3 Best Steps to Make Wise Decisions and Expect the Best Outcome in Every Situation
3 Best Steps to Make Wise Decisions and Expect the Best Outcome in Every Situation
Have you ever felt nervous about making a decision that could affect the rest of your life? Sometimes even seemingly minor decisions can send you into a fit of anxiety when you begin thinking of all the things that could go wrong.
It’s fairly common for people to vacillate back and forth between several choices, whether they are related to career, money, business, opportunities, or even relationships. How do you know which choice is the best one for you in any given situation? Sometimes the best choice is obvious, but other times they all seem to hold a glimmer of possibility – and the threat of regret.
The good news is that making wise decisions is a matter of weighing the potential pros and cons of every available outcome. Below you will find a simple 3-step process to help you make wise decisions no matter what part of your life they may affect.
1) What Do You Stand to Gain?
When you have got more than one option to choose from, a great first question to ask of each one is, “What do I stand to gain from choosing this option?” If the rewards are big, you might be willing to withstand a bit of risk in order to benefit from the opportunity. Conversely, if the payoff would be small, you might not feel so confident about taking a chance right now.
2) What Do You Stand to Lose?
The next question to ask is, “What do I stand to lose if this option doesn’t work out?” No one likes to think of the negatives in a potential opportunity, but you could save yourself a lot of heartache with a bit of foresight! If your losses could be huge with a particular option, you might decide to hold off for a while to see if the odds improve over time.
3) What’s the Worst Thing that Could Happen?
Finally, take it one step further and ask, “What is the worst thing that could happen if I choose this option, and would I be willing to accept those consequences?” It may seem like a very pessimistic question, but it’s extremely effective at clarifying the situation! If you couldn’t handle the consequences of making such a choice, then you know immediately that it’s not the right choice for you at this time. If, on the other hand, the consequences wouldn’t be so bad, you know it’s a viable option for you.
What do you do if all of your options hold the same potential rewards and consequences? Go with your gut! Take a few minutes to think carefully about each possibility, and then choose the one you feel strongest about.
When it comes right down to it, there are no guarantees in decision-making. You simply weigh the pros and cons, listen to your intuition, and do the best you can. In the end, there really isn’t any such thing as a “bad” decision, because you do learn something from each one you make. If you keep that in mind you should grow more confident with each choice you make, which will help you make even better decisions in the future.
How to Expect the Best Outcome in Every Situation
Do you ever find yourself getting stuck in negative thought patterns and expecting the worst possible outcome in every situation? It’s a common mind-set that proves difficult to change when you finally decide you have had enough. Unfortunately, negative thoughts tend to breed and multiply on their own – even when you’re not consciously trying to think negatively.
The good news is that turning a negative outlook into a positive one just takes a bit of patience and persistence until the positive thoughts begin to take over.
Below you will find three simple steps to begin forming positive expectations on a daily basis:
1) Develop Self-awareness to Recognize Negative Expectations.
One problem with negative thoughts is that they often form below your conscious level of awareness, and you get so used to them being in your head that you hardly notice anymore. To turn the tide of negativity, you’ll have to develop a stronger level of self-awareness. One good way to start is by performing self-checks several times a day. Pay attention first to how you feel. If you’re feeling positive and productive, most likely you’ve been thinking positive thoughts.
However, if you notice that you’re feeling irritable, pessimistic, or stressed, you are probably focusing more on negative thoughts. When that happens:
2) Challenge and Change the Negative Thoughts.
Believe it or not, it’s fairly easy to challenge and change negative thoughts with a little willpower and concentration. For example, if you find yourself feeling doubtful about your ability to finish your work on time, you might engage in a bit of self-talk like this: “Okay, so I’m feeling a bit worried right now, but really everything is okay. I’m strong, I’m smart and I’m capable of finishing my work on time. I’ll do my best and everything will work out fine.” Even though nothing has changed in your outer circumstances, this type of self-talk can get you thinking and feeling more positive.
3) At the same time, while you are changing negative thoughts to positive, work daily on developing a general positive expectation habit.
Each day when you wake up, affirm confidently, “Today is going to be a great day! Everything will go my way and I’ll enjoy plenty of lucrative opportunities and fun!” When you encounter obstacles or problems, see them as opportunities to learn, grow and strengthen yourself. Perception is 99% of the game! If you simply work on shifting the way you look at the experiences of your life, you can easily conquer your negative thought habits. The more you focus on changing your perspective to emphasize the positive, you’ll empower yourself to create better circumstances in your life. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying better and more frequent opportunities and attracting other likeminded, successful people to connect with.
