The pandemic. The war in Ukraine. Political strife at home. Internal unrest and prejudice within our borders. Economic fallout from all of these challenges. We live in very difficult times. Complicating this scenario is the fact that every decision we make has consequences not only for our futures but for the many people we come in contact with. If we have this kind of say in our future, then why do we find ourselves in such formidable circumstances?
The answer is obvious – bad decisions. Anyone working toward a better self is consistently seeking to make better decisions. That becomes very difficult in such challenging times. Here are seven steps to help you make good choices when all that surrounds you is so disheartening.
Practice Good Self Care
You cannot make good decisions if you are not at your best. Your number one priority is taking care of you. Good self-care is your first step. Healthy eating, exercise, setting aside “me” time, laughter, spiritual pursuits, meditation – whatever practices you can do to keep your mind and body working at optimal levels.
Define Your Values
So many of us have never sat down and defined the principles that guide us. This is so important. Have you ever tried to find a location you’ve never been to without using a good map? You forage aimlessly, wasting time, getting frustrated, never reaching your goal. You run into the same plight when you have no idea on which criteria to base your decision-making process.
Consult a Good Book
We seek out knowledge through books to help us understand what we find hard to comprehend.
Knowledge is strength. Knowledge is power. Knowledge builds on itself. The more you know, the easier it is to use and grow your knowledge base. As you strengthen that base, the more facts you accumulate to draw on when making sound decisions.
Keep an Open Mind
It’s okay to change your mind. Someone should alert politicians to this fact. Growth happens when we discard old beliefs in favor of a better way. Keeping an open mind to other sides of an issue aids in opening up to those better ways of living.
Listen to Your Heart
If we are still and open to knowledge, it speaks to us through our hearts. We hear the still, small voice within us telling us what the right choice is. If you have trouble hearing that voice, try meditation, deep breathing exercises, or tapping into your subconscious.
Identify what You Can and Cannot Control
While being proactive and following these steps assists you in making changes you have control over, it is necessary to acknowledge that there are some circumstances in which you do not. Analyze for practicality. Then work on the ones that you do have control of, but ignore the ones you don’t. It will save you a lot of heartache.
Work on the Side of Truth
Make the decision to act. Make the change you see needs to happen. The world needs to hear from truth-seekers and truth-tellers. Your good works will stand as a beacon of light in the darkness that surrounds us. And it does help change the world for the better.
Making sound decisions in times of crisis is good for you, and good for all. Hopefully, these steps will assist you in making the best decisions you are faced with during challenging times.
Copyright 2022, Monica Nelson
