How to make difficult decisions

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.” - Amelia Earhart

In our daily lives, we make many decisions. Some of these decisions are significant and change the course of our personal and professional lives. It's perfectly normal to feel nervous about the big life decisions. The good news is that there are effective ways to approach decision making.
 
In the past year, I have had to make some difficult decisions in my career, finances, relationships, and business. Recently, I started reflecting on how I make the big decisions in my life and ways to improve my decision making. In this post, we'll discover some decision making techniques as well as great questions to ask yourself during the process.
 
Have an approach or process
Having a proven method of making decisions that works for you is very important. The fact that I make decisions in similar ways gives me a sense of security and trust in my ability to make decisions. You can discover the process that works best for you by learning from your experiences.
Questions to consider:

• How do I make decisions?
• What is my decision-making process?
• What did I learn from the last major decision I made?

 
Breakdown your complex decision
Sometimes the size of the decision we need to make scares us. Start by breaking down the big decision into smaller sub decisions. Our brains can focus better on small packages. Once the sub-decisions are made, the big one is almost solved. Take out a piece of paper and write things down. The power of visualizing helps make it real.
Questions to consider:

• What decision(s) am I trying to make?
• Why do I need to make the change?
• What are the smaller components of my decision?

 
Know the impact of your decision
Often, we don't think about the effects of the choices we make on our lives. There is power in asking - What if? Knowing the impact should not always be a blocker, it serves the purpose of informing you of what may lie ahead. The more information you have, the better you can prepare.
Questions to consider:

• What impact would the decision have on me, my family, my career or my finances?
• What scares me about the change or decision?

 
Compare the possible outcomes
The old pros and cons have been a useful tool to evaluate how favorable the consequences of your decision might be. Make smart choices based on the results and outcomes. The truth is that you can't predict the exact results before you make the decision and take a step. However, it is essential to think about the possible outcomes.
Questions to consider:

• What are the best-case outcomes of my decision A or B?
  
• What are the worst-case outcomes of my decision A or B
• Are there ways I can improve the result of my choice?

 
Have a plan and an alternative plan
A plan is a tool that helps guide you. You might not have all the answers, but with a plan, you have a torch in a dark room. Gather as much information as possible to make your plan successful. An alternative plan is also necessary in case you need to make changes to your plans.
Questions to consider:

• What do I need to do to make my decision successful?
  
• What changes may I need to make?
  

 
Take the first step
You have broken down the decision, evaluated the impact and have a plan in place, now it's time to take the first step. Don't sit on any decision for too long. You will only know when you do it. Treat your decision making as a learning experience. Take notes, gather your learnings, adapt your strategy and keep moving forward.
Questions to consider:

• What is the first thing I need to do?
• How can my first step set me up for success?

 
Final Thoughts

• Make time to celebrate your decision. Enjoy the positive motivation boost.
• The big decisions we make determine our future and where our journeys go.
  
• Take time to gather information and equip yourself for that big step and take it
• No decision should be viewed as final, leave some room to learn and process the new knowledge you acquire.
• You can make the right decision!

 
Great Resources

• 3 Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions
• How To Make Difficult Decisions (And Live With The Consequences)
• 4 Steps That'll Help You Cut Through the BS and Make a Hard Decision Faster
• Four Tricks to Help You Make Any Difficult Decision
• How to Make Tough Decisions Easier
• Ruth Chang: How to make hard choices | TED Talk
• 7 Questions You Should Ask Yourself When Faced With A Tough Decision In Life
• How to Make a Major Life Decision, in 9 Steps
• 5 Steps to Making Difficult Decisions