Decisions, preceded by choices, are something we are faced with each and every day. Ranging from what to do nextplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigImplying..

The present moment, the now. I.e. Objectives to what to do in 5 yearsplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigImplying...

In preparation for the future. I.e. Goals. time. Therefore, it stands to reason, that all the decisions that we take - from petty to important to crucial - has an impact on our lives to a lesser or greater extent. Decisions taken today will, inevitably, shape the circumstances, events and opportunities of our future lives.

Taking decisions should be taken very seriously and must be taken with great care, because our lives are shaped by our decisions, and the culmination of all our decisions will eventually determine whether we are destined to follow a path in life that is dominated and characterized by either an Oryx- or Wild Horse life style.

In order to promote productive decisions and to limit unproductive decisions, it is important to understand the dynamics and various aspects of decision making.

Simple decisions are based on choices which relate primarily to our Life Skills, allowing for a symbiotic lower-self and temporal or materialistic realm equilibrium and mainly impacts on the present (i.e. relative immediate gratification).

Simple decisions can either be easy or difficult. Simple decisions - neither simplified nor quick-fix recipes - are termed as simple, because we can determine fairly quickly (e.g. in a matter of hours or days), whether the decision we took, was either productive (brings us closer to our goal) or unproductive (takes us further away from our goal) and mostly yield results or outcomes that have a short “life span“.

For example…

• which clothes to wear for a specific occasion,
• what movie to see,
• where to go on holiday,
• what to eat,
• what to watch on TV, …etc.

Many simple decisions - fairly common during an average day - can easily be adjusted or corrected with no to a limited long term effect. Simple decisions are mostly related to life skills, that is fairly quickly adaptable to suit or deal with rapidly changing circumstances. Thus, simple decisions are the decisions that we take, which have a short term influence and we can determine decision-success in a matter of hours.

However, we should be extremely cautious of simple decisions, because they aren't always as ”innocent” as they might appear to be! When simple decisions develop into a recurring and repetitive pattern of constant unproductive actions and outcomes, they can have far-reaching consequences and a long term impact. Such constant unproductive decision cycles has the “nasty tendency” of gradually transforming into an issue frequently is firmly anchored in the Little Jackal Trap. A constant bombardments of decision failures (i.e. resulting outcomes that take us further away from our original goal), often develops into an unhealthy believe system, influence our attitude, our performances and eventually accumulate in subsequent unproductive habits.

Although simple decisions (actually the resulting outcome) are mostly short lived with little long term influences.. a constant and long term experience of “failure”, often develops into psyche wounds supported by an unproductive believe system, that eventually impacts negatively on our capability to take responsible choices and make accountable decisions.

Complex decisions are based on decisions which relate primarily to Coping Mechanisms, allowing a symbiotic higher-self and transcendental or spiritual realm equilibrium and mainly impacts on the future (i.e. extended gratification).

In contrast to simple decisions, complex decisions (also easy or difficult) have a long term impact and - although decisions have to be taken now - we can only determine success (or experience the results) in a few years and some time has to elapse before we can experience the consequences of complex decisions. Complex decisions have an ENORMOUS IMPACT on our future lives.

Complex decisions imply… what we have to decide NOW to achieve an expected and postponed outcome (goal) in the future.

Three major aspects, that make a complex decision-taking something that should be conducted with great caution and extreme care…

1. The death of permanence and rapid change (which often results in a restricted future horizon),
2. Confusing and unpredictable alternative futures (mainly due to technological advancements and developments) and
3. The “shopping mall” attitude (where marketing of ideas replaces our common sense).

When 'out-of-context' simple decisions are taken… the death of permanence, confusing alternative futures and a shopping mall attitude do not have such a devastating impact and effect. BUT with 'out-of-context' complex decisions, we can bet our bottom dollar, that sooner or later we are going to run into MAJOR emotional difficulty and psyche pressures which - in modern times - are popularly referred to as stress, depression, burnout's, nervous breakdowns or becoming bipolar.

Thus, due to 'out-of-context' complex decisions, many people experience spiraling modern-day “illnesses” such as ME or CFS, stress, anxiety, depression and rage. Apart from emotional difficulties… 'out-of-context' complex decision also initiate “normal and expected” life crises that we came to currently accept as a necessary evil, modern-day discomforts and the prize we all have to pay for being “civilized”. In other words, normal and natural life changes - the process of life - such as growing up and getting old, mostly tend to develop into serious “life threatening” issues which bubble to the surface in the popularized “scientific-statistical, medical and psychological” terms of terrible two's, adolescent rebelliousness, mid-life crises, menopause, …etc.

We frequently experience critical “modern-day problems”, mainly because we are inclined to either surrender our power of decision taking or “ignore” the unique, individualized and personal nature of complex decision dynamics. Unfortunately, often complex decisions such as…

• a future career in symbiosis with our life goals and accompanied by a reliable job demarcation & search strategy,
• whether to get married, whom to marry and when,
• to have or not to have children, when and how many,
• initiating, developing, tweaking and sustaining a personal philosophy of life,
• monitorplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMonitor
  
  To or monitoring imply observing and checking the progress standard and quality of ...something over a period of time and keeping it under systematic review through observations, checking and keeping a continuous record by deploying the monitoring cycle.
  
  Therefore, to assess, evaluate and monitor, evaluate and adapt or reorganize our present believe-stack, …etc.

…are grossly neglected in favour of simple decisions that - more often than not - results in immediate or short term gratifications and long term devastation.

Complex decisions have a tremendous impact and a long term consequential influence on our lives. These are also the decisions that is primarily at the very foundation of our reaction/response “answer” (i.e. our environmental noise filter) to external stimuli that we encounter on a daily basis. Complex decisions have an additional choice-mechanism that can be very puzzling because most complex decisions aren't driven by conscious choices - although we happily tend to believe so - but complex decisions are mainly driven by unconscious believes and habits, which results in actions without us being consciously aware of what is motivating us, often resulting in the illusion of the so-called “no-choice” scenario. Whereas in fact, we still have plenty of choices.

Therefore, all of us hit a destructive brick-wall at least once or twice (when we are lucky) in our lives, from which we recover with much difficulty… because we consistently fail to pay sufficient attention to the “real or true” dynamics of complex decisions resulting from a sound, reliable and valid SWOT-analysis. Furthermore, stupidity (fear and ignorance) frequently has a field day in our manner of thinking, because we are inclined to ignore the vital impact and consequences of complex decisions by adopting a “we-will-cross-the-bridge”-attitude which mainly source from a Wild Horse-disposition, rather than an Oryx-disposition.

For us to take responsible and accountable decisions, our levels of awareness needs to be calibrated and in equilibrium with our conscious, subconscious and unconscious minds for us to achieve the most efficient and productive way of taking decisions. This indicated level of “mind” fine-tuning is crucial, especially when we deal with complex decisions and less important when we deal with simple decisions.

When we deal with everyday tasks, we are using the WHOLE brain to complete any task successfully. However, due to the intricacy of the modern world and changes taking place, the emphasis on skills, abilities and capabilities has noticeably shifted in favor of right-brainplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigOur Intriguing Brain!

In the 30+ odd years that I have practised as a psychologist, career- and life coach, there is one particular aspect of human behaviour that I found quite mystifying. People does dumb things (myself included), but - rather naivelyphenomenonawesomeidiotic termed competencies, rather than left-Decision Dynamics termed functions.

Apart from our levels of awareness calibration (i.e. our mindset), we also need to establish and sustain a harmonious synchronicity between our right and left Decision Dynamics action modalities and functions. We REQUIRE both hemispheres of our “Decision Dynamics perspectives” (i.e the whole Decision Dynamics) to ultimately make responsible decisions and take accountable choices. We need our…

• LEFT-BRAIN termed perspective to… break the whole of a problem or issue into its basic components to grasp the nature of their relation, interactions and contributions to maintain the problem; especially recurring patterns. Our left Decision Dynamics focuses mainly on those details that have an emotional impact at the present moment and develops very precise and logical plans that are frequently quite difficult to apply. Our left-Decision Dynamics perspective does not seek to know the reason or justification of a goal or objective, but rather focus on how to get there. The left Decision Dynamics is our “theoretical practitioner” that frequently launches practical actions. Our left Decision Dynamics is the centre for abstract thought and analyzes elements, components or functions linearly or sequentially. Our left Decision Dynamics has accurate reasoning competencies, has sound judgment and is gifted in languages and the exact sciences.
• RIGHT-BRAIN termed perspective to… maintain a holistic overview (i.e. the bigger picture) of things such as obstacles, problems, dualities, issues and difficulties. Our right Decision Dynamics relates different events, situations and circumstances to each other and focuses on the effects of their mutual interactions. Our right Decision Dynamics can accommodate or act on many variables at the same time to achieve an objective. Our right-Decision Dynamics perspective develops broad outlines plans, after having first set very specific objectives (i.e. establish priorities). Our right Decision Dynamics is our “practical theorist” that frequently launches our purpose, destiny and meaning in life. Our right Decision Dynamics has a “concrete mind” that relies heavily on experience and thought processes based on intuition. Our right Decision Dynamics can absorb a great deal of information AT ONCE and integrates it gradually; a trait that allows us to consider highly complex matters. Our right-Decision Dynamics rules our intuition, art, symbolism and creative abilities.

Complex decisions normally consist of - or can be broken down into a series of simple decisions or action steps - which steadily propel us productively in the “direction” of obtaining our life goals. Thus - in essence - long term decisions primarily use our right-Decision Dynamics perspectives and functions, medium term decisions are a balanced approach between the left/right-Decision Dynamics modalities and short term decisions (i.e. simple decisions) operates mainly from our left-Decision Dynamics sphere that can be illustrated as follows…

Taking decisions shouldn't be taken lightly, especially complex decisions For example… A future career path in symbiosis with your life goals, who to marry when, number of children, …etc.. Because all complex decisions are critical decisions that demand high-quality decision making. The five essential steps of the DACIP decision making process has been proven - over and over again - to adequately deal with any decision making process… regardless, whether simple or complex. Applying DACIP decision making principles - apart from being simple (i.e. common sense) and effective - allows you to make decisions that you are less likely to regret in future. However, DO NOT over complicate matters and try to keep things as simple and straight forward as possible.

Frank Sonnenberg identify and compile 28 common decision-making mistakesplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigI.e. decision-making landmines so to speak! to be aware of and preferably avoid when taking decisions.