Every decision we make carries with it the potential of either a positive benefit or a negative consequence. Most people agree that they’d rather experience a positive result in response to a decision rather than finding themselves in a situation they might regret. Consider making your next decision with a posture of intentionality. Intentionality means doing something with thought, mindfulness and on purpose. This principle can be communicated with the principle, “Decide, don’t slide.”

Have you ever been in a situation and thought to yourself, “How did this happen?”, or “This wasn’t supposed to be part of my plan.” Most of us can relate to these scenarios, as we cannot fully control all of life’s circumstances. Inevitably, when it comes to relationships, we will face moments that we didn’t plan. These moments are caused because of an external circumstance we could have never prepared for. However, sometimes these moments are a direct result of our own actions. Consider making your next decision with a posture of intentionality. Intentionality means doing something with thought, mindfulness and on purpose. This principle can be communicated with the principle, “Decide, don’t slide.”

Next time you are faced with a difficult decision, apply the following 3 steps to practice making purposeful decisions.

STOP

Maintain the ability to stop or control the situation. Take some time for yourself, move to a different location, pursue a friend to offer wisdom or support, and do something to change the dynamics of the situation. Remember, in order to maintain some sense of control, be committed to staying sober and keeping your mind clear.

THINK

Have the ability to ask yourself questions such as, “What decision should I make in this moment? What are my response options? What are the potential consequences of each choice?” After asking some of these questions, work through the answers until you are clear about how you feel.

CHOOSE WITH INTENT

Be intentional to choose actions that support your goals, dreams, and life plan. Intentionality means doing things on purpose. Make your decisions based on a plan as a protective factor against remorse and regret. Decide, don’t slide.

All of us have made decisions that had an outcome we weren’t fully proud of. Think back to one of those moments, and plug the details into the Stop, Think, and Choose with Intent steps. If you had applied these principles to this past scenario, would the outcome look any different? Try this method the next time you are faced with a difficult decision. Even if the circumstance turns out differently than you had hoped, deciding, rather than sliding, is a great method to safeguard yourself from the hurt or frustration that accompanies a poor choice.

Article from: https://www.myrelationshipcenter.org/