There comes a moment in everyone's life when you've to sit back, reflect and ponder on the big steps and decisions one has made in the time past. Can you boastfully thump your chest and say, 'I've made the very best of decisions, none of which I've regretted'. No? I thought as much. I've done a lot of personal flashback myself. While i was utterly glad with some of my choices, I berated myself for most of the others. Some of these misguided and ill-advised decisions still haunt me till today. And am sure some of you have in one way or the other used my shoe size or currently do.
In its simplest sense, decision making is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action. However, it must always be remembered that there may not always be a correct decision among the available choices. Human decision-making is complex. On our own, our tendency to yield to short-term temptations, and even to addictions, may be too strong for our rational, long-term planning.
When it comes to decision making, some people go all foolhardy without concrete consideration for danger or consequences of their action. Initial frolic gain and attachment might sway your decision but that shouldn't be the case if long-term effect is brought into consideration. So many people have taken the wrong turns as a result of being fooled by the immediate benefits attached to it, neglecting whatever the repercussions might later be.
Someone who connive with others to defraud a company will surely reap bountiful dividends initially but will gnash in regrets when he/she gets nabbed by the long hands of the law. Wise decision it seems at first but with the resultant effect, not so sagacious afterall.
Out of being peer pressured (sic), some people have channeled a different course entirely due to taking the wrong option or choice or inability to hold stance when it matter most. Lack of personal conviction is one of the causes of this. I know of a friend back in secondary school who opted for Science simply because her friends chose it whereas she would've been an absolute fit in Art. The result, she woefully failed her science subjects in her first year. Realising her shortcomings, she underwent counselling and changed to Art subjects. The consequence of her ill-fated action was wastage of an academic session doing the wrong thing. Some people were not lucky enough to detect their mistake on time. Some have wasted years blindly treading the wrong path because they took the incorrect and unjust decision.
Parents at times are not helpful as their influence can't be negated. They force their wards to do something contrary to their belief. From career down to marriage, parents imponderable influence is highly significant. Some parents make sure only their will is done. That's when you hear fathers make statements like, "Over my dead body will you get married to an Ijebu man. I'd prefer you stay single forever than watch you settle down with someone from such tribe" or mothers utter something like this, "You won't study medicine? Who is going to take over from your father when he eventually quit medical world? You'd better get serious and study medicine or nothing else!" Truth be told, I can count on my fingers some of my friends and brothers - not biological - that are victims of such parenting. So as not to be termed a bastard or an obstinate child, they submisively heeded to their parents plea or most times, order. These parents tend to inadvertently alter their child(ren)'s destiny by putting them under undue pressure thereby forcing rash decisions out of them. The resultant effect of wrong decision in choosing career or life partner might be irreversible. And if reversible, it will leave an ineradicable mar or nevus in the life of the victim. Situation like this in some cases cause enmity between child(ren) and parents.
Despite all, the conundrum still fall to the hands of the big guy or lady in the mix; that's you, the decision maker! Michelle Obama once said, "You can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen". You've to sit yourself down, plunge deep and ruminate consciously on the situation at hand before taking that huge leap. Decision making is not something that need to be rushed. Free yourself of all fears and negative oppressions, be it from friends or extended family. The only person you need to think about is YOU - and your immediate family too if you're married- because it is only you who'l bear the brunt and feel the full impact of the reverberation either positive or negative. Trust your instincts, and make judgements with what your heart tells you. The most effective decision making strategy is to keep an eye on your goals and then let your intuition suggest you the right choice. Trust me, your heart will not betray you.
Glance into the future - 5-10 years from now - and try forecast the significant effects and impacts your choice or resolution will have. Weigh the positivity and negativity, strike a balance and arrive a valid and logical conclusion which you're positively sure won't make you gnash in regrets in the nearest future. I repeat again, do not bow to ill-advice or poor counsels from friends and family. Seek God's intervention and hearken to his voice. As Hark Herald Sarmiento said, "Don't entrust your future on others' hands. Rather make decisions by yourself with the help of God's guidance. Hold your beliefs so tight and never let go of them!"
You may have made wrong choices in the past, consciously or not. But no worries, there is always a chance at redemption which is learning from your past mistakes and swearing never to repeat any of it. Evaluate every options carefully in terms of consequences, determine the best alternative and decide on one which you feel is right and just.
Remember, decision making is like writing in ink. Any error made cannot be erased; and the only solution is either striking out the error with an everlasting blemish being the consequence or tearing off the affected portion. Decision making can be a herculean task. Almost any decision involves some conflicts or dissatisfaction. The difficult part is to pick one solution where the positive outcome can outweigh possible losses. Avoiding decisions often seems easier. Yet, making your own decisions and accepting the consequences is the only way to stay in control of your time, your success, and your life.
In its simplest sense, decision making is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action. However, it must always be remembered that there may not always be a correct decision among the available choices. Human decision-making is complex. On our own, our tendency to yield to short-term temptations, and even to addictions, may be too strong for our rational, long-term planning.
When it comes to decision making, some people go all foolhardy without concrete consideration for danger or consequences of their action. Initial frolic gain and attachment might sway your decision but that shouldn't be the case if long-term effect is brought into consideration. So many people have taken the wrong turns as a result of being fooled by the immediate benefits attached to it, neglecting whatever the repercussions might later be.
Someone who connive with others to defraud a company will surely reap bountiful dividends initially but will gnash in regrets when he/she gets nabbed by the long hands of the law. Wise decision it seems at first but with the resultant effect, not so sagacious afterall.
Out of being peer pressured (sic), some people have channeled a different course entirely due to taking the wrong option or choice or inability to hold stance when it matter most. Lack of personal conviction is one of the causes of this. I know of a friend back in secondary school who opted for Science simply because her friends chose it whereas she would've been an absolute fit in Art. The result, she woefully failed her science subjects in her first year. Realising her shortcomings, she underwent counselling and changed to Art subjects. The consequence of her ill-fated action was wastage of an academic session doing the wrong thing. Some people were not lucky enough to detect their mistake on time. Some have wasted years blindly treading the wrong path because they took the incorrect and unjust decision.
Parents at times are not helpful as their influence can't be negated. They force their wards to do something contrary to their belief. From career down to marriage, parents imponderable influence is highly significant. Some parents make sure only their will is done. That's when you hear fathers make statements like, "Over my dead body will you get married to an Ijebu man. I'd prefer you stay single forever than watch you settle down with someone from such tribe" or mothers utter something like this, "You won't study medicine? Who is going to take over from your father when he eventually quit medical world? You'd better get serious and study medicine or nothing else!" Truth be told, I can count on my fingers some of my friends and brothers - not biological - that are victims of such parenting. So as not to be termed a bastard or an obstinate child, they submisively heeded to their parents plea or most times, order. These parents tend to inadvertently alter their child(ren)'s destiny by putting them under undue pressure thereby forcing rash decisions out of them. The resultant effect of wrong decision in choosing career or life partner might be irreversible. And if reversible, it will leave an ineradicable mar or nevus in the life of the victim. Situation like this in some cases cause enmity between child(ren) and parents.
Despite all, the conundrum still fall to the hands of the big guy or lady in the mix; that's you, the decision maker! Michelle Obama once said, "You can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen". You've to sit yourself down, plunge deep and ruminate consciously on the situation at hand before taking that huge leap. Decision making is not something that need to be rushed. Free yourself of all fears and negative oppressions, be it from friends or extended family. The only person you need to think about is YOU - and your immediate family too if you're married- because it is only you who'l bear the brunt and feel the full impact of the reverberation either positive or negative. Trust your instincts, and make judgements with what your heart tells you. The most effective decision making strategy is to keep an eye on your goals and then let your intuition suggest you the right choice. Trust me, your heart will not betray you.
Glance into the future - 5-10 years from now - and try forecast the significant effects and impacts your choice or resolution will have. Weigh the positivity and negativity, strike a balance and arrive a valid and logical conclusion which you're positively sure won't make you gnash in regrets in the nearest future. I repeat again, do not bow to ill-advice or poor counsels from friends and family. Seek God's intervention and hearken to his voice. As Hark Herald Sarmiento said, "Don't entrust your future on others' hands. Rather make decisions by yourself with the help of God's guidance. Hold your beliefs so tight and never let go of them!"
You may have made wrong choices in the past, consciously or not. But no worries, there is always a chance at redemption which is learning from your past mistakes and swearing never to repeat any of it. Evaluate every options carefully in terms of consequences, determine the best alternative and decide on one which you feel is right and just.
Remember, decision making is like writing in ink. Any error made cannot be erased; and the only solution is either striking out the error with an everlasting blemish being the consequence or tearing off the affected portion. Decision making can be a herculean task. Almost any decision involves some conflicts or dissatisfaction. The difficult part is to pick one solution where the positive outcome can outweigh possible losses. Avoiding decisions often seems easier. Yet, making your own decisions and accepting the consequences is the only way to stay in control of your time, your success, and your life.
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AUTHOR: LAMBE OLANREWAJU
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