When you must make a decision, Part 3

We’ve been working this week on when to make a decision.

Let’s review:

1. Make a decision only when there exist two or more options.
2. Make a decision when there is a disagreement.

Now today, I am going to give you my final “when to make a decision” and I consider it the most important.  Here goes:

Only make a decision when you absolutely have to. 

Let me illustrate…

Lately my wife has been watching a baking show.  It’s called “The Great British Baking Show.”  You probably know the drill.  The producer gathers together a group of amateur bakers and a group of judges give them assignments and then judge how well they do. 

Here’s the kicker.  Each week one of the amateur bakers is eliminated until finally, at the end of the season, there is only one baker left standing.

I’ve noticed Sonja getting pretty involved with these hopeful bakers.  She has her picks and she cheers for them avidly, and when one of them gets eliminated, she is very disappointed. 

The question I want to bring before you today is: Why do this? 

In the big scheme of things, it doesn’t matter (except to the bakers).  Of course, Sonja knows this and she watches the show because she enjoys baking and it is entertaining to her, and that’s fine.

However, in real life we are prone to do the same.

• We feel obligated to like someone or dislike them
• To decide whether or not we like the way someone dresses
• To agree with someone or disagree
• To decide if we support or do not support an idea or opinion
• To weigh in on an argument, social media controversy, or what’s going on in Washington

And on and on it goes.

Why do this? You do not have to weigh in on every position or proposition.  Don’t waste your time—for almost all of it doesn’t really matter one way or the other.

Almost all decisions that could be made are not worth making, and most of the decisions that need to be made can be made by others (let them!), and most of the decisions that only you must make can be postponed (postpone them!).

It’s amazing how much stuff gets taken care of by itself if you just leave it alone.

So, there you have it, when should you make a decision?  

1. Make a decision only when there exist two or more options.
2. Make a decision when there is a disagreement.
3. Make a decision only when you absolutely have to.