CHAPTER 14 Kicking the Decision-Making Tires

Remember when I mentioned “quality assurance checks” in this post? It’s time! Making value-aligned decisions is a 2-part process. Step 1. Fact-finding. By now, hopefully you’ve spent some time identifying your current values. Now, it’s time to investigate them. In Step 2, fact-checking,you’ll evaluate the reliability of your Step 1 conclusions. 

When considering your current values overall – (and I’m talking about the ones you’ve determined you actually prioritize, not the ones you think you should prioritize

1.    Are they applicable to who I am today?

2.    Did I choose them in an intentional way?

3.    Are/were they imposed on me by someone else?

4.    Are they useful?

5.    Are they healthy for me?

6.    Are they helpful to me?

7.    Do they support my worldview?

I encourage you to add any questions of your own to this list.

Hopefully, you’re feeling more in touch with your schemas and values. So, what now? The second step in the “choose” process is to turn a critical (but still kind!), eye to what you uncovered in Step 1. Don’t forget: flexible thinking, objectivity, honesty, and compassion are keys to your success.

Do a little fact-checking by considering the following:

•  Is your response true? 

Are you relying on a fact or an opinion? 

•  Is your response based on all the information available to you? 

Acquire as much pertinent data as you can.

•  Is your response accurate?

Reliable information is supported by demonstrableevidence. Don’t guess.

• Are you snared in a thinking trap?

Check your responses for possible distortions: mind-reading, fortune-telling, catastrophizing, disqualifying the positive, negative beliefs, faulty assumptions, etc.

• Are you making inappropriate or inaccurate pre-suppositions?

Confirm your response isn’t rooted in faulty logic… in other words, if a faulty presupposition is “contaminating ” any of your answers to questions 1-4, your conclusion will also be contaminated.

The principles of Feel. Think. Choose. In that order., are designed to promote focused decision-making based on information that is:   

• informed by clarified thoughts and feelings

• reliable

• trustworthy

• authentic

• intentional

• an accurate reflection of your current value system