So far we have covered 6 essentials of success, including Desire, Faith, Autosuggestion, Specialized Knowledge, Imagination and Organized Planning.
However even if these are all in place, they are all useless if you don’t (or can’t) make a decision!
Indecision?
Many people are indecisive because they worry whether about if it is a ‘bad’ decision? Surely I have made my share of those in the past! However you can’t go through life worrying about it. All decisions made have merit – even if many of those tell you how NOT to do things!
Is indecision the same as procrastination? On the surface that may appear so. The net result of either is the lack of action, but the driving force is different. Putting things off may be caused by the fear of consequences of taking action or making the decision. But it can also be caused by a lack of motivation to take action – for instance, if the result of the action has no meaning or value to you.
On the other hand, indecision may result from the inability to understand the nature and consequences of the decision – in other words, there may not be enough information to make the decision in the first place.
Why Decide?
The act of decision tells your mind that you’re ready to receive the success you desire. Even if you don’t know how or when you will get you what you want, the mind is put into action – albeit subconsciously at first – and goes to work helping you get it.
If there is a real benefit to the decision, focus your mind on those benefits. If you want a new car, decide to get one even if you don’t have the money for it right now. Focus on the benefits – take a test drive and enjoy the car! Put yourself through the motions of owning the car!
Whilst being decisive requires knowing enough information to decide, you don’t need all the information to complete the process! For instance, some days when I start my daily walk, I haven’t decided at the start where I am going, but I start walking anyway (I decided to walk!) and decide the destination along the way.
In life, it helps to be flexible and adapt your decisions to the way things pan out. When presented by more than one proposal, each with equal merit, simply decide on one. Toss a coin if necessary. If it doesn’t pay off, you can always try another and another until you get what you want.
You can reach a decision slowly or fast. Many great businessmen and leaders made their decisions fast, but were slow to change that decision. Sometimes a fast decision is the only way to get a project up and running, otherwise it can get bogged down in the planning stage. By making the decision your have set processes in motion that will eventually get you what you want.
Advance Decisions
A lot of decisions are made ‘in advance’ – for instance, making a decision that will apply now and every time in the future – for example, giving up alcohol or cigarettes. It can also be to ‘be a moderate drinker not an alcoholic.’
It can be something like: I will take a trip to Cairns, Australia (or New York or Paris). You don’t need to know the details, only that you will do it.
Once the decision is made, you will find yourself behaving in ways that will support and enact that decision. Kind of like a self fulfilling prophecy!
Make Your Own Decisions
It is important for you to make your own decisions! By all means get information and advice from other sources, including others’ opinions, but ultimately make the decision for yourself, not have someone else make it for you.
Likewise, don’t make decisions for others unless it is your job or role. People need to make their own decisions, even if you think they’re making big mistakes. You can always share your opinion with them, but it will always be their decision to make. If you have children you probably know this. Except for some of the most basic things when kids are too young to know any better, it is best that kids learn to make their own decisions.
All in all, decision making doesn’t need to be a hard process. In fact, if you know what you want it’s easy. Simply say ‘I will decide to get XXX’ and the rest will follow.