Right Decision at Right Time

In our day- to- day living we make decisions in every moment. Some of these decisions are taken after a great deliberation while some happen automatically without us giving them a conscious thought. These decisions determine the course of our lives over a period of time. These decisions create our destiny. They make us the co-creators of God. It is a continuous process. Just as people differ from each other, so do their decision making styles. But each person eventually is a sum total of all the decisions made by him till date.

Decisions can be rational or irrational. They depend upon our thinking and feelings, judgment and perceptions. Sometimes intuition plays an important role as well. At times our pre-conceived notions come into play. There are times when our decisions conform to other’s expectations of us. Taking decisions makes us feel that we have control over events. How do you make your decisions? What determines your decision making process?

If we want to be true to ourselves, we should never make decisions that are not ours to make in the first place. It means that we should know when to make a decision and when to just let it be. Sometimes letting the events flow, having full faith in the process of life, is a better decision than trying to exercise control.

Always remember that there are no right and wrong decisions. Your decision is just one action amongst many alternative actions. Each action has a consequence. You choose the action that produces the most productive consequence. That is all. Don’t become too righteous about things. That makes you judgmental about others and their decisions.

Do not take decisions on the spur of a moment. If you have made a mistake and the decision is reversible, don’t let your ego come in the way. Go ahead and change the course of events. Any non-reversible decision should be taken after a lot of deliberation.

A good decision making habit is to make the decision in writing. When you make notes and keep your ideas visible, it is easy to take the right action. Your decision should be based on what is right, and not on who is right. Writing provides clarity of thought, and guides you to make the right decision.

Don’t procrastinate. Keep making decisions as and when required. Do not sleep over them for too long. Too many pending little decisions turn into monsters of complex decisions that are difficult to deal with.

Who are the people affected by your decisions? Involve them in decision making process. That will increase their commitment to you. Do not worry unduly about the correctness of your decisions. Trust yourself, and trust the Universe to guide you at each step. Your job is to decide a course of action, and leave the rest to the intelligence of the Universe.

Before making decisions look at the outcome that you are looking for. Identify the alternatives available to you. What are the risks associated with your decision? Evaluate all these parameters and go ahead with confidence and élan. Remember that you have the right to be wrong. Don’t forfeit this right.

Most of the decisions that we make in our lives are mundane. Delegate those decisions to others to make. Always keep in mind the implementation of your decisions. Once a decision has been made do not look back. Take stock of the situation and focus on your next step. Do not regret a decision. Remember, it was the right thing to do at that time. Now shift your focus to what is right in the present moment.

Some of the factors that determine your caliber as an empowered decision maker are:-

Self Esteem
Courage
Honesty
Love

The most precious gift any parent can give to his child is the gift to make right decisions at the right time. Most of us do great damage to our children by making all their decisions for them, at the pretext of knowing what is best for them. Every one including children must listen to themselves and think for themselves. That is the hallmark of being a responsible human being. Then you can’t blame others for your failures and your misfortunes. You will learn to take responsibility of your actions.

Be what you are. Be objective about yourself. Identify your weaknesses and your strengths. Being honest with yourself guides you to take most appropriate decisions at all times. Care about yourself. Know that your abilities are being used in a correct manner. Embrace all your decisions. Embrace your life.

Accept the present moment completely, without any judgment. You are no more and no less than what you are at this moment. In the next moment you are free to make a new decision that has the power to change the course of your life. Only you and your decisions carry that power. Acknowledge and accept this power within you.

Never envy others. Envying others and their growth is detrimental to your growth. When you make up your mind about the direction that you are going to give to your life, the things start changing. Everything starts with you and your decisions.

Some people suffer from Decidophobia. It is the fear of making your own decisions. Instead of deciding how to live or what to believe in, a drifting person simply follows the ‘Status Quo’. These people are unable to make even small decisions. They let others decide for them. Such people can never be happy with their lives. They are a dissatisfied lot. They can not look at the bigger picture. They can not generate any action on their own.

In our culture most of the decision making is left to the husbands and the fathers. For some reason men are considered to be better decision makers. With the changing outlook, these patterns are also witnessing a change. It is time for each one of us to own the responsibility of our own decisions and their consequences.

Eternal Solutions, April 2008, Chitra Jha

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