Quick decisions-Regret later

@picjim (3002)
India
August 25, 2010 12:16am CST
I take quick,spontaneous decisions which benefit me at times,sometimes i regret these decisions.Can you suggest methods where i can delay and take better decisions for me and those around me?
6 responses
• United States
25 Aug 10
As the person above me said, a pro/con list is a great idea to help you make better and more thought out decisions. Doing so on paper can make it more "real". Take a piece of paper and draw a verticle line down it in the center. Label one side "Pros" and one "Cons". Pros are good things that will come from you doing something, and "cons" are bad things. Try to be as objective/unbiased as possible when making the list. At the end, read through all of your pros and all of your cons. The side with the most should probably give you an idea of the answer. Next, if you don't have a time limit for the decision, put the list away for 24 hours. When the 24 hours have past, look at the list and try to think of new things to add. After adding any new ideas, read the list the third time. Generally, it's safe to say that if you have more "pros", it's a good idea, and if you have more "cons" it's a bad idea. But there are exceptions. Make sure to take time to think about the implications of each pro and con. If you're not into writing things out, you don't have enough time, or you just don't like that idea, I have another one. In this idea, more for creative people than the analytical, you close your eyes and picture yourself making the decision to either do or not do something. "Live out" what would happen next, and see if that's really what you want. This idea is less objective, and therefore more flawed, but it will still slow you down to make a better decision. When using this idea, it's also important to be as realistic as possible. Don't let yourself slip into what you WANT to happen, only think about what WOULD happpen in the real world.
1 person likes this
@picjim (3002)
• India
25 Aug 10
Thank you for the great piece of advise.It is ideal as you have said to jot down the pros and cons on paper.Holding the decision making process for 24 hours will as you say add more pros and cons to the list.I can then decide based on whether the pros outweigh the cons or the cons outweigh the pros in favour or against the decision.The second idea is equally good to visualise the consequences of your action in real life,if the consequences are god then go ahead with it.If the consequences as visualized are bad then shelve the idea or decision.
@picjim (3002)
• India
25 Aug 10
Error:If the consequences are good and not God.
• United States
25 Aug 10
You're welcome, I'm really glad you found them helpful. :) I often use the pro/con list myself, but one of my friends finds it easier to visualize everything.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
26 Aug 10
You need to change your habits. Practise, learn how to delay until you have had time to think. This can save you friendship and a lot of money.
1 person likes this
@picjim (3002)
• India
27 Aug 10
Thank you very much, i shall follow your advise.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
25 Aug 10
Cant think of any for I amke fasts ones too and most times it fits well
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
25 Aug 10
If you have the time to make a wise decision, then it would be wise to lay out things before you make such decisions. Most of the time, if you make a quick decisions you will fail to weigh all the things. So it would be better to sit down a while and analyze things.. consider all aspects, much better write the advantages and disadvantages and consider other options prior to making the final decision.
@picjim (3002)
• India
26 Aug 10
What you are suggesting is a valuable bit of information.Yes, quick decisions do not allow us to consider all aspects.What you say is absolutely true to write down all the pros and cons and arrive at a decision after weighing them.In this way we can deliberate over the decision before deciding.
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
25 Aug 10
I read a book, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, he says that people that make decisions quickly and change their mind slowly if at all, tend to do better then people that make decisions slowly and change them if they don't work fast enough... The only thing you can do to make better decisions, is get better information, from more then 3 sources. Ask ask and ask some more. Just to keep asking past the time the opportunity is there. Sincerely and With Appreciation
@picjim (3002)
• India
25 Aug 10
What you say is very valuable.I feel you are very correct when you say people who make up their mind quickly,change it slowly.On introspection I've found this to be accurate.Yes,ideas gathered from more than 3 sources are useful for their broadness and we can consider most aspects before arriving at a final decision.Thanks for your valuable input.
@bokal2703 (802)
• Philippines
25 Aug 10
in making decisions, you should first think and weighs the pros and cons of the decision you have to make. You can write it in a piece of paper so you can look at it many times before finally giving your decision.
• United States
25 Aug 10
This is exactly what I do, and great advice :)
@picjim (3002)
• India
25 Aug 10
Thank you for your sound advise.Yes, i ought to write the pros and cons and ponder over them before deciding.It is ideal to write them on a slip of paper as our thoughts will be reduced to writing.I can then consider carefully the pros and cons before taking a decision.