A Systematic Method for Making A Difficult Decisions

A Systematic Method for Making A Difficult Decision

Everyday we make countless decisions. Most of them seem automatic like deciding what to eat or wear. Other decisions are more important and require more information and time. Decision-making becomes more difficult as we are less familiar with a subject or if the consequences are serious, even life-changing, such as deciding to move into senior living. We’re likely to be faced with powerful, sometimes contradictory emotions: anticipation, excitement, anxiety, fear of change, guilt, or resentment. Below is an approach that draws on past experience with difficult decisions: like changing jobs, moving away from family, or divorce. The following steps may help you make decisions while keeping some emotional distance.

The steps are:

1. Assess the situation
2. Gather information
3. Set goals or determine a solution
4. Develop a plan to reach your goals
5. Establish a trial period
6. Evaluate the trial period and make adjustment if needed.

Assess

Sometimes the first step involves listing all the areas that are problems or of concern to you. Break through isolation. Describe the situation and ask someone else–a friend or family member–for their contributions. One or more problems usually will emerge as dominant.

Gather Information

Give yourself plenty of time for research. What are your options for meeting your needs, solving the problem at hand? It’s time to check with the local library, on the internet, with spiritual advisors, your doctor, other providers of senior care in your community and financial planners.

Set Goals

Once you’ve clearly defined the problems, you need to state your goals — what do you want, when do you need it?

Develop A Plan

Draw up a plan of action. Be mindful of your budget and finances. The object is to arrive at a choice that will provide the most advantages and the fewest drawbacks, and is acceptable to as many persons involved as possible.

Establish A Trial Period

Try out your decision. See if everyone involved is able to make your plan work. Try to agree ahead of time how success will be measured.

Evaluate the Trial Period

Decide if your plan is working better than expected or more poorly. You can adjust it and you may have to adjust your own views about what is realistic. You may want to enlist the help of a third party such as a professional counselor, minister or lawyer.

Whatever your decision, you’ll probably feel better having made it with all options clear to you and the best interests of everyone fully examined.

[based on material from www.sierrapointe.com]