Category Archives: Decisions

“Never make a big decision without sleeping on it.”

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“Never make a big decision without sleeping on it.”

—Martha Stewart, TV personality, entrepreneur, author, and businesswoman

Image from Unsplash by Sabri Tuzcu

When faced with a big decision, it’s tempting to act impulsively.

However, taking a step back and sleeping on it can be incredibly beneficial.

A night’s rest allows emotions to settle and rational thinking to prevail. This pause gives us time to reflect on potential outcomes and consider different perspectives.

This simple practice can lead to greater clarity and confidence in our choices, ultimately guiding us to more fulfilling and successful lives.

EXERCISE:

Two books that can help you make better personal and professional decisions, especially with a good night’s sleep are:

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Decisive: How to make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip and Dan Heath

Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions

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“Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.”

—Barbara Hemphill, author of Less Clutter More Life

Image from Unsplash by Tomas Yates

How do you feel about clutter?

Where do you see clutter in your world? What impact does it have on your general mood and attitude?

The idea of clutter being postponed decisions piqued my curiosity and caused me to take a deeper dive into my desires or aversions to tidying up.

Since I enjoy cooking I decided to de-clutter my fridge.

Checking and using only the freshest ingredients raised my spirits knowing that I was deciding to serve tasty, quality dishes to those I love.

EXERCISE:

Where are you experiencing clutter in your life?

What decisions can you make and what actions can and will you take to bring greater order and peace of mind to your world?

I think about decision in three ways: hats, haircuts, and tattoos

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“I think about decision in three ways: hats, haircuts, and tattoos.”

—James Clear, author of Atomic Habits

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

I first learned about today’s quote from a fellow blogger named Stephen St. Amant, whose work at savenwood.com is brilliant! I highly recommend adding his blog to your list of daily reading.

James’ post reads:

“I think about decisions in three ways: hats, haircuts, and tattoos:

Most decisions are like hats. Try one and if you don’t like it, put it back and try another. The cost of a mistake is low, so move quickly and try a bunch of hats.

Some decisions are like haircuts. You can fix a bad one, but it won’t be quick and you might feel foolish for a while. That said, don’t be scared of a bad haircut. Trying something new is usually a risk worth taking. If it doesn’t work out, by this time next year you will have moved on and so will everyone else.

A few decisions are like tattoos. Once you make them, you have to live with them. Some mistakes are irreversible. Maybe you’ll move on for a moment, but then you’ll glance in the mirror and be reminded of that choice all over again. Even years later, the decision leaves a mark. When you’re dealing with an irreversible choice, move slowly and think carefully.”

EXERCISE:

What is the right amount of time and energy to allocate to your hat, haircut, and tattoo decisions?

Where are you acting too slowly or too quickly given the potential down side of being wrong?

The reason you have a neck is so that your head can remain above it all

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“The reason you have a neck is so that your head can remain above it all.”

—Tzvi Freeman, Canadian Rabbit and Author

Image from Unsplash by Joe Woods

Over the years, I’ve frequently discussed the value of making important decisions with our head, heart, and gut.

Approaching the anatomy of this, we can note how the head is above the heart and gut with our all-important neck in-between.

Our necks give our heads the ability to be above it all and turn from one path to another when the ones we are on are leading us astray.

EXERCISE:

What areas of your life are filled with others trying to bring you down?

How are these people operating in ways that go against your values and beliefs?

In what ways can you remain above it all to clearly see where to turn and how to proceed?

There is value in thinking fast and slow. 

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There is value in thinking fast and slow.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Amazon

Where would allowing for uncertainty in your thinking help you arrive at better answers?

If you watch game shows you probably notice how important it is to think fast to beat the clock or your opponent.

In our day-to-day lives, making quick decisions can be useful in many achievement areas… until it isn’t.

Where has making snap decisions and acting on impulse gotten you in trouble or lead you down the wrong path?

Alternatively, where has being more mindful, evaluating decisions with your head, heart, and gut, led you to better outcomes?

Where has it been helpful to not be so certain and evaluate some personal or professional options through a more discerning method?

EXERCISE:

Consider reading Thinking Fast and Slow by Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman and exploring the benefits of both approaches to help you improve your decision-making abilities.

Friday Review: Decisions

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Friday Review: Decisions

What decisions have you made regarding 2024? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

Decide to decide and then take the leap. You will land on your feet more than you think.

 

 

 

 

“The majority of meetings should be discussions that lead to decisions.”

 

 

 

The Latin root of the word “decision” literally means “to cut.”

 

 

 

 

 

“If you want to make the wrong decision, ask everyone.”

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“If you want to make the wrong decision, ask everyone.”

—Naval Ravikant, Indian-American entrepreneur and investor

Image from Unsplash by Caleb Jones

How do you make decisions?

How often do you seek council and advice or go it alone?

The answer for most of us is It Depends.

If you happen to have considerable knowledge and experience in an area, checking things out with a few wise ones in your world may help optimize the outcome.

If you are a complete newbie or novice, it is most likely a good idea to find mentors, coaches, and trusted advisors to help guide you.

At some point, however, we need to stop collecting data points and check in with ourselves to determine the path that is right for us.

Setting and re-setting our sights based on the views of others can leave us paralyzed with indecision which gets us nowhere.

When we delegate or abdicate our power to decide, things can easily go south.

EXERCISE:

Where in your life have you leaned on others too often when making an important decision?

Where do you draw the line in trusting others instead of yourself at certain forks in the road?

The purpose of education is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions

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“The purpose of education is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions.”

—James Baldwin, 20th Century American author

Image from Unsplash by Kyle Glenn

It’s pretty common at this point in the year for people to continue wishing each other a happy new year. I feel comfortable doing so even into early February.

As the days after the winter solstice become slightly longer and we pine for an early spring, many of us hope that 2023 will be a better and brighter year.

What were some of the most significant decisions you made in 2022?

How did they influence where you are today and the trajectory of the months ahead?

Perhaps it may be time to head back to school and expand your educational opportunities.

EXERCISE:

Instead of—or in additional to—formal schooling, please be sure to enroll in the “university of you.”

Consider creating your own personal and professional curriculum.

What would you like to learn? Who will be your teachers?

How might the lessons learned help you look more closely at the world and make even better decisions moving forward?

Friday Review: Decisions

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Friday Review: Decisions

What decisions have you made regarding 2022? What about this new year? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

The Latin root of the word “decision” literally means “to cut.”

 

 

 

“Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life.”

 

 

 

 

“You should not decide until you have heard what both sides have to say.”

 

 

 

Decide to decide and then take the leap

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Decide to decide and then take the leap. You will land on your feet more than you think.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jeremy Bishop

Making good decisions takes practice. Consider letting your heart, gut, and then your head be your guide. Seeking congruency among these three and acting with courage will increase your batting average and confidence with future decisions.

EXERCISE:

Where are you currently struggling to make an important decision? How can you let your head, heart, and gut guide your path forward?

Requesting the support of a close friend, family member, or coach can offer alternative perspectives you may wish to consider.