How to Make a Quick Regret-Free Decision in 30 Minutes
Ask yourself these 9 1/2 questions!
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Decision-making is the spine of your life.
From choosing what to wear to deciding on a side hustle, the complexity of decisions varies.
But, you can’t deny the fact that each decision requires time, mental energy, and focus — the most precious resources in human life.
Napoleon Hill discovered a common trait among 500 millionaires — They all made swift decisions.
He further explained in his 1937 best-seller “Think and Grow Rich:”
“People who fail to accumulate money, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, very slowly, and changing their decisions quickly and often.”
But, making quick and regret-free decisions is not a superpower known to the elite and successful.
It’s an essential skill to learn in today’s society full of risks, opportunities, and uncertainties.
From my five years of journaling habit, I’ve learned that,
“The effectiveness of your decisions is based on the quality of questions you ask yourself.”
Why?
Comfortable questions = Easy Decisions (Present)= Tough Life (Future)
Uncomfortable questions = Tough Decisions (Present) = Easy Life (Future)
Even this is a choice — whether you want a comfortable present or future.
And this analysis paralysis often becomes the cause of overwhelm and stagnancy.
Research suggests that indecision leads to anxiety and burnout because your brain constantly moves between options, considering their feasibility.
However, making quick decisions doesn’t mean being ignorant or jumping to conclusions hastily.
It comes down to having a strategy/tool for making quick judgments and sticking to them without regretting them later.
The questionnaire below has given me the confidence to make the best decision possible at the earliest opportunity, without second-guessing myself later.
It has empowered me to examine my wants, needs, likes, dislikes, emotions, and thoughts without relying on others for help.
I am confident that they will do the same for you.
#1. What Options Do I Have?
It’s a simple question. Isn’t it?
But, most of us ignore it. The pressure of making quick decisions paralyzes us in fear and overwhelms us.
Result?
Inaction.
In reality, indecision/inaction is also a decision — a choice.
“Not knowing the problem” screams failure and repentance.
Let’s say you are traveling. What do you do with Google Maps?
Explore all the possible routes and decide the shortest, right!
Then, why not do it with life’s problems?
#2. What Do I Gain/Lose?
The toughest decisions of life are the ones with the highest risk.
So, if you weigh the pros and cons:
The decision-making process may speed up
Your mental dilemma gets solved
You get rid of self-limiting beliefs
Your wishful thinking gets eliminated
You become free from the burden of cognitive biases
You avoid decision-making paralysis
You approach your decision objectively without relying solely on your “gut instinct”
According to a study in the Harvard Business Review:
“Pros-and-cons lists enables high-level exploratory thinking because they encourage self-consciousness, contemplation, introspection and a readiness for applying a variety of diverse mindsets.”
#3. Do I Fear The Change?
Inaction sometimes means hiding the unknown fear.
I avoided writing online for the longest time because I feared being judged by people.
I didn’t want to confront my feelings, so I gave myself many excuses like:
I can’t
I don’t have time
Not today
Writing is not meant for me
Passion ≠ Profession
But the moment I took this litmus test, I detected the acidity of fear. Everything became crystal clear. I discovered what I needed to work on.
Sometimes, decision paralysis is fake. It’s just the fear of facing the change.
#4. What Will Happen If….?
“What if” is the best brainstorming technique in decision-making because:
You can anticipate the worst-case scenarios
You can analyze the risk involved with a specific choice
It empowers you to explore the longevity of your decision
You can evaluate the possible outcomes
You can reduce the effect of uncertainty
You’ll know what you’ll miss or face
Inaction is mostly because of unfamiliarity with the future. And this question targets just that.
#5. How Will The Decision Affect My Personal/Professional Life?
The ancient saying, “As long as your decisions do not affect others, you can do what you want,” was incorrect.
The claim is conflicting.
Sooner or later, your actions always have consequences. On your personal and professional life.
Every decision you make has some impact on:
Friends
Family and loved ones
Colleagues
Community
Environment. etc.
Let’s say you choose to take a vacation.
Your decision will likely affect your work colleagues. Their workload might increase. Their work hours might get affected, which might affect their personal life.
This scenario is not meant to prevent you from using your vacation leave but to suggest that even a tiny decision impacts people around you.
People often ignore empathy in decision-making.
So ensure you don’t miss it, or else you might invite some unwanted turbulences in your relationships.
#6. Can I Go Back To Square One
There’s nothing in life that can’t be reversed, right?
It’s partially true.
But everything comes at a cost. So does your decision.
Whether it’s marriage, moving to a new city, going back to school at a later stage of life, buying a car/home — you can reverse these decisions, but their costs are different.
Some cost you time, some money, and some peace of mind.
So, evaluate the feasibility of returning to square one while making any life decisions on a scale of 1–10.
#7. Are My Impulses Forcing Me Towards a Certain Choice?
Individuals are compelled to act irrationally when they are in a state of exhilaration, agitation, and emotional distress.
These emotions compel you to act immediately.
They compel you to make a decision right away.
You can’t think right while you make hasty judgments.
Let’s say you and your partner had a nasty dispute the night before. The next morning, your employer offers you a raise, but only if you relocate to a new location.
What’s your reaction?
You immediately accept this offer without consulting your partner since your decision is affected by wrath, revenge, and greed.
These sorts of decisions may be extremely detrimental to one’s life since they are irreversible (discussed above); you cannot go back in time and repair your mistakes.
So, check if your decisions aren’t impulsive.
#8. Why Do I Want To Make a Certain Choice?
Every decision has a strong “why,” even if you aren’t aware of it.
You make a quick friend. Why? You like their personality, appearance, etc.
You fall in love. Why? You feel an emotional bond.
You quit your job. Why? You don’t find value in your work.
Everything has a driving force — Personal growth, self-improvement, greed, money, love, etc.
However, why does everything have a “WHY”?
To prove its usefulness!
Sometimes, we end up making the wrong decision.
WHY?
Because we fail to understand the practicality, feasibility, and longevity of our choice.
You may have heard of the phrase “distance is no barrier” when it comes to dining out. So, let’s find out why the saying holds its meaning.
First why — Health and taste preferences
Second why — Fine dining experience
Third why — Best chef and world-class hospitality
Fourth why — Affordability
Fifth, why — Waiting time
To make an informed decision, you must question the five whys to your decision. If not, you should rethink your decision.
#9. Have I Critiqued Myself?
No one but you is your biggest critic and a well-wisher.
No one can give you the best advice/feedback in the world because you know your limitations and strengths.
You know extremely well if you could live your decision or not.
But how do you use it to your advantage?
I grill myself before the showdown.
I detach myself from the situation and the decision and use whys, hows, whats, and when to evaluate every aspect of the final decision.
This step is imperative because it reveals all the hidden aspirations, wishes, and desires associated with the decision.
#9 1/2. What Is My Gut Instinct(?!)
This isn’t a question or an answer!
It’s a calling!
An inner voice!
This heart whisper is so subtle that it often gets drowned in the cacophony of external noises of opinions and advice.
So, you must develop intuitive powers.
Trusting your Gut instincts can’t be taught or learned.
However, it comes with practice.
The more you listen to your heart and act accordingly, the stronger, the audible its voice becomes.
Sometimes, your decision might look perfect on paper but not in real life. That’s where intuition comes into play.
If it says you reverse your final decision, do it without question.
This fact reminds me of a quote from a book, “Troy: Fall of Kings:”
“Trust your instincts, and make judgments on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you”.
It’s so much possible that you’ll have anxiety even after going through the above exercise. But, the only way out is self-trust.
A Final Word
There is no such thing as an easy life. It’s not meant to be either.
Making difficult choices is a regular part of life, and it’s always a test of your courage and stability — It’s all part of life’s plan to make you better.
However, this does not mean you must physically, emotionally, cognitively, and psychologically become weak each time you have to make a decision.
Let me know which part of this decision-making tool helped you the most.
If you have an alternate way, I am all ears!
👉 If this post resonates with you, forward it on to your buddies!
And please, don't forget to hit that ❤️ button. If you’re NOT using the app, respond with the word “Awesome.“ It helps others find it on Substack.
Thanks for the support! 🙌
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