered off my dream. In most of those cases, the decision I made was essentially to give up and try something else. My life has worked out alright but that's because between then and now, I have been able to make some careful decisions and steps. Here are a few things to consider in making careful decisions before taking those important steps into it.

1.Don't make decisions in haste.

Here is a quote for you 

"Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste."

                                                                                        Benjamin Franklin

Ponder is a word which means to pause and think... brood over a decision or situation.

Speeding is against the law and also a number 1 killer including the drivers themselves. Don't speed into decisions or else you might kill your opportunities.

2.Consider past experiences.

Experience is the best teacher as they say. So let's learn from our mistakes and do things correctly the next time.

3. Seek advice.

"There is wisdom in the multitude of counsellors."

                                                                                             Proverbs 11:14

The quote above doesn't mean you should tell everyone your problems. 

Counsellors are people who are unbiased listeners and at hand to help and guide you. The kind of counsellors you need to seek advice from are people who are 1.mature and 2. experts or experienced. They are better suited to point you in a right/promising direction.

4. Consider end results.

Questions: Where do you want to go? What will the dream look like?

Every journey begins with a destination at hand. Even life has a destination and I am afraid to say that destination by nature seems to be death, not riches.

So before you take any decision, think of what it will give you or what you hope to be doing at point B.

5. Imagine the journey through the decision.

Questions: How do you want to get there? What will the journey look like?

You are thinking of climbing Mount Everest, you must research into what it is like. What kind of terrain does it have? What challenges are involved? How long does it take? What clothing, equipment/gear will you need. What skills and training will you need?

When you have your answers, you can decide if it is a challenge you can handle. You must literally imagine yourself on that journey. Going through the highs and lows you did or didn't anticipate. Keeping your eyes on the destination. And developing solid problem-solving and decision-making skills along the way.

6. Don't journey alone.

There are very few jobs in life which involve working in isolation. Very very few. Almost all jobs involve working in a team.

So going back to my previous point [3] about seeking advice and experts. I am imagining an explorer who wants to journey to the summit of Mount Everest. Did you know that they don't journey alone? At the bottom of the mountain, there are skilled experienced mountaineers who are paid to lead them to the top. Sports people have their coaches. Entertainers have their managers. Employees have their bosses or line managers. Top businessmen/women have their business mentors or strategists too. So life is never about us doing it alone. 

"Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up."

                                                                        Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 

I pray that we find faithful helpers to journey with on our way and that we also be faithful helpers to those we encounter in life. 

Till next time, 

Happy living,

Claudy xoxo

Sources

1. Benjamin Franklin quote - https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/haste.html
2. Bible quotes sources from Bible gateway.com

Proverbs 11:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2011%3A14&version=NKJV

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecc+4%3A9-10&version=NKJV