| Every day we face dozens, if not hundreds of | | | | discover is that they are happier. They smile more, feel |
| decisions. What should I have for breakfast? Should I | | | | less stressed and get more of what they want out of |
| call this person back? Should I spend extra time at | | | | life. So, why don't more people do this? For starters, it |
| work or take my girlfriend out for Valentine's Day? | | | | feels like we'll get less done since we're taking time |
| And there are the big ones... Should I quit my job and | | | | from the daily things we "have" to do and spending it |
| take a chance on a whole new career? Am I ready to | | | | on longer-term goals that are less urgent. While this is |
| have children? Do I call my brother to make amends | | | | certainly true, after practicing this technique for a few |
| after years of hard feelings? The most influential | | | | weeks, most people find that the big-picture benefits |
| decisions in life are either similar types of small | | | | far outweigh the perceived short-term loss, and in fact, |
| decisions made day after day, or single large decisions. | | | | make what seemed like a sacrifice actually become a |
| For most of us, many of these decisions are driven by | | | | benefit. |
| four primary factors: | | | | It's kind of like saving money in an investment. Suppose |
| Our desire to avoid something unpleasant (fear). | | | | you regularly put $100 away each month (about $3 |
| Our desire for immediate pleasure (feels good in the | | | | per day, the price of a latte at Starbucks). Sure, you |
| moment.) | | | | have less to spend on going out to dinner or buying |
| Our responding to the immediate requests and | | | | new clothes each month. But, after 25 years, you will |
| demands of others. | | | | have probably accumulated nearly $225,000 (though |
| Our desire to work toward a higher purpose or goal. | | | | you will have actually only invested about $30,000). |
| Think back to some of the decisions you made this | | | | [Note: If you want to learn more about how investing |
| week. How many of them fit into one of the first three | | | | saving can produce these kinds of results, just feel |
| categories? | | | | free to drop me an email.] |
| If quite a few did, that's not necessarily bad - these are | | | | Decisions are an investment in your future! |
| often good reasons for making decisions. However, | | | | Another stumbling block is certainty. We like to be sure |
| when they make up the majority of the motivation for | | | | of things. The reality of decisions is that they are not |
| our choices, we invariably end up selling ourselves | | | | sure bets. They are just a matter of picking the choice |
| short. When we don't spend enough time working | | | | that gives you the best chance of reaching your goals. |
| toward our greater purpose or long-term goals, we | | | | It may be useful to remember this next time you think |
| deny ourselves the future we deserve. We also end | | | | you've made a decision, but you're not quite sure about |
| up feeling more stressed and having more health | | | | some details. There will always be these things. The |
| problems because subconsciously we know that we | | | | best decisions are the ones that are made and |
| are selling out on ourself. | | | | followed through with. So, overall, how many of your |
| So, What can we do about this? There are many | | | | decisions are proactive (the ones that work toward a |
| different approaches, but one key is to strive to spend | | | | higher purpose or goal)? Here is my challenge to you: |
| a good deal of time (40-60% for most people) being | | | | For the next three days, make decisions (including |
| proactive in your decisions. That is, making them to | | | | what to spend your time on) based on proactive goals |
| work toward your greater goals in life (and based on | | | | and not out of reactivity (the first three items on the |
| your higher values), rather than just the motivations of | | | | list). This can really be a profound experience for |
| the first three items on the list. As people make more | | | | some people. Please, let me know what you learn. |
| decisions in this way, the biggest thing they often | | | | |