5 Tips for Making Better Decisions.
Do you struggle with making decisions? (Whether they’re big, or small decisions!) If you said yes - you're not alone! Recently, a friend reached out on Instagram, and shared that she was struggling with making big decisions. In this post, I'm sharing 5 tips for making Better Decisions!
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Recently, a friend on Instagram shared that she was struggling with making big decisions. And just a few weeks later, I found myself having a chat with my Mom about a difficult decision we needed to make. (More on that later!) It seemed like the stars were aligning for me to share some tips for making big decisions! My hope is that you’ll feel a LOT more peaceful the next time you need to “call it.”
I’ve found that making decisions usually comes with uncomfortable feelings. You might start to feel pushed, rushed, overwhelmed, stressed out, un-aligned, or start avoiding stuff. If you’re feeling those things about a particular thing… there’s a good chance it’s time to make a decision!
About a month ago, my Mom and I signed our kids up for a local craft fair. The idea was that the kids take the helm, create a small business, and run a booth for a morning craft event. So cool, right? 😎 But the closer we got the event, the more obvious it became: The kids were JUST. NOT. READY. The combo of my kids and my little brothers does NOT make for focused kids. 😂 (And that’s okay! They’re kids!)
Last week we looked at each other and realized; “We’re going to be doing this craft fair, not the kids…” And, that’s literally NOT the point. So… we had to make a BIG decision: To participate in the event, or not? Here’s how we came to a decision…
5 Tips for Making Better Decisions:
Find your “Benchmark” Statement.
My “benchmark” statement is “Go where there’s Peace.” As a woman of faith, I believe that God is NOT the author of confusion, so if I’m feeling confused, something is out of alignment. In this instance, Mom and I locked eyes, and I asked “Where is the peace?” We both INSTANTLY knew the answer: Cancel.
Your phrase may not be “Go where there’s peace,” but it could be “No Rush, No Fuss!” or, “Slower is better!” Take some time to think about what matters to you when it comes to living your best life. (Peace? Alignment? No Stress? No Rush?) Then, create a Benchmark Statement that can help kickstart your decision-making process.
Stop & Evaluate.
Take a step back, and ask yourself “Is this something I can say no to?” If not, then you might need to rearrange your schedule, grit your teeth, and get through the commitment! I really encourage you to be a woman of your word.
But if you can step back or say no to the commitment… WHY do you want to step back or say no? WHY do you think it’s wise to let go of this thing? Grab a journal (or chat with a trusted friend!), and talk out all the reasons why you’re feeling the urge to step back/say no.
* PLEASE NOTE: I would really encourage you to come to your own conclusion BEFORE you ask someone else for advice, especially if you’re new to decision making! There is nothing wrong with asking for wise counsel… but if you’re always asking for help, you’re not learning to trust your own decisions. Work through these 5 steps on your own, and run your findings by someone you trust. ☺️
MAKE. THE. CALL.
At some point, you’re going to have to do the uncomfortable thing and CALL IT. If you’re stepping back or saying no to something, it’s not going to be easier if you put it off — You’re just adding to your stress load. So pick up the phone, send the email… do whatever it takes to finalize the decision.
Notice what Happens.
This is such an important step!!! After you’re done, you may feel some “stressy” emotions (anxiety, sad, upset, worried)… that’s totally normal, especially if you struggle with indecision or people-pleasing! Let those emotions ride, and notice what happens in the hours, days, and weeks following.
After making the decision to cancel the craft fair, I felt sad and guilty. And almost immediately following that, I felt relieved. Then peace! In the following days, life felt lighter, easier, and felt like it was flowing. All in all, the decision was a good one, and life was better.
Prepare for IMPACT!
I know… that sounds dramatic. 😂 But, the truth is, not everyone is going to love your new-found decision making skills. Someone might get angry that you’re putting up new boundaries. Someone else might not like that you’re not as easy-going as you normally are! My kids were NOT happy with our decision… and it was hard to walk it out and stay firm.
The best way to prepare for impact is to GROUND yourself in your decision! This is why it’s so good to STOP and REFLECT (see point 2). Taking the time to really get grounded in WHY this decision is wise, good, and right helps you to learn to trust your own decisions. You’ll be better able to trust your choices, and yourself.
Learning how to trust yourself to make better decisions will take TIME! The first couple times you do it, it will probably feel like nails on a chalkboard. 😩 (I’m here for a Wonder Session, if you need a listening ear!) But, the more you do it, the easier it becomes, and the more you’ll trust yourself to make wise decisions. 🌿
Need a listening ear to chat about making a decision?
Let’s meet up for a Wonder Session!
You'll get a ½ hour chat with me to talk about mindset, intentional living, or whatever — no strings attached. 😉