Fortune Cookie Friday: Decisions, Decisions
When it comes to making a decision, we have a couple of methods to use. We can go with our gut and use instinct. We can be logical, weight our options, and use our head. Lastly, we can follow our hearts to resolve the situation.
Our decisions vary in significance from whether we should post a comment on the internet, try a new sport like skiing, or purchase a house. Sometimes we make the verdict instantly because we had previous experience or the choice was obvious. But there are times when we brood over our options until we end up so frustrated that we seek the answers from a friend, professional, or the toss of a coin.
For myself, I tend to use a little of all three methods. At first, I react emotionally to the situation because I am a compassionate person. I hate to disappoint others, and I do all I can to make them happy. Allowing our hearts to decide for us is not a terrible thing. When it comes dealing with the people we love, following our hearts can be very rewarding.
We should be careful not to get too emotional when faced with a dilemma. Heavy emotions can cloud our judgment and cause us to do something we may regret.
It isn’t long before my head takes over and reminds me to think things through. I analyze the situation and try to determine the most amicable solution. This process usually takes a little while, especially if the decision is regarding finances or travel.
Finally, my innate impulse throws a hat into the ring. I will sometimes feel a gut reaction, and other times the hair on the back of my neck will raise. The lack of an instinctual inclination can also be a sign of how I should choose. In most cases, I will make a final decision by this time. Then it’s judgment time.
We never really know if our decision is correct until we set the wheels in motion and witness the results. I recently decided to learn to ski, and I am now regretting it.
My heart pounded with the excitement of learning something new, but my head reminded me that my body wasn’t as young as it used to be. After I put the ski boots on, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to go through with it. They were uncomfortable and felt unnatural. I went anyway so that I could spend some quality time with my family.
I learned the necessary beginner steps of gliding, stopping, and turning. After multiple runs down the training slope, I felt a little more confident. Then it was off to lunch—a turning point in the day. My muscles tightened, and I felt tired after eating.
By the time we headed back out to the smaller slopes, I was hesitant to continue. My head told me that I should stop and my gut although sated by a meal, was twisting in a knot. If I had heeded my body’s warning, I would have been fine. I would have hung out at the bottom of the hill and watched my family happily speed toward me while I took pictures of the event, but my heart urged me to continue down the slope with them.
Moments later I was laying on my side halfway down the hill waiting for ski patrol to retrieve me with a sled and treat my sore knee. If it weren’t for the two torn ligaments in my knee, I would be kicking myself for not making the correct decision.
Decisions can be difficult, but we have many means to help us decide. We each develop our own unique way of weighing our options and hope that we choose correctly. The most important part is how we handle the outcome. We can quietly revel in our success, or gloat to all of our friends. If we fail, we can learn from our mistakes, or throw a tantrum. I believe in most cases we should just roll with whatever happens.
Chair-bound and in an immobilizing brace, I realized that I am better on crutches than I am on skis. The situation is inconvenient, but I am making the best of it. I have no other choice.
