InspirEmail

InspirEmail No 224 - January 23rd, 2012 - Making Good Decisions
'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

Making Good Decisions

More often than we like, most of us are faced with choices that can have serious and lasting impact on our lives.

Do we go along with the crowd? Do we tell someone off, quit a job, end a relationship? Unfortunately, these decisions are not preceded by a drumroll warning us that the stakes are high and, even worse, we often don't have a lot of time to figure out what to do.

So it's no surprise that most bad decisions - the ones that mess up our lives are made impulsively or without sufficient reflection. Ancient proverbs warn us to 'Count to ten when you're angry' or to 'Think ahead.'

But anger and the lack of pre-planning are only two factors that can impede excellent decision making. Fatigue, fear, frustration, stress and impatience also create obstacles to wise choices. Just as we learned to look both ways before we cross the street, we can learn to systematically analyze every important decision-making situation to allow us to arrive at conclusions that are both effective and ethical.

So each good decision should start with a stop - a forced moment of reflection to let us clarify our goals, evaluate the completeness and credibility of our information, and devise alternative strategies to achieve the best possible result. The stop also allows us to muster our moral will power to overcome temptations and emotions that can lead to rash, foolish or ill-considered decisions.

While it's great if you have a day or two to 'sleep on a problem' or even a few hours to make a decision, many situations do not afford us that luxury. But even a pause of a few seconds can be enough.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you to think ahead because character counts.

Written by Michael Josephson
To learn more about the work of Michael Josephson, please visit . . . Character Counts >>>

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Another Chance

How often we wish for another chance to make a fresh beginning.
A chance to blot out our mistakes and change failure into winning.

It does not take a new day to make a brand new start,
it only takes a deep desire to try with all our heart.

To live a little better and to always be forgiving
and to add a little sunshine to the world in which we're living.

So do not give up in despair and think that you are through,
for there's always a tomorrow and the hope of starting new.

Helen Steiner Rice

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It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped
Anthony Robbins

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A monthly positive inspirational story and quote to refresh your spirit and boost the emotional bank account. InspirEmail was first published in November 2005 and each issue can be viewed in the Archived InspirEmail Directory located below the latest issue of InspirEmail


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