Hard Decisions

I ask myself if I will regret my decision. Can I still look at myself in mirror 10 years down the road?
I have made a couple of those decisions and even though I have to admit that some things may have been easier if I had decided another way, I have no regrets. So I think that worked for me.

My only suggestion would be to take into account how this "decision" will affect the people around you. By that I mean, will this decision effect a husband or a spouse? How do you anticipate they will handle the effects of this decision. Will it beneficial to them as well?

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My mom always advised me to think about what I would choose if I had to decide in 5 seconds.
Does that help?
Also, I think you need to take into account how your decision would affect others close to you.

Then I also, at times, follow the decision through to the "what's the worst case scenario" if I choose A? B?

I usually turn big decisions like that over to the one who has the best perspective and my best interest at heart...my Heavenly Father. Soooo, after mulling it all over in my mind and heart then I pray and wait to see if I lean one way or another.

I wish you the best with whatever major decision is weighing on you right now

Good luck and best wishes at doing what is the right!

Unfortunately or fortunately, depends on your thoughts on it, I do analytics. So any decision is done with a pros and cons, weighting approach.

The biggest difference is on a personal level things that are personal can be given weights/values. Such as weight gain for a tasty treat or smiles on the kids faces.

I can't make any major decision without first establishing decision criteria. I do this to my kids as well. They hated it when they were younger because it felt too much like homework but I found as they got older they made their friends go through the same exercise.

So, look at everything that is good that could come from the decision. I am assuming from your wording that there is nothing that is 100%? Decision tree anyone?? :) Then everything negative.

It is not so much that this will come up with the right answer but it will give you the best answer.

Sometimes there IS no right decision. You have to make a decsion and then do your best to make it right!

Go with the smart part which I would assume is your gut reaction?

Ask yourself "What outcome do I want?" and "Does this fit with my life and the vision I have of my life?"

I also like the advice to imagine yourself at the end of your life, "will I regret doing/not doing this?"

I take it to prayer. I ask God to help me with the decision and express my desire to only do what he wills for me. Then I listen. I tell him that I am not the brightest bulb and he will have to make it clear to me. Works every time.

Depends on what the consequences would be and if I'm willing to accept them if I make the other choice. Like another poster said - is this just about me or will it have deep implications for my family? My child?

Praying also helps.

Worst case scenario plays a part in my debating in my head, among other thoughts.

It depends on whether that decision will affect only me, or if it will affect my marriage and/or my children positively or negatively. I weigh whether it's a selfish decision or if it will benefit my family as a unit. I consider whether my conscience will be damaged if I choose one over the other. I consider whether I'm being pressured to make a choice, if I "have" to make that choice, and if it's an artificial choice being presented that shouldn't even be on the table or if it's legitimate. I think about what my choice would be if I didn't have anyone to consider except for myself. I think about whether I'd be making a particular choice to please someone else or if it's really for the best.

You know, the usual.

"...if the smart part of you says, bad idea..." You said yourself that the smart part says bad idea. You have to ask yourself what the consequences are of the bad idea. If you're stating that it's a bad idea, it sounds like a bad idea.

What is this deep down conscience that you are referring to? Usually the conscience is the smart part. If there is something opposing the smart part, I would call it the risk taker.

What is the risk of what you are thinking of? Are there bad consequences that could ruin even the good hopes for future consequences? Will the decision harm you or anyone else?

Is there another way to go about what you are deciding upon, a third choice instead of just two that you haven't thought of yet?

Good luck!

If your smart side is thinking bad idea for SAFETY, then side on the side of safety. If you're referring to a venture, like going back to school, new job, etc...why not? My end all of all doubts is; "If on my death bed, am I going to regret this?" Good luck

I try to listen to my gut. Most of the most important decisions in my life were made based on instinct, not lists. Lists are BS, if you ask me. If I had made a list, I never would have married my husband. Hell, I never would have met him. I listened to my gut, and that was that. Almost 11 years later, and I couldn't imagine life without my hubby. He is terrific.

So, if you feel deep down that you need to go for it, go for it, just as long as no one will get hurt, yadda, yadda, yadda. Try to find your center, listen, and just jump. Leaps of faith are necessary for so many things. But I agree with Jim, it's all about regret with me too. I have no desire to die with regrets. So, which will you regret more, not trying or having to live with a terrible outcome?

I think people generally regret having not done something rather than having tried something new. I am a goal-orientated person, so when I make life-changing decisions, I want to make sure that my decision is in keeping with my life goals. I would not go through this process for picking a new dress - this is my process for long-term decisions. So, I ask myself if the choices bring me closer to my life goal or put me in a new direction. If it puts me in a new direction, I need to ask myself if I am willing to change my life goal.
I also ask myself if I am making this decision based on what is right for me or to please someone else. I think as a mother, this is a constant dilemma. If you choose something because of obligations to someone else, your love for that person(s) should support you in that decision, even if it means changing your life goal. I hope some of this blind advice helps. Good luck.

Like Dawn said, sometimes only retrospect will truly show the right decision. I know that doesn't help. We tend to go with our 'gut'. Good Luck