Author: Andrew Grant
Decision Making – The Answer is in the Coin
Every day we are faced with decisions. Most of them are
incredibly easy to make. Tea or coffee? Get up now, or
have another 10 minutes under the covers? Go shopping or
spend some time with friends. Those decisions take seconds
because the consequences of one course of action compared
to another are not life or income threatening. The stakes
are so low that we are happy to allow our instinct to make
the decision for us and in most cases those decisions are
absolutely fine for us.
But what happens when the stakes are a little higher?
Suddenly our decision making capability which is normally
so efficient and almost automatic, gets stalled and we find
ourselves agonizing over which way to go; wavering between
alternatives like a child trying to choose which candy to
spend a dime on.
What is it that turns us from slick decisive choosers into
dithering fools? The answer is simple. Fear.
Because these weightier decisions have potentially more
damaging consequences, our natural protection mechanisms
kick in and set off alarm bells, which say "Slow down, hold
on, don't rush into this". All of which is perfectly
normal and healthy, but the problems start when our fear
turns into procrastination and a complete inability to
decide even when all the facts are in front of us.
It is this fear and procrastination which, nine times out
of ten are responsible for preventing us making the
decisions that could change our lives for the better. We
get stuck in a rut of our own making and are too scared to
climb out.
So what can we do to break the deadlock and free up our
natural instincts for making good and healthy decisions?
Well, how about tossing a coin?
Now I know that sounds like the most reckless advice. Am I
suggesting that we throw our future open to fate and allow
every decision to be decided on the mere throw of a coin?
No of course not, but what I am suggesting is that the
throw of the coin is one sure way to catalyze your natural
decision making instinct out of its fearful slumber.
Let me explain. Imagine you are in a store and you plan to
buy a new TV. You have narrowed your choice down to two
models; they both have similar specifications and prices,
but one has an extra feature you like and the other has a
more pleasing design. You don't need two TV's right? So
you have to decide. But you just can't.
Now, imagine taking a coin from your pocket and throwing it
in the air. I can absolutely guarantee you that as soon as
that coin leaves your hand, long before it falls back down
into your palm again, you will know which TV you want to
buy. As soon as you told your brain that you were going to
take the decision out of its hands and let fate decide, it
suddenly found its voice again and tried to assert its
authority by shouting, "I hope it lands heads up".
You see, your brain already knows perfectly well which
decision to make but your protection mechanism has been
drowning it out. The simple expedient of introducing blind
fate into the equation is enough to break that pattern.
So next time you're facing a decision that you just can't
seem to make, try tossing a coin and give your brain a
fright.
About the Author:
Hi my name is Andrew Grant, I'd like to invite you to visit
my website and subscribe to my newsletter for more
information and inspiration on Goal Setting, Positive
Thinking and Internet Marketing.
http://www.money- and-mind. com
