By Naseerah Nanabhai
28:07:2021

From deciding what meal to eat or what clothes to wear to more important decisions such as which career to pursue or who to marry, decision-making is an integral part of our daily lives. Some people are more decisive than others, with some individuals who can make spot decisions and others who struggle to choose between alternatives.

Better than being able to make a decision is one who can make good decisions in the different domains of life. Good decisions relate to choices that result in positive consequences instead of those that result in adverse effects.

While it may surprise most of us, decision-making skills are not something we are innately born with; instead, we acquire and develop over time. Improving decision-making skills include experiences and consequences of poor decisions; although this may not be the most preferred way of attaining decision-making skills, it certainly is the best.

When making major life-changing decisions, it is suggested that you follow steps in the decision-making process. These may include identifying the decision to be made, collecting relevant information, recognizing alternatives, weighing the evidence, making your selection, and finally reviewing your decision.

Remember that no matter which decision you make, you will never really know the consequences of the decision until you have made it, and that no one always makes good decisions. Bad selections and mistakes are there for us to learn and help build our decision-making skills.