The Discipline of Deciding

Decision-making is a skill. Some even call it a muscle. Like any muscle, it atrophies if not exercised.

How’s your decision-making ability?

If you struggle with small decisions, how will you ever manage the big ones? 

The small ones:
- What’s for dinner today
- Where to eat out
- What to do in your spare time

The big ones:
- Where to live
- What career to pursue
- Whether you want a partner, and what kind

If you struggle with decision-making, start by practicing decisiveness in small things.

Don’t let someone else decide. Think about what you like and why, then follow through. Don’t just coast along with what your friends are doing.

But good decision-making isn't about randomly picking an option and stubbornly sticking to it.

What makes for good-decision making?
- It leads to good outcomes, most of the time
- It's effective
- It considers the available options

If you can comfortably and confidently explain your reasoning, and it aligns with your values, you’re making a good decision, even if others disagree.

If someone disagrees because their values differ, that’s fine.
If they disagree because they know something you don’t, that might be worth discussing.

The more accurate your information, the better your decisions.

And if you practice making small decisions with clarity and intention, you'll build the confidence and awareness to handle the big ones too.