Decision Making

Decision making plays a major role in your everyday life, especially as a teenager. The decisions you make today will have effects you cannot even imagine later in life. You have the choice whether or not you engage in certain activities. Always think about these things before you are in the "heat of the moment," as your decision to control your actions will be much harder to make. Think ahead and know what you want for your life. Come up with a plan and commit to it now. Below are some ideas to help you make good decisions.

• List all your choices/options.
• Calm down and take a step back from the decision. Give yourself plenty of time to think things through.
• Look at the decision in different ways. Talk to people you trust and that have your best interests at heart to help you make your decision.
• Think about how the choice that you make could affect you in a month, a year, in several years.
• Ask yourself a few questions about the decision, including the following:
1. How will my decision alter my goals and dreams?
2. Am I making this decision based on what my friends will think about me? (peer pressure)
3. Am I making this decision based only on my emotions?
4. Am I making this decision based on what I think in my head (clear thinking, intelligence, rationality)?
5. Am I making a decision that will make adults who care about me proud?
6. Can I give myself a little more time to think about this decision?
• Write each option or choice on separate sheets of paper. Consider each option and imagine that you have made that choice. What are the pros and cons? Write down what you feel about the decision.
• Remember to look at the big picture.

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