Inner Values And Decision Makings

There are often moments or situations in our lives, where we have to make decisions, whether we are faced with an immediate decision spontaneously or we decide something through a long process of premeditated decision-making to achieve a particular goal.

I am sure you have been exposed to both situations. Before making a difficult decision, we may be in doubt about what we should do, what decision we should make.

Throughout our lives we are constantly faced with choices. Every day, every minute of every hour, even if we don't know it. We are constantly making small decisions, that we may not even be aware of. Whatever we do during the day, there is always the possibility to stop and do something else. In other words, we decide to change our minds.

If we don't decide to do something else and go through with the course of action we have started, we have still made a decision, because not deciding is also a decision. To understand decision in this context is to emphasise, that decision is part of human nature as choice. It is the deepest characteristic of human life, and that in essence our choices affect our entire life. Having free will and the freedom to decide about anything, brings a sense of freedom.

When we are born, we have no choice to decide whether to come or not to come into the world. We are given a complete freedom to decide what to do, when and how to do it later in our life.

The concept of a decision is ambiguous. In one sense, we think of the act of deciding, which is an immediate decision, but a decision can also be a long process and at the end a decision is reached. In this second sense, a process of deliberation takes place within us, during which several possible choices are made and from these we choose one and act on it.

When we act without thinking, we are reacting spontaneously to a particular moment or situation and taking action almost without a decision. However, when we talk about mental decision making, we choose the decision that best suits us from the outcome of a well-considered series of decisions. This is what gives us true freedom, when we are able to make a decision slowly, deliberately and carefully, rather than being forced by our emotions and instincts to make an instant decision.

This leads to a sense of reasonableness. When we think rationally, our decision-making process always leads to reaching a goal. The purpose usually comes from a set of intrinsic values. What do I want to achieve in life, what are my goals. These are generally a given or do not require much thought to achieve. Rather, the bigger task is how to achieve them. Often these decisions are also based on our principles too.

I think it is important to note the process of self-understanding. What happens when I make a decision? Our decisions are mostly conscious, but often when we make decisions according to our principles, we make them automatically. Let me give you some examples here.

When a person comes up to me on the street and asks me for money, I automatically say without thinking, that I will not give. Of course, I can ask myself why I didn't. Because I decided according to my principles. My principle is that people who don't work should not eat, or I give them money without thinking, because my principle is to help them, I realise in my mind, that I could be in the same situation, that I won't have any income.

These are principles, that enable us to make a quick decision in a given situation. This confirms, that I have certain principles and those principles are embedded in values. Each person is defined by their inner values. These values can determine our choices, which can take us in a positive or negative direction, even in our whole life.

They can even determine our honour. If, for example, I find a wallet full of money, I take it and keep it for myself, or take it to the police and report where I found it. These kinds of decisions all come from our internal values. These decisions also depend on our conscience, and it is worth noting here that we have to strike a balance between a logical decision and a conscientious decision, that comes from the heart.

If you have ever made a decision in your life that has led you in the wrong direction, the good news is that it can be changed, but self-awareness is very important. It's important to know yourself, to know what are the areas in your life, that need to be changed to move you in the right direction and to change your inner values in a positive way.

If you can change these things, you will find that you will not only make good decidions, but also those people, who are not serve you in a way to reach your goals will leave your life and those, who will be helpful and support you will come into your life and take you further and you will be more successful.

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