There are times that life will present you some moments to make quick decisions. As a matter of fact, there are some quick decisions that can alter someone's life permanently. In moments of difficulties for example, or in emergencies, or in deadlines, or at the face of responsibilities, a single decision you take can be what it will take to change the course of your life in ways you may never expect. At that point, some people may make choices they will regret later. However, you should understand that pressure or difficult time is not an excuse for poor judgement. This is why you need to develop the ability to remain calm and then think clearly, so as to make wise decisions even in the face of difficult times.
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Making wise decisions under difficult times does not mean that you are not feeling stressed or that you never have challenges. Rather it is about refusing to allow your stress and your challenges to control the way you think. This requires a level of self-control, discipline, ability to carefully examine situations, and of course, your ability to remain focused and not relying on your emotions. Learning to make wise decisions in critical moments is a skill that you need to master, because it may save both your present and your future. The truth is that you cannot stop difficult moments from coming, but you can determine the decisions you make.
In order to make wise decisions in difficult times, there are things that you need to observe to do. The first one is to learn to stay calm before you respond. A lot of the quick on-the-spot responses that people give during pressure may come back to haunt them. But when you learn to remain calm, you will determine the consequences of the decisions you want to take even before you take them. You might even realise that the decision might not be worth it. Instead of taking quick irrational decision, try to take a pause and give yourself time to think. This is very important especially when you are emotionally tensed, or angry, or in a frustrating situation. This might save you from future regrets. More so, the calmer your mind, the better it is to see possibilities in challenges.
In addition to this, you have to learn to focus on facts and not on your emotions. Being faced with some level of pressure can make you to begin to imagine the worse, and may make you to make assumptions without facts and evidence. In order to make wise decisions, you have to learn to separate facts from feelings. Before you make any choice, or take a decision, or respond to a situation, always ask yourself if you have enough information or fact about the situation. This will also help you to know if you are about acting based on facts or assumptions. It will also help you to determine the potential outcome of your action.
When taking a step or making a decision, always look at the long-term consequences that may arise from it. When people are under pressure, they are most likely to choose the quickest and easiest solution. But sometimes, these easiest solutions might not be the best or wisest solutions. Before you make an important or crucial decision, always look beyond the present moment. Ask yourself how your decision will affect your future, your relationship with people, your reputation, your dreams, and your goal. If you take a decision that will only solve a problem today, but will lead to a future problem, then it is not a wise decision.
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You also need to seek for wise counsel or advice when necessary. Why face a difficult situation alone when you can actually get advise from others who have relative experience? Seeking advice from mentors, teachers, experienced colleagues, trusted friends, etc, can provide valuable insight into how to navigate your life. It takes wisdom to understand that asking for guidance is a sign of maturity, not a sign of weakness. Sometimes you may need to view the world from someone else's perspective to be able to understand what you have been overlooking for a while. So instead of just progressing in ignorance, you can simply ask for guidance, advice, or directions.
Finally, you need to learn from every decision. The truth is that even a wise person can make an unwise decision. But when it happens, do not beat yourself about it, rather you should learn from it, so as to make a better decision in the future. You should see every experience as a way to grow, increase in wisdom, and become a better person.
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