Acting on the best information you have

Sometimes the process of decision making can keep us trapped in a never ending loop between trying to predict the future and reliving the past.

On the one hand, we can be paralyzed by decision because we envision a future version of events where our choice ends up backfiring.

On the other hand, we can be trapped by the regret we feel about decisions we’ve made in the past.

But here’s what we have to remember: all we can ever do is act on the best information we have, in this moment.

Instead of getting caught up in trying to predict what might happen in the future or in reliving the past, our job is to approach decision making with a present intention.

Making a decision with intention means we operate from a present place of clarity, gathering as much information as we can, in this moment, and letting go of any judgment or anxiety we feel during the process.

Although we certainly can use prior experience and our vision for the future to inform our decision, we’re not controlled by the fear or regret that may come with exploring them.

They’re simply data points we can use, among others, to make a decision with intention.

Making a decision from a place of intention can be challenging because it often requires us to dig below the interference caused by the fear we associate with the potential to make a “wrong” decision.

But below this interference is the kind of information that helps us act with clarity and confidence.

Try this:

If you find yourself stuck in the middle a decision, remember that all you can do is act on the best information you have, in the moment.

How can you ever make a “wrong decision” if it’s based on what you know at the time?

Over time, the more decisions you make with intention the better you become at gathering information.

You become skilled at searching the present moment for clear indicators that are uninhibited by fear or regret.

When you make decisions with intention, you shed the emotions that cloud your judgment and interfere with your innate ability to choose confidently and own your decision.

Go have a great workday.