Make Better Emotional Decisions with these 6 Steps

We generally make thousands of decisions in a day.

From what's for dinner, where to go shopping, what to post on social media, and with whom should we spend time with, Did you know that on average 17-53 year olds are faced with a multitude of choices as soon as they wake up. This is why so many of us find it difficult to make the correct decision and have trouble deciding on the spot. Now let me tell you, its not the amount of options that put the fear of deciding into you: but more likely to be the fear of making the wrong decision.

Is there any one way to help make better emotional choices in your life or negotiations? What role does emotion play in decision making? Are we really able to maintain a level of control to obtain the desired results?

The Psychology To Making a Decision

There are two ways our brain collaborates when put in the position to make a choice.

The first way our brain operates is by acting with fast, decisive, and automatic responses. For example: If someone was to ask you to complete the following phrase “like a hot knife through ______”. Most likely your brain would have directed you to answer “butter”.

The second way our brain operates is by making you accountable for solving the more complex issues, one example of this would be, an advanced mathematical equation or how to parallel park your vehicle.

Each time we are faced with a decision making task, both of the above come into play, this is so we can complete tasks effortlessly. It has been proven that we make poorer decisions when our energy is focused on compromising. This generally occurs when we are stressed, burnt out, aren't sleeping too well or overthinking a situation. When this occurs, we tend to say things we regret in the heat of the moment, I know I have, and each time that happens I have felt disappointed in myself for choosing a poor alternative.

If you control your emotions, you will always make clearer decisions in life, business and love.

Is there a way to make better life choices if we are stuck in an emotional rollercoaster? Well lucky for us the answer is YES – it is possible and here are six ways you can get started.

Take A Breath And Evaluate The Situation.

When you do this, it will elevate any headaches in the future . Take enough time so your brain can register, evaluate and process the situation this will allow you to make an informed decision. Use this tactic when:

You’re asked a complicated question

You’re feeling tired and agitated and could bite someone's head off.

If the response you have could man the difference between losing or winning. For example: Negotiating a deal

If you feel that something you may say could cause regret with your inner self.

For large choices like buying a house, quitting your job to pursue your passion (this was me), or switching off a loved ones life support (I hope you never have to deal with this) you should take a substantial amount of time to consider the options, pros and cons. Sit down fill out your Success Strategy Planning Guide, Take a walk, Go to the beach. This will give you clarity on how to approach the situation. If you have to make a lightning fast decision, for example if you are in a job interview, negotiation or a debate, I suggest you pause for a moment, repeat the situation in your head and then proceed to your choice. This will enable you to produce a clearer and more decise response without coming across foolish.

Your Instinct Is Not Always Right.

Intuition, more commonly known as “gut feeling”, is one of the most basic instincts a person can have. It enables us to assess our surroundings to help avoid danger or an uncomfortable situation. However when it comes to games of chance (i.e. circumstances that rely on a 50/50 probability) we should probably avoid trusting our gut. Some examples that people face are the stock market, gambling even friendships.

The question is, when should we be trusting our Instincts? Well the answer to that is quite simple, you want to trust your gut when there is skills or experience involved.

For example:

You’re ready to shift from a fulltime salaried role with stability to opening your own business in the same field but you don't have the wealth of experience your employer has. You’re worried that you might be making the wrong choice which puts you in a place of fear. Remember the above tactics, pause for a moment, repeat the situation in your head, take some time to assess your options, again I find completing the Success Strategy Planning Guide will enable you to make a decision not based around emotion. Ask yourself: “how do I feel about my current circumstances?”. Then list the pros and cons of what could happen once you make the switch. If you have a strange feeling of certainty, then that’s your gut telling you to assert yourself and take action on your future.

However if you’re in the casino playing blackjack and you have the sudden burst of energy saying this is your lucky night, then don’t bet on it. Games of chance never rely on skill – Chances are you'll lose more than you bargained for and start making bad decisions base around emotion.

Always Write It Down.

There have been a wide range of experts and reports which show us how writing can be of benefit and enable us to better understand our lives, keep track of our growth, and assist us in making the right choices. If you are at a stage in your life where you have experienced financial hardship, job losses or trauma especially during this global pandemic then writing down your feelings will give you a clearer perspective.

You won't feel an immediate benefit– however, keeping a daily journal and writing your goals is an amazing form of therapy that has been tried and tested by successful people throughout the world. It gives you clarity on where you are now and where you are going, it allows you to have some alone time with your thoughts without all the noise and ensures you can go back and review your thoughts. Who know you may have written down that Million Dollar Idea.

Be Precise On Your Options

Have you ever wondered why Food Works have kept their stores small and grocery line limited? Well this is because the bigger their selection means the more room there is to make a regrettable decision. This may sound counterintuitive, Being precise on your options helps you avoid picking something you’ll later be unhappy about.

So lets say you are fresh out of university, have all these new skills and talents, you're brilliant with people, can write 1000 word articles, and don’t mind speaking to a room of 500 to pitch an idea. Chances are you would be suitable for a range of jobs. However sending out 30-40 resumes at once is only going stress you out and give you a headache. We all know that if you don't provide a resume and cover letter that is targeted to that exact position, then chances are you won't get the call back, thus, leaving you more deflated then you were before.

When applying for a position, to achieve the best possible outcome I suggest focusing on 2- 3 companies at a time:

Ask yourself these questions, write down your answers and ensure you have absolute clarity.

Why do you want to work for these companies?

Are you qualified for the position you have applied for?

What benefits and working environment does this company provide?

Do they have motivate, success orientated management?

What skills and experience do you plan learn from them?

How long do you intend to stay with them? e.g. Is this an employer I can see myself being happy with and staying long term or am I only doing this for a pay check?

What are the chances that you will be hired over other candidates that have applied?

When you become precise on what you want, you will be happier, less stressed and more fulfilled.

Speak with the Majority

As humans, we are prone to bias. Some will help us form opinions while others will place us in an unexpected situation. NEVER rely on these when you are making decisions. For example, Being Confident is a great trait to possess. When we exhibit confidence it allows us to view things in a positive light and perceive our talents in the right way. So many people become overconfident of the skills they have acquired. Have you ever notices that some of the most powerful leaders and managers typically make wrong decisions?

One of the most informative ways to make the right decision – especially if it involves large risks, is to ask for a second opinion from someone who has the experience. For example:

Your team leader isn't pleased with a proposal you have been working on. They are convinced that it won't increase the company's revenue. You have spent weeks on this proposal and admittedly this makes you upset. You now have critical decision to make, Do you present the proposal to your General Manager to review, go ahead and brief the client with it or do you call a meeting with your managers and colleagues to add their input?

Don’t just trust your experience or the gut feeling you may have. In business, I have come across employees who are overconfident and often overlook the critical detail to produce a quality outcome.

Don't Allow Yourself To Burnout.

So you have a huge choice to make? It is always beneficial to step away from the situation, sleep on it and make an informed decision.

Sleep is one of the most critical things a person needs to function, yet, so many of us stay up late to finish work, binge-watch netflix, scroll through mindlessly on social media or swipe left, swipe right on tinder. Getting sufficient sleep has huge benefits to your health and mind, our brain needs to shut down at least 8 hours a night so we can analyse and process information faster and more accurately.

Are you feeling stressed, anxious, nervous or confused? Take a break get some much needed R&R and then come back to what you were working on. Guaranteed you feel 100% and more refreshed after a well needed rest, your mind will have more clarity to tackle any complex issue.