Faced With a Hard Decision? Try This...

Decisions. Decisions.  Our life is full them.  Everyday we make decisions in all areas of our lives, but every so often we have BIG decisions come to the table that we have to make.  

This can be a challenge.  Many times the big decisions can affect our lives, the lives or others, our family, our future, our career, and much more.  We go back and forth agonizing about what to do and the ramifications of our ultimate decision.  Doing this makes it even harder.

So, how do we go about making a big decision with logic and reason and ultimately confidence that we are making the right move?  Years ago, I read about a strategy that none other than Ben Franklin had developed for just such a situation.  

Ben wrote about it and said the following:

My way is to divide half a sheet of paper by a line into two columns; writing over the one Pro and over the other Con. Then during three or four days’ consideration, I put down under the different heads short hints of the different motives, that at different time occur to me, for or against the measure. When I have thus got them altogether in one view, I endeavor to estimate their respective weights; and where I find two, one on each side, that seem equal, I strike them both out. If I judge some two reasons con equal to some three reasons pro, I strike out five; and thus proceeding, I find where the balance lies; and if after a day or two of further consideration, nothing new that is of importance occurs on either side, I come to a determination accordingly.

The beauty of what Franklin came up with is it's simplicity.  You simply write down your pros and cons of the decision and give them a weight of importance.  The key is to give yourself a few days of doing it.  Sleep on it as they say.  Over the course of a few days, you'll have developed and settled on a pretty solid list.

At that point, you can see your pros and cons clearly and the decision will be become evident.  I have used this method for many years and it has proved to be very effective and allowed me to come to great decisions in the end.  Put it to work for you and see the difference it can make in your life!