How to Make the Big Decisions – and Avoid Decision-Making Disaster

Big decisions, by their nature, are scary. Decision making is in inexact science and the biggest decisions are usually made with incomplete information. There’s always the potential to know more but you can’t predict what’s around the corner and you want to avoid that ‘if only I had known’ feeling in the future.

Added to this, it is often easier to sit on the fence, fob people off (or fob yourself off) with excuses. It’s easier to say 'I'll need more information’ or ‘I’m still thinking about it’. It’s easier to put off a big decision because you don’t have the mental or emotional energy to really think it through.

And when you do this the big decision, like the major task or project, just seems to get bigger. The choices seem more catastrophic and the comfort of staying where you are and doing nothing is what you want.

The problem with this approach is that when you know you have to make a big decision putting it off doesn’t help. The ‘big decision’ pain is still there, eating away at you. It’s like a burden you carry around. It colours your life and everything around you. Its taint acts as a negative energy for everything you do.

And that’s definitely not a good feeling!

There’s always the danger that when it gets too much you do make a decision, but it’s hasty, ill thought out and even dangerous. You are acting from overwhelm, not from strength.

So I want to give you some tips and guidelines to avoid decision-making disaster.

Think about it. Yes, there’s no getting away from it, decision making takes a bit of work. You don’t drift into it (unless you make a decision to drift) and it won’t happen by osmosis.

Think big and you’ll unfurl like a flower, you’ll be able to blossom. Then have a plan to express this big life you want to lead. Even if you don’t know all the answers you can still have a plan. And if you wait till you get all the answers before you draft the plan, then you’ll never make the decision!

Know what your options are:

* You need to know the external options. What can you do? What is possible? What is out there? And try to think beyond your current horizons, this is your chance to truly expand your life and its possibilities

* You also need to know your internal options – what do you want to do? What’s the long game?

Value yourself. Do what you have to do to get the best deal for yourself. Recognise what you are prepared to do to support yourself and life the life you want. This doesn’t mean walking all over other people or ignoring what they want. But you should value your own wants and desires as much as theirs. And be prepared to claim the value that you have, now, already. Know your best qualities and excellences – REVEL in who you are!

Look to the future and know that life is a journey. You don’t have to get it all right, it’s not a test. And as you look at the future, make sure it is your future, not someone else’s. And decide now what decisions you need to make to get there.

And remember, laser coaching is available through the Heart & Soul Success Club…you can have 15 minutes of laser coaching per month to get you into that decision making mode and help you create your future. This is personalised one-to-one coaching with Liz, helping you create your DREAM future!

(c) 2011 Liz Copeland