75. The Art of Making a Decision
How many decisions do you make in a day? I bet there are so many, big and small, that it’s impossible to answer the question. With so many decisions being made all the time, decision fatigue becomes a real threat. Today, I want to explain how making good decisions is an art. When making important decisions you should: Identify your circumstances Know what is motivating you Accept that your decision is the right one Consider the opposite of your decision Evaluate how realistic your decision is Approaching the Decision-Making Process When faced with a decision to make, the first thing to do is identify the situation. Then, consider your motivation. Knowing why you want to do something means you can move forward with more clarity. At this point, it’s normal for you to think of all the reasons why your decision is the wrong one. Don’t get stuck in this. This is the time to accept that your decision is the right one. You don’t need to justify yourself to anyone. It’s okay to consider possible negatives to your decision. This keeps expectations realistic and informed. You can then evaluate just how feasible your decision actually is. The Most Important Considerations Part of decision overwhelm comes when we think of all the things that could go wrong. When approached the right way, this is actually an important part of the process. Understand that the worst-case scenario isn’t the most likely scenario. However, if you know you can live with the possibility of things going poorly, you’ll know that your decision is still likely the right one. Before moving forward, ask yourself this question: do you really want this? The answer to this will dictate if you move forward or not. Either way, you’ll have to own your decision in the end. Even before you put your decision into action, accept responsibility for it. You’ll release yourself from the decision-making process and allow yourself to fully live with it. Homework for Women Physicians What big decisions are you faced with? How will you put the decision-making process into action? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode Grappling with decision fatigue and its consequences [1:50] A step-by-step guide to decision making [3:50] Considering worst-case scenarios and preparing for them [15:30] Understanding what you truly want to do [20:20] Quotes “When we have decision fatigue, that part of our brain that does all of the good decision-making doesn’t want to work anymore.” [2:18] “It is okay to just want this. There doesn’t need to be any other explanation.” [10:35] “If we’re not willing to go ahead and accept some of the worst-case scenarios, then it might not be the right decision for us.” [17:35] Resources Mentioned Free 5-Day Strength Series for Women Physicians Learn more about accredited coaching with Dr. Amelia Bueche Find Dr. Amelia Bueche Online Follow Dr. Amelia Bueche on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Check out the full episode page here Find Life Coaching for Women Physicians Online Follow Dr. Ali Novitsky on Facebook | Instagram Subscribe to Life Coaching for Women Physicians on Apple Podcasts Podcast production by the team at Counterweight Creative