Think Twice (Part 1)

When I was a teenager, I generally hear these words as a piece of advice: "Before you decide, think about it a thousand times... or a hundred times... or ten times." I was made to believe then that decision-making process is really a difficult task. As we know, decision makers in a company, for example, are being paid with higher salaries than those who act upon and execute the decisions made. And I used to have that kind of thinking when I enter the corporate world. But then again, as I gain professional experience and began to accept higher responsibilities in the company, those words usually revisit my mind and seems to keep on telling me time and again: "Be careful with your decisions. Think about this. Think about that. What about this? What about that? Think, think, and think!" Believing that I can be in control of my life, I carry on to my personal journey with that philosophy in mind ready to face any challenges.

Then I started to question that philosophy: "Is it really effective? Will you be able to avoid committing mistakes with that kind of attitude? Isn't it a waste of time and energy to think a lot, look at every angle, consult all your friends, and absorb as much as you can, all the ideas and suggestions they gave you then try to consider all possible scenarios just to make sure that you will come up with the right decision?" With such curiosity, I began to look for answers. Then I read a lot. I looked at any books that have something to do with my research and any reading materials which I believe would help satisfy my craving for more knowledge.

I am an Engineer. I am a very technical person. My boss believes in me, and of course I believe in my self too, that I have become competent enough to be in a position where I could use my personal judgement and make some decisions for the company. But I found my self just starting to know. I finally began to understand about the most complicated subject among all subjects: LIFE... And yes I realize how really complicated life is. Life is a complicated series of complicated events with complicated reasons. But why not try to make it simple? Life is too short. So why waste your time, making it so hard for your self, thinking and thinking and thinking and thinking and thinking, just to come up with the right decision? Such process of making decisions, hoping that you are in control of your life, may lead you to where you don't want to go. Guess what? This is what I have found:

1. Decisions are neither right nor wrong; they are only good or bad.

2. It's not a question of how you make a decision; but rather, it's a question of how you handle the consequences of that decision.

3. You're not the ones who are really in control of your life - Natural Principles are. (From Stephen Covey's First Things First)

To come up with a Good Decision, you only need to 'THINK TWICE'. The first part has something to do with addressing the questions WHAT and WHY. Then the second part is HOW. Several small decisions that are based in Natural Principles will give Quality-of-Life results.

On the second part of this article, i will share with you the idea of thinking about this important questions in your decision making process. And applying the law of Natural Principles, which has been existing and is being followed for thousands of years, will save you energy to do the more important task which is managing the consequences of your decisions.