Decision Making

Individuals face a multitude of decisions on a daily basis, which can be categorized into three distinct levels based on the degree of thought and the long-term impact they carry:
- Routine Decisions: These are choices made daily desde the moment an individual wakes up. Examples include selecting attire for the day, deciding whether to brush one's teeth, or choosing whether to have breakfast. These decisions require little to no conscious thought.
- Impulse Decisions: These are categorized as very quick decisions and require minimal thought or planning. A provided example involves receiving a call from a friend on a Friday night and deciding right then and there to travel out of town for the weekend.
- Big Decisions: These are life-changing and serious decisions that commit an individual for a long period or the rest of their life. Examples include getting married, having a child, changing schools, cities, or jobs. These require significant thought, consultation with others, and often the use of a structured decision-making process.

Internal factors are psychological or personal elements that reside within the individual. These can either promote or inhibit the decision-making process:
- Attitude: This refers to how an individual perceives the act of making a decision. It can be viewed as a threat to the status quo or as an opportunity for novelty and life improvement.
- * Emotions: Emotional states—such as being upset, excited, sad, or angry—can significantly influence choices. The speaker warns that being overwhelmed by emotions can lead to poor outcomes, such as ending a relationship during an argument. It is recommended to put emotions aside or allow them to settle before finalizing important decisions to ensure the best outcome for all parties.
- * Values, Goals, and Objectives: These serve as a compass for decisions. For example, if a person's goals include academic success and physical health, they will likely decline offers of alcohol or tobacco at a party because those choices conflict with their established priorities.
- * Ethics: This is the moral framework through which one lives. An example provided is the decision of whether or not to spread a rumor; ethical considerations require the individual to ask if the action is good for the other person and aligned with their own code of conduct.

External factors represent the impact of the surrounding environment and social structures:
- * Family: The upbringing and perspectives provided by parents and family members directly influence both routine choices (e.g., healthy eating habits) and life-altering decisions.
- Peers: Peer pressure can be both positive and negative. Friends may influence decisions that could potentially compromise one's health or safety.
- Media: Television, radio, the internet, and movies dictate trends, behaviors, vocabulary, and clothing choices. These influences are often absorbed unconsciously.
- * Society and Culture: This includes traditions, religious beliefs, and societal expectations. An example given is the cultural expectation to stand and offer a seat to an elderly woman on a bus, which varies by country.
- * Economic Factors: Financial capacity dictates choices, such as whether a person can only afford a used car or has the ability to finance a new one.

Every decision made throughout life carries consequences that can affect the individual and others.
Duration of Impact: Consequences can be immediate (e.g., feeling sick right away after eating spicy food) or long-lasting (e.g., compromised health after eating junk food for extended periods).
Valence of Impact: Consequences can be positive, negative, or a combination.
Academic Example: Deciding to earn higher grades requires committing more time to study. * Negative/Neutral Consequence: Loss of free time and leisure. * Positive Consequences: Parents may be happier, resulting in privileges like borrowing a car or having a longer curfew. Additionally, high grades can lead to acceptance into an honors program.

To facilitate healthy and effective decisions, the "STRONG" approach is recommended as a series of structured steps: * State: Clearly define the issue or the circumstances. Examples include being offered an athletic scholarship, a club membership, or the need to move out of town. * Think: List all potential options rather than focusing on a single alternative. For a weekend trip conflict, options might include rearranging a schedule to complete schoolwork early rather than simply choosing between studying and the trip. * Rate: Evaluate the consequences of each option using the "HELP" criteria: * H (Healthy): Does it promote or damage health (e.g., joining a gym improves the cardiovascular system)? * E (Ethical): Is it morally right? * L (Legal): Does it involve illegal situations, such as joining a gang or stealing? * P (Parent Approval): Would parents approve or disapprove? * Organize: Ensure the narrowed-down options align with personal values and codes of ethics. * Narrow: Choose the best possible option that positively affects the individual and others involved. * Go: Act on the decision and then "go over" or evaluate the outcome. This involves checking for intended vs. unintended consequences and making necessary adjustments (e.g., realizing that an academic program requires more focus than initially expected).

Major decisions should not be made in isolation. Seeking advice from respected family members, relatives, or experienced friends is vital.
The Family Team Example: The speaker's father was once offered a higher-paying job in a different city. Instead of deciding alone, he consulted the mother and the children. After weighing the pros and cons as a team, the family decided to remain in their current town.

Poor decisions are often the result of impulsivity, emotional influence, overlooking the impact on others, or failing to follow a structured process. This can lead to internal conflict, embarrassment, humiliation, or physical danger.
To rectify a poor decision, the "Stop, Think, and Go" method is used: * Stop: Admit that a poor decision was made. Take full responsibility for the action without blaming others or lying to escape the situation. * Think: Identify individuals who can provide support, such as parents, teachers, school counselors, or authorities. Be honest and upfront about the original decision and its consequences. Discuss options for correction (e.g., returning a stolen item). * Go: Commit to remedying the situation. This may involve apologizing for a prank or physically leaving a situation before it escalates (e.g., getting out of a group argument before it becomes a fight and calling authorities).

Admitting a mistake is difficult due to the fear of consequences such as being grounded, paying a fine, or facing disappointment from others.
However, correcting the situation leads to feeling better in the long run because it aligns with one's ethics and prevents the situation from worsening.
Learning from mistakes—both one's own and the mistakes of others—is a critical component of growth to ensure poor decisions are not repeated.