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these fields and, if possible, have some work experience to help you
get a "feel" for what the daily routine of each career would be like for
40 years. If you are trying to decide what sexual behavior to engage
in, a very long list of pros and cons could be considered (but most of
us don't). Unfortunately, you can't "try out" each sexual alternative as
you might a career choice. However, you can use your imagination.
Thus far, as is our American custom, I have been talking about the
conscious processes involved in decision-making. The ability to decide
to do something and then do it is what distinguishes us from other
animals. Yet, there is evidence that many problems are solved in our
sleep or in our unconscious. Moreover, Adams (1986) points out that
many aspects of our decision-making are unconscious, e.g. deciding
what to observe and how (which sense) is partly unconscious, the
assignment of weights to the pros and cons is mostly unconscious (we
aren't sure exactly how we do it), it frequently isn't clear why we
select a certain solution and then see things differently a few days
later, etc. Can the unconscious decision-making powers be used?
Maybe (and we can become aware of some unconscious processes and
make even better decisions).
Some people claim to benefit from trying to dream about a
problem they are trying to solve. They and you can do this by
consciously thinking about the situation, the alternatives, their feelings
about different choices, possible long-range outcomes, etc. as they are
falling asleep. It is as if we are asking the unconscious to think about
our problem. Sometimes, a new solution pops into our mind the next
morning or comes to us the next day. It is worth a try.
STEP SEVEN: Accepting the best choice... Letting it sink in...
Stop obsessing about the decision... Letting go of the
unselected options.
After making a decision, it takes a little time to reprogram your
thinking, to fully commit yourself to the chosen course of action. It
may be wise to give yourself a time limit to make a decision, say 5
minutes or one day, then review all the information and go with what
seems like the best choice. Also, we must quickly give up the rejected
alternatives; otherwise, we drag out the decision-making process
much too long. It may be helpful, especially where the decision is hard
to make, to remember that in many cases there is very little difference
among the alternative solutions. All your options may work out about
equally well. The task is to make a crisp, clear decision and get on with
it with zeal. It must feel right.
STEP EIGHT: Throw yourself into carrying out the decision. Make
a specific plan and schedule the work.
There has really been no decision if there is no action. Solutions
don't usually end with decisions; they begin there. It is an old military
axiom that says "a poor decision well executed is better than a good
decision poorly executed." You need plans, i.e. detailed, thoughtful
