9 . How to Make Wise Decisions
We make decisions every day; everything we say and do is the result of a decision. 1 However, there are some steps you can follow.
List your options (选择). It may appear that there is only one course of action, but that is not necessarily true. No matter how limited your situation seems, try to make a list of options. Brainstorm, and write down every idea that comes to your mind, as crazy as it may seem. You can always cross it off the list later, but crazy ideas can bring creative solutions. Once you have your list, ask others for suggestions. 2
Weigh the possible results. For every option, list every possible result, and label (标签) it as positive or negative. 3 You can put a plus sign next to each positive result and a minus sign next to each negative one. Give two pluses or minuses to the best and the worst.
4 This is the hardest step, but there will hopefully be a decision on your list that is supported by both logic and intuition (直觉). If you still can’t decide, ask for advice from people you trust. If need be, let them be the tie-breakers. It’s better than flipping (掷) a coin.
Carry it out wholeheartedly once you have made a decision. At this stage, don’t let yourself be confused by thinking about all the choices you didn’t pick.
In the end, remember to evaluate your decision afterward. 5 By drawing wisdom from every decision you make, you can ensure that every choice has at least one positive result.
| A．Make a choice. |
| B．Think about who is affected. |
| C．There is a simple way to do this. |
| D．Sometimes they can offer the most creative ideas. |
| E．You should hope for the best and prepare for the worst. |
| F．There are no easy formulas (公式) for making the right decision. |
| G．If you don’t evaluate your decision afterward, you won’t learn anything from it. |
