The first step to making good decisions is understanding why we make bad ones in the first place. In this post I'll explore some of the reasons we make bad decisions, and how you can overcome them.
The Problem with Reason #1: We Get It Wrong Because We Don't Understand Ourselves
Reason #1 - We don't understand ourselves.
We are complex creatures with all sorts of different motivations and desires. It is almost impossible to predict what someone else will do without understanding what drives them.
When you know what you want, it's easy to follow your own path. If you think about your own history, you know what you've said or done in the past that has led you to where you are today.
The trouble comes when you don't understand what you're doing or why. If you are making decisions without considering why you want to make a particular choice, then you will almost certainly end up going down a path that doesn't serve you.
As a result, even though you may think you understand what you want, you really don't.
The Fix: Understand Yourself
The most effective way to figure out what you actually want is to write down your long term goals, and then consider how you'll feel once you achieve them. It's helpful to create a detailed list with specific timeframes and outcomes you expect.
I recommend starting with five to ten major goals, and including a rough estimate of how much you'd like to earn along the way.
When you look at your goals, ask yourself the following questions:
What would I want in the future? (What you actually want to happen)
Why do I want it? (Why this goal matters to me personally)
What are the steps I need to take to achieve it?
Once you understand what you want, it's easier to focus on the choices that will help you get there. For example, if you are working toward making more money, your next step is understanding what you are willing to give up to make it. This means figuring out what is actually important to you in life and prioritizing.
The Psychology of Decision Making: What You Can Do
There are ways to overcome this, but it's worth knowing the root cause of the problem before you try anything. Once you've identified your flaws, there are strategies you can use to overcome them.
Reason #2: We Decide on a Goal and Follow Through With It
Reason #2 - We decide on a goal and follow through with it.
We may come up with a goal without considering the reality of our situation or what we have to do to get there. We may think we know what we want without considering how we'll make it happen.
For example, you may set a goal to become a published author, but you'll never be published if you don't keep submitting your work and trying to land an agent. If you think that will be easy, consider the amount of rejection you're going to get along the way.
You have to just start.