Making Effective Decisions and Choices

Life is about decisions, not conditions.

One of the things I do often is thinking. I am always running stuff through my mind with the view of gaining some insight into it. I realised how decisions, whether good or bad, shapes the outcome of my life, and I guess that of everyone else’s.

I believe one of God’s greatest gift to man (or humankind, if you prefer), is the gift of choice, which operates in us as freewill – the ability to make decisions and choose what we want. We can choose to serve God or Satan, do good or evil, serve others or live selfishly. It is totally up to us.

The Genesis story of creation reveals that God created man in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:28). The next thing God did with the man He had created was to put him in a garden (Eden), which is a place of His presence. God’s greatest desire was that man would be like Him, act like Him and live with Him. So He wanted to enjoy eternal fellowship with mankind.

The power to make decisions is something we all have; yet a few of us use it. Whether we want to love God or not, is absolutely our decision and God wants it so because He wants us to love Him by choice. Voluntary choice is the key – love isn't genuine if there's no other option. I could have chosen any other woman to marry but I chose Gina, my wife, and she made the decision to accept my love so I value her. She is my precious, priceless gem.

It is said that the average person makes about 350 decisions a day. We are always making decisions whether we are aware or not. Many people do not live the life of their dreams not because they do not have the ability to make it happen. They simply do not make the decision to manifest it. Some think they are not good enough whilst others attribute their inability to live their dreams to adverse conditions.

Life , as I have come to know it, is about decisions, not conditions. The fact is: we can experience the life of our dreams irrespective of the circumstances in our life. We must realise that, we, not the government, schools nor parents, are accountable for making that future happen. We can accomplish anything, when we really decide and nothing can stop us.

Life is full of decisions and choices. The decisions and choices we make determine our destiny. Decisions shape our lives. American motivational guru, Tony Robbins, said it well when he noted, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped”

There are folks who believe that whatever will be will be. They believe that they have no control over what happens to them. They believe that predetermined destiny rather than their own decisions govern the affairs of their lives. Much as I admit that some of the stuff that happens to us is outside our control, we have the choice as to how we respond to such events. Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. An understanding of this will help make our life more productive and fulfilling.

Dear friend, if you are not satisfied with your life presently, you can change it and set out on the journey to living the life you want. God has somewhat made you a co-creator with Him. When he said to man “be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over everything on the earth” he was essentially saying to man: “I have blessed you to become whatever you want to be”.

He asked man to rule his environment and not for his environment to rule him. Wherever you are on this planet you can make it. Your current environment might take exception to your going forward and becoming fruitful but you were blessed to dominate your environment so unleash that power which is already within you.

Success (fruitfulness), whatever it means to you, is the craving of every human being. That’s why you seldom find anyone celebrating failure. To become what the Creator made you to be starts with a decision. Decide that you are going to think thoughts that empower you and that you are not going to entertain limiting thoughts.

Need I say, that failing to make a decision is a decision in itself? Indecision is a bad decision. Studies have shown that the most successful people make decisions rapidly because they are clear on which direction they are travelling. Studies also show that people who fail usually make a decision slowly.

Do not procrastinate on your dreams or goals. Time is a very important factor to consider when making a decision. A lot of people have missed out on great opportunities because they did not act promptly. Taking one single decision in time has changed the status of big businesses. Many companies went to the top and others bankrupt as a result of decision.

There are different kinds of decisions. They are either compulsory or optional. The fact is, the quality of your decisions determine the quality of your life. Poverty is a result of poor decision-making, whereas wealth is the result of good decision-making. The global credit crunch is said to have come about by bad decisions made by some executives in Corporate America. So, you see, the decisions you make either rewards you or punishes you.

I guess the question that now comes to mind is: So, how can one make quality decisions? Let me proffer a few suggestions:

Reflect on the nature of the challenge. Every decision is a response to a situation. Recognize all problems, no matter how difficult, as opportunities for improvement, and make the most of these opportunities. Think of all possible choices and consider the effects. Will it be permanent or reversible? The Bible says, “The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15)

Be courageous. Choosing is a courageous act that entails opting for various courses of actions that will define one's destiny. Major decisions require courage. One must have courage to stand by their decisions, take risks, and implement it. You cannot win anything worth mentioning by playing it safe. Courage is doing what you ought to do even when you are afraid. Ambrose Redmoon, puts it more succinctly when he said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.”

Some people make bad decisions or give up on their good decision because of a poor self-esteem. Others easily pressure them into doing things even when they recognise that it is not in line with their values and goals.

Evaluate your choices – which one fits most the circumstances of the situation you are trying to overcome. What are the possible down sides of your choices? Who will be affected and how? Consider the cost/benefit ratio? Does the rewards of the decision far outweigh the cost? “Any sensible person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays stupidity.” (Proverbs 13:16)

Seek wise counsel. One of the things I try to do as a leader is to build consensus during decision-making. When you involve team members in the decision making process they will have a sense of ownership of the decision. This generates momentum and helps in its effective implementation. So ask: Who needs to be involved in this decision?

Sometimes it pays to seek professional advice or seek counsel from a mentor. Solomon, observed that “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14) “For by wise counsel you shall make your war…” (Proverbs 24:8). Many people have made a shipwreck of their faith and dreams because they fail to seek counsel when making crucial decisions.

Accept responsibility for your decisions and choices. We are responsible for our own life. Whatever the outcome of your decisions, you are ultimately responsible for it. A lot of people make decisions all the time and when the outcome is not good they try to pass the buck giving all kinds of excuses. So before you decide, think about your decision, consider the consequences of your choices. Because you are responsible for your decisions.

You must note that even when you make good decisions it is likely to encounter some challenges in its implementations. Accept the challenges and resolve never to give up on your decision because of a temporary setback. Continue to work it out; devise new strategies to make it happen and you will surely succeed.

So let’s go out decide your destiny by making sound judgement. Please do share your thoughts on this post by commenting on it so all of us can learn and become better decision makers. God bless. Cheerio…