Our Choices in life Determine the Decisions We Make

Let me explain it this way. Life is like a road. And just like any road there are corners, detours, and crossroads. In life the most perplexing road that you would ever encounter is a crossroad. With four choices to choose from and with limited knowledge on where they all lead, which road should (and will) you take. What decision would you make?

And after you have made your decision what guarantee do you have that you have chosen the right road? Would you take any road, or just stay where you are: in front of a crossroad?

The secret to a fulfilling life is the make a decision from the four choices that the crossroads present to you. That is the key.

What guarantee do you have that you have made the right decision?

You do not really know where a road will lead you until you take it. There are no guarantees. This is one of the most important things you need to realize about life. Nobody said that choosing to do the right thing all the time would always lead you to happiness.

Loving someone with all your heart does not guarantee that it would be returned. Gaining fame and fortune does not guarantee happiness. Accepting a good word from an influential superior to cut your trip short up the career ladder is not always bad, especially if you are highly qualified and competent. There are too many possible outcomes, which you really cannot control. The only thing you have power over is the decisions that you will make, and how you would act and react to every situation.

If its wrong it is right.

Had you known that you were making a wrong decision, would you have made the decision? Perhaps not, why would you choose a certain road in life when you know that it will get you lost? Why would you make a decision if you knew from the very beginning that it is not right for you. It is only after you have made a decision and reflected on it that you ever realize the soundness of your decision.

If the consequences or outcomes are good for you, then you have decided correctly. On the other hand if your decision turned out wrong at the time you have made a choice, therefore your decision was right. You have learn’t another way, gain another experience, learn’t another lesson from life.

Always be decisive and make decisions freely.

Since life offers no guarantee and you never know at the time that your decision could be be wrong until after you have made it, then you need to take the risk and decide then and there. It is definitely better to make a decision than keep yourself in limbo. Although it is true that one wrong turn could get you lost, it could also be true that the next decision you make could turn out to be an opportunity of a life time, with more open roads to choose from. It is all a matter of perspective. You have the choice between being a lost traveler or being a  tourist of life. But take caution that you do not make decisions haphazardly. Taking risks is not about being careless and stupid.

Here are some pointers that could help you choose the best option in the face of life’s crossroads:

• Get as much information as you can about your situation.

You will never find the confidence to make a decision when you don’t ask questions about what you are faced with. Just like any news reporter, ask the 5 W’s: what, who, when, where, and why. What is the situation? Who are the people involved? When did this happen? Where is this leading? Why are you in this situation? These are just some of the possible questions to ask to know more about your situation. This is important. Oftentimes, the reason for indecision is the lack of information about a situation.

• Identify and create options every day.

What options do the situation give you? Sometimes the options are few, but sometimes they are numerous. But what do you do when you think that the situation offers no options? This is the time that you create your own. Make your creative mind work. From the most simplistic to the most complicated, entertain all ideas. Do not shoot anything down when an idea comes to your head. Sometimes the most outrageous idea could prove to be the right one at the end of the day. You can ask a friend to help you identify options and even make more options if you encounter some difficulty, but make sure that you make the decision yourself in the end.

• Weigh the pros and cons of every option.

Assess each option by looking at the advantages and disadvantages it offers you. In this way, you get more insights about the consequences of the choice you have and the possible outcomes of any decision you make.

• Trust yourself and make that decision.

Now that you have assessed your options, it is now time to trust in yourself. Remember that there are no guarantees and wrong decisions are always in hindsight (and always right for you). So choose… decide… believe that you are choosing the best option at this point in time.
Now that you have made a decision, be ready to face its consequences: good and bad. It may take you to a place of promise or to a land of heartaches. But the important thing is that you have chosen to live your life instead of remaining a bystander or a passive audience to your own life. Whether it is the right decision or not, only time can tell. But do not regret it whatever the outcome. Instead, learn from it and remember that you always have the chance to make better decisions in the future.