The Influence of Decisions in Daily Life- How to Pick the Right Option

”In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”  -- Theodore Roosevelt

Destiny is a name given to the series of choices one makes in the course of their existence. Every action has a ripple effect on a person’s life.  While our decisions guide us, the power to control fate lies in our hand.

This sense of responsibility can often become overwhelming. When you know that the course for your life is in your control, you have no one but yourself to blame in case things do not go as plan.  Hence, you ruminate and reflect over every minute aspect, examining all possible elements to make the perfect decision. However, on many occasions, most impulsive choices are usually the most benefitting.

Recently, the case of a ten-year-old boy from Pittsburgh, New York, revealed the power of impulsive decisions.  Benjamin Giroux, who struggles with autism, wrote a poem inspired by himself for a classroom assignment. After reading the poem, Benjamin’s father uploaded the content on Twitter, where the poem went viral after being shared on the National Autism Association’s Facebook page.

As a result of the preceding, Benjamin Giroux won several awards and got his poem illustrated in a children’s book, which will soon be published. Additionally, his magnum opus has become an inspiration for contemporary music as well as tattoo designs.

Considering the impact of one spur of the moment decision, to put this simply, - a modest choice can become a life-changing moment. With that being said, engaging in overthinking can also be problematic. Individuals should aim for moderation during the process of decision making. The ensuing guide offers insightful tips on how to make the right decision quickly:

·         Identify the cons: Before making any decision, the first question you need to ask yourself is ‘how can this choice potentially harm me?’ It would help if you analysed the cost of making a particular choice before moving forward with it. Consider this from the perspective of three questions:

o   Can you handle the adverse effects of the decision?

o   The amount of damage the decision can do?

o   Can the outcome be controlled?

By uncovering the answers to these questions, you will understand whether the choice is worth making or not. You can devise a gradient scale on which you can determine the extent of harm, which the decision can cause. Based on these values, you can either move forward with the choice or let it go.  

·         Recognise its significance: Being a hedonistic species, human beings only strive towards actions which maximise their pleasure. Hence, every isolated choice is a consequence of the innate desire to attain gratification.
Considering this, you can resolve by knowing what the choice means to you. If every bone in your body desires to make a particular choice, then it essential to go for it. Even if you mess up, you are bound to learn from your actions and consequently, grow from them.
The choices made often become the basis of who the person eventually becomes. Thus, there are no wrong decisions. On the contrary, there are only illegal methods applied to deal with negative consequences.
Keeping this in mind, you can choose to do the thing which you strongly wish to do while trusting yourself to be capable enough to pick yourself up, in case it doesn’t work out the way you initially expected it to.
For instance, if you want to take essay help online from an online source, you should take the risk and go for it. If the returned product is not what you expected, you can learn from the experience and avail the refund policy.

·         Trust your instincts: Instincts also play a significant role in the decision-making process. Deep down, you are well aware of the things which are right for you, as well as the things which can be potentially harmful. When the voice inside your head speaks to you, it is imperative to trust it and believe that it is the right decision for you.
Taking Benjamin Giroux case into account, it is evident that the father had an instinct regarding the potential of his son’s poem. His impulsive decision to post the poem online ultimately initiated his son’s career.

·         Visualise yourself as having already made the decision: Visualisation can give you a deep insight into your state of mind. This process of indirect introspection can help you resolve internal conflicts.

While engaging in this process, notice the feelings which stem from imagining that you have already taken the decision. If you feel relieved, then the conclusion must be what you truly want.

·         Do not be afraid: As stated earlier, there is no such thing as a wrong decision. Whatever you choose to do, will become beneficial for you, only if you stay committed to finding a solution.
Any decision you take is still better than taking absolutely no action. Push yourself to take risks and believe that they will pay off.

·         Contemplate your options:  When you have multiple options, you are provided with the luxury of examining all the varieties thoroughly. When you carry out an in-depth analysis on what each decision has to offer, you can adopt the resolution which provides you with the maximum amount of benefits.

·         Talk it through: Talking about the crossroads you are facing can land you in a moment of epiphany. There is a difference between thinking about your problems and saying them out loud. When you talk about something, you physically hear yourself outlining the issue. Often, this can provide you with a moment of realisation during which you figure out what you need to do.