Five Big Invitations to Decide

A decision is an intention or a desire animated by an allocation of resources. You do something with your time, money, and/or attention. We gain power when our intentions coincide with our decisions; when our thinking and doing are aligned.

Some call that flow. Others call it meditation.

We leak power when we’re doing one thing and thinking about another. It’s a low-quality way to go through a day, and yet we all do it.

And stuff still happens. Focus, intention, decisions . . . these words are not synonymous with prophecy. We surf on waves of unfathomable causes and conditions. Our decisions act like a tiller or a keel. They point us and give us ballast.

I recently discovered an inventory of types of decisions I created some years ago. My intent (note the word choice) was to draw attention to the types of decisions I could consciously make. With the passage of time, they still resonate with me. Perhaps they will resonate with you. Think of them as “exam questions,” as invitations to think and act.

The Support Decision How do I get the kind of support I want and need  (all types)?

The Steadfast Decision How do I protect and nurture my dreams?

The Significance Decision How do I make a difference?  How do I serve?

The Professional Decision How do I monetize my skills and experience?

The Egoless Decision How do I put away my need to be right and learn from what makes me mad, sad, and out of sorts?

If one of these catches your eye, do this . . .

• Work on the exam question.  Words matter.  What do you truly want here?
• Give yourself quality alternatives. Stay wide open to possibilities.
• Clarify what you want and how you would know you are succeeding
• Get the information you need to make intelligent trade-offs
• Identify the critical uncertainties (and be okay that they are uncertain)
• Make high-quality trade-offs and set your intention.
• Allocate resources and go.
• Enjoy the ride.