We make scores if decisions each day. Most are routine, such as what to wear, where to eat, and what chores to avoid.J However, sometimes we do have to make difficult decisions, such as whether to accept that job offer, whether to enter or exit a relationship, or whether to buy life insurance.
For the common everyday decisions, it doesn’t really matter if you have a system in place to help you decide, as it is usually inconsequential what you wear, where you eat or what chores you choose to avoid. I say usually because obviously there could sometimes be exceptions.
But the more important decisions require more than “just pick one” or “do the opposite.” A system can be extremely helpful, and while I’m sure there are many, the one that I find helpful is the Ben Franklin method.
It is so named because he used it (and wrote about it) to help himself make difficult decisions. He simply made two columns, one pro, the other con, and then listed as many of each as he could come up with.
When he was finished, he looked for like weighted items on each side that he thought would cancel each other out. Sometimes it took two or more items on one side to cancel a single item on the other side. When one side had no more items, the other side was the “winner” and guided his decision.
Many people shun making difficult decisions for fear of making a mistake. But not making a decision has the potential of making the same mistake. And not making a decision is also a decision, albeit a passive one, and passive decisions are less responsible than active decisions.
Additionally, a passive decision almost never makes us feel good.