When it comes to making decisions, both big and small, we can often be left pondering the outcome of our actions. The notion of hindsight can be a blessing and a curse when we take the time to reflect on decisions made in our past. For myself, I am acutely aware that the decisions I make today shape the path for my future self. So how can we be confident in knowing that we are making the right decisions, and how can we use the power of hindsight to propel us forward?

When it comes to making weighted decisions in both my personal and professional life I frequently find myself returning to Sylvia Plath’s reference of the fig tree in her novel, The Bell Jar:

“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn't quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”

We can so easily find the prospects of future dreams sifting through our hands as moments in time, at the expense of our indecision. For the paralysis caused by overwhelming options in life can often leave us with nothing at all. Nevertheless, the opposing viewpoint of committing to decisions wholeheartedly may provide more fruitful rewards than that of being left empty handed. If we forget about the what ifs, and focus on what is in front of us, we can strive for positive outcomes and learn to enjoy the process along the way. But how can we be sure that those decisions we make will reap the best rewards on offer?

I recently took the time to delve deeper into the psychology behind making good decisions and the steps available to increase the chances of successful outcomes. Reflecting on my research several key themes emerge, below are three of my favourite:

What Does Success Look Like?

Don't rush, make a plan. Visualise the outcome of each of your options. Take note of how they make you feel. Do you get excited by what you can see? Or does it leave you feeling stressed and anxious? Consider the corresponding landscape to each outcome and the path taken to get there. Working backwards can not only help us define our goals but it can help to compare the options we have available to us. Taking the steps to visualise the most favourable outcome, and making a plan to get there, can provide great confidence knowing that you are aligned with what is important to you.

Reach Out

More often than not the decisions we make impact and involve several key stakeholders, for example, family, friends, colleagues or customers. Reach out to them directly and ask about their key interests, what they envision for the future and what problems they would like to resolve. This information can be incredibly valuable when shaping your decisions as you learn to consider what a successful outcome may look like, not only for yourself, but for others. 

Trust Your Gut

Commonly misunderstood, gut instincts are shaped by more than out of the blue emotions. In fact, your gut responses are curated over time by your past experiences, as well as your surrounding environment. It is your body’s way of predicting what will happen next. Take the time to listen to what your gut is telling you as it may be your secret power. Think about past experiences and how they may relate to the decision you are about to make. However, it is important to bear in mind that both positive and negative past experiences play a part in your gut feeling. For example, if you broke your leg playing football you may be extremely hesitant to ever kick a ball again. Become aware of your gut bias, acknowledge what it is telling you and assess if it aligns with what you are wanting to achieve. Learning to acknowledge and affiliate with your gut instinct can give you great confidence in knowing you are making the correct decision.

Like the figs hanging on the tree we can often be presented with many options when making key decisions. To know the outcome of each option is unlikely. So it begs the question, is there always a right decision to be made? Perhaps not. The decisions you make are yours and you own them, they become a reflection of yourself and thus build the life you choose. You will reap the rewards of good decisions and bear the brunt of poor ones. Implementing structure, feedback and intuition when making decisions will hopefully tip the scale of life in your favour. So the next time you find yourself making a big decision, consider all outcomes and commit enthusiastically to one. Pick a fig and enjoy it, it's all yours.

Team Contributor: Angus Luff
Get in touch: angus.luff@arrowvane.com | LinkedIn
Subscribe to The Quiver newsletter here