Making Good Decisions

“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.” – Roy Disney

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to make important decisions if you are unclear on your priorities?  If you’re having trouble choosing between two distinct courses of action, you may want to reexamine your values.  It may be a situation in which you simply need to remind yourself of what is most important to you.  Or, it may be that you need to revise those priorities based on new information, an important experience, or changing circumstances.

In Taekwondo, we have five chief tenets:  1) courtesy; 2) integrity; 3) perseverance; 4) self-control; 5) indomitable spirit.  These are our values.  They guide us not only in how we conduct ourselves on the training mats, but also in how we conduct ourselves at home, in school, at the office, and anywhere else we find ourselves.  These tenets serve as anchors for our actions.

When these values are at the forefront of our minds, making hard decisions becomes easier.  Will the proposed action conform, affirm, or reinforce these values?  Then it is easier to choose it.  If the proposed action doesn’t conform to these values, it becomes clear it is something we wish to avoid.  Regardless, having this clear set of priorities makes decision making more efficient and effective.

If you are finding it difficult to make a particular decision, examine your core values and determine how this decision interacts with them.  If haven’t specifically defined your core values, spend some time doing so.  You’ll find it makes your ability to accomplish your goals much easier.