How To Make Good Decicions In Tough Situations

When we are in difficult times, where crucial decisions must be made, it is essential that we do not give into our emotional tendencies at the given moment and do something that will cause severe damage to our lives. We must put long term goals and plans over short term gratification in order to enhance the quality of our lives and move forward. Here are some things to keep in mind when making big decisions.

1. Have self-awareness
   This means that we must understand our emotional and physical needs, desires, and limits. We must consider how our decisions will affect us based on what type of people we are. This means that we should evaluate past experiences with similar situations, and really know what is best for us, especially since what might be good for other people in a certain situation might not be what is best for us. For example, when choosing a partner, some people might be compatible with someone who is tall, handsome, and athletic, while others might be much happier with someone who is sensitive and nerdy. Knowing ourselves will allow us to pursue what is best for us.
   
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2. Be logical
   Like I stated before, it is very easy to give into emotional tendencies at the given moment and completely disregard the complexity of a situation. When making big decisions, we must ask ourselves several questions. How will this affect me in a month? In a year? Ten years? How will this affect my life? Will I regret it later on? Why am I doing this? We must be reasonable and grounded.

3. Be conscientious about how your actions affect others
   Friends, family members, and partner plays a big role in our lives. When making a decision, it is not necessary to let them dictate our actions, but we should take them in consideration. For example, when deciding on where to live, many people want to be near their family. Others may value time with their partner, so they would choose a career that fits with this desire. Being mindful of how we impact those around us should play a large factor when we make decisions.

4. Calm down and take your time
   There is no need to rush yourself on important life decisions. Not thinking them through can lead to unnecessarily severe consequences, especially since it is so easy to give into personal fantasy, emotional tendencies, and a distorted sense of reality. For example, there are many young people who drop out of college with the intention to do something unique but also difficult, with the initial thought that they would become financially independent instead of having a “boring 9 to 5 job”. There is nothing wrong with this, and they can succeed with a lot of hard work and patience, but from my observation, many of them have fallen victim to their personal fantasies because of the way the media glamorizes college dropouts, and do not end up being successful as they thought they would. Examples like these show us how crucial it is to take time to think through important decisions without rushing.