Making Difficult Decisions

One of the most exciting parts of getting older is the right to make decisions on your own behalf. For most teens, a lot of the major decisions about their lives e.g. school and accommodation are either made by parents, guardians, and teachers or mandated by government policy. Now you are becoming the ‘responsible’ adult you will be able to make certain lifestyle choices yourself.

Now while this may be exciting in some respects, it can also be quite overwhelming in others. The level of care required when contemplating some choices due to the long term repercussions can be quite off putting.

Of course, I am not speaking about whether blue clothing goes best with silver or gold jewellery or if you should paint your nails red or blue. I am speaking of decisions that could cause you to have serious regret later in life such as “Should I skip university?” “Should I get drunk with this group of strangers?” “Should I post this photo on Facebook?” These are all pretty innocent but can have pretty hard health and career repercussions. If you have to make a quick decision always think safety first. For instance, NEVER get drunk with a group of strangers. There is no telling what they will do to you while you are not in control of yourself and avoid posting any pictures on Facebook that would give off a negative image of you for future employers.

Here are some other tips for making decisions, especially those that give you a bit more time to evaluate your choices:

1. Acknowledge that no choice you make is 100% secure and there will always be risks in life.

2. Prepare to take responsibility for your actions and the consequences thereof.

3. Ask yourself the following questions for every choice you have to make:

   • Do I feel inspired about this option?

   • Does it feel like the "right" thing to do?

   • Will I grow and expand from this experience?

   • Will everyone involved be uplifted by this choice?

   • Can I feel good about my choice regardless of the outcome?

   • Does it cause my heart to sing?

4. Ask yourself what are the consequences of these choices now, in six months, two years or ten years in the future. This will help clarify whether you are able to handle the consequences and whether the choices are worth the repercussions.

5. Gather all the information about your choices and even see as much as possible the effects those choices have had on others.

6. Make the choice based on this information that you are more comfortable and remind yourself that no decision or choice is certain and be willing to learn from your mistakes.

Making decisions can be hard, however, following the above tips will help get you into the habit of choosing your options wisely.