How to make decisions for Dummies

1. For each option, what are the sacrifices you have to make? What are the rewards?
2. Are the rewards worth the sacrifices?
1. If your answer is no, that's one less option to consider.
2. Please try to make sure at least one option remains.
3. For each option, what is the best outcome? What is the worst outcome?
4. If the worst outcome happens, could you accept it?
1. If your answer is no, that's one less option to consider.
2. Please still try to make sure at least one option remains.
5. Seek advice from others, preferably people who have made such decisions before or know something about your options.
1. If they try to tell you what to do, thank them politely and go away.
2. Everyone is entitled to have his/her own opinion. Make sure their opinions remain theirs.
6. With your new-found knowledge, go through steps 1-4 again.
7. If you still have more than one option, rank them. Take the top 2, and toss a coin.
1. Hint: you don't have to follow what the coin says.
8. If you have no options left, sometimes inaction is an option. You'd better go through steps 1-6 for it too, though.
9. There is a real danger in making premature decisions. It is even more dangerous than not making a decision and waiting for the decision to make itself. Meanwhile you can consider your options slowly.
10. Sometimes life dispenses advice from the most unexpected places. Go take a walk, watch a movie, read a book.. you never know what you'll encounter.