Like most big decisions, ‘Life and Death’ decisions are usually binary: there’s only two items on the menu (do or don’t, this or that) and often a clear winner (Life). Actually, they’re usually pretty straight-forward: you pick the best (or least worst) option. (See ‘Life and Death Decisions Made Easy’.
It’s when we’re faced with two options that are either Equally Good or Equally Bad that most of us get stuck.
Until you think about it.
Two Equally Good choices mean you can’t possibly lose, so it doesn’t matter which one you pick… and two Equally Bad options means you can’t possibly win; you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t so you might as flip a coin.
But before you do, check if any of your options are reversible; you might like to try those first and see how they turn out. Then there’s the question of familiarity: are any of these options something you’ve dealt with in the past?
If you’re stuck between Two Bad Choices you should pick the one you’ve done before; at least you’ll have some idea of what you’re in for. But if it’s Two Good Choices you’re facing try the new one; that way you open the door to a new experience and possibly, an adventure.
Still not sure? Ok, NOW you can flip a coin; not to decide, but to test.
Happy with the toss? You’ve got your answer.
Unhappy? Ignore the coin and go with the other option… it’s the one you wanted all along.
dave isles
can we put this decision tree on the early high school curiculum?
if i had have been aware of this when 14 i might have done fewer dumb things!
Jason
I hear ya; this is one of many things I put under the ‘If Only I Had Known This Before’ category.
Give me a time machine and I promise I’ll sort things out for the both of us!