Everywhere we go in life, we have to make difficult choices that sometimes feel overwhelming. If you lack a process for handling difficult decisions, you might put things off and avoid having to make them, or you might make snap judgements that result in a lot of issues. 
Making difficult decisions in the end can make the difference between success and failure, between contentment and a constant feeling of emptiness.
"Your destiny is shaped in the moments when you make decisions." 
Is it any surprise that some of us find it difficult to make difficult choices? Fearing that horrible things would happen if we make the wrong choice paralyses us. Or we feel so overwhelmed that we don't know where to begin. 
Nonetheless, there are many individuals who are skilled at making tough choices that have the power to influence everything from a business to a nation. 

So How Do They Do It?

When faced with difficult choices in life and having to cope with the fallout, individuals who make it their goal to maintain an attitude of abundance and believe that life is occurring for them rather than to them are always in a better position than those who don't. 
However, the most effective decision-makers also possess a set of tools that enable them to think through important issues and feel confident in their selections.

Examples of Tough Decisions in Life

We must make difficult choices at some point in our life since they are both a necessary learning tool and a stimulus for personal development that will ultimately lead to success. While these decisions may seem catastrophic at the time, others have had to make similar choices, such as: 

1. Selecting an A-level or university degree: Your education can have a significant impact on your future earnings, employment prospects, and even where you reside. 

2. professional decisions: Making decisions about your professional path, whether to quit your current position, and how to locate a rewarding employment are all crucial. 

3. Establishing and growing a business: Being a business owner involves making many difficult decisions, ranging from whether to launch your venture to handling emergency scenarios.

Despite all of these options, there is one choice that completely alters your life.

How to make a tough decision

Making decisions is most effective when you have a system to analyse, know what your options are, and can foresee any possible drawbacks. 
The six-step OOC/EMR process—which stands for Outcomes, Options, Consequences/Evaluate, Mitigate, and Resolve—will be discussed in this section. 
Are you prepared to make difficult decisions faster and with less anxiety? Before we begin, please remember the first essential guideline for making a difficult decision:

Write everything down on paper

If you try to perform everything on a screen or even just in your head, your brain will eventually become stuck on the same tasks. Every potential solution will merely make you feel more stressed because you won't be able to go past your initial concept. Writing things down relieves this stress and aids in concentration. This helps you focus and is necessary while making difficult decisions since energy flows where attention goes.

PHASE 1: OCC – OUTCOMES, OPTIONS, CONSEQUENCES

1. GET CLEAR ON YOUR OUTCOMES

What’s the result you’re after?

Why do you want to achieve it?

Your desired result(s) and the order in which they are important to you must be clearly stated. Make sure everything you decide to experience is in line with your beliefs and purpose by visualising your goals. Making challenging judgements becomes more difficult in the absence of this clarity. Goal visualisation is a powerful tool used by successful people of many walks of life, from business owners to sports, to help them achieve their objectives. Your brain gets "tricked" into believing that you have already accomplished your goals when you visualise them.
Recall that reasons should come before responses. Your brain will give you conflicting messages if you don't understand why you're doing something, which will prevent you from following through. Identifying your goals for the process and being as detailed as possible about them is the first step towards making difficult decisions. 

2. KNOW YOUR OPTIONS 

Make a list of every choice you have, including the ones that seem unlikely at first. 
Recall that there are just one choices. Two choices present a problem. There are three choices. 
Regardless of how much you like each choice, put them all down on paper. It's possible that you have options that you're not aware of. Getting a second opinion from a friend or co-worker who has dealt with a similar situation is a smart idea. 

This is an additional explanation for why it's critical to locate a mentor or join a mastermind group: they will be able to offer pertinent solutions because they will be aware of your goals and background. A different perspective can still influence your choice, and the more options you have, the more assured you'll feel, even if you decide not to follow their advice directly because it might not be the best for you. Additionally, mastermind groups and mentors can support you in reaching your objectives just by being close by, pushing you to take calculated chances and assisting you in fast learning from mistakes. 

 3. ASSESS POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES

Check out what you have now. Which options have advantages and disadvantages? How does each option benefit you? How much would you have to pay? You can better control fear by thoroughly weighing the potential outcomes before it takes control of you. Fear is a part of life for everyone, but those who achieve success have a strong self-belief that enables them to face any challenge head-on, knowing that they are resilient enough to face it.
Your fear of failing will vanish if you have a clear and compelling vision for your life. When your want is strong enough, you will do whatever it takes to fulfil it. When you have a clear vision and are dedicated to achieving your goals, you understand that taking difficult decisions will have a positive impact rather than having no decision at all. You'll be in a better position to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each choice and make an informed decision fast. The more information you can gather here, the more prepared you'll be to handle the difficult decision-making process in phase 2.

PHASE 2: EMR – EVALUATE, MITIGATE, RESOLVE

4. EVALUATE YOUR OPTIONS.

In Phase 2: Consider the benefits and drawbacks of each of your options. Consider the following questions as you consider the possible outcomes: 
What might happen if I choose this course of action? 
On a scale of 0 to 10, how significant is each benefit or disadvantage for achieving my goals? 
What is the likelihood (0–100%) that the positive or negative outcome will transpire? 
What would be the emotional gain or fallout if this option were to really occur? This is a particularly crucial question when making emotionally charged decisions about your relationship or your kids.

Once you've written down these responses, you should be able to cross some things off your list. Your final decision is drawing nearer at this point.

5. MITIGATE THE DAMAGE.

These are often difficult choices because of the potential consequences of choosing the incorrect course of action. You risk losing clients, ruining your reputation, or even losing the company during a crisis. 
It can mean the difference between settling for less than you deserve in a relationship and discovering a fulfilling one. Your future may turn out quite differently if you make alternative selections.

You must therefore carefully consider every drawback. Come up with some different approaches to get rid of or lessen those drawbacks. Once more, the more creative ideas you can generate, regardless of how absurd they may seem, the more equipped you will be to deal with the possible outcome. 
This decision-making step is crucial because it enables you to plan ahead for potential consequences and take proactive measures to address them. 

6. RESOLVE.

Now for the big reveal. Choose the option that gives you the highest level of assurance that you will achieve your goals and fulfil your objectives based on the most likely outcomes. You know that this is your best option because you have considered so many other options. This can assist you in overcoming procrastination when faced with difficult choices and avoiding the most deadly option possible: 

passivity. 
Decide that you will succeed with this option no matter what. You still have the freedom to define failure for yourself, even if your difficult choice leads to what is considered an official loss. Rather of considering it a failure, you might opt to see it as a teaching moment or a starting point for a new endeavour. Finding the lesson is a crucial component of growing inner strength and being a better choice maker in the future. 

Addressing The Fear Of Making Tough Decisions

Making difficult judgements requires a sound method, which is obviously crucial. However, it's also important to comprehend the underlying reasons for the fear that so many of us have when faced with difficult choices. People dread these decisions mostly because they fear that things won't turn out the way they had hoped. They let fear dictate their actions and don't take any action until they are positive that everything will turn out as planned. The issue lies in the fact that decisions are never really guaranteed. You have to take a chance sometimes. 
Sounds ominous? These five enquiries will teach you how to make difficult decisions and let you appreciate the beauty of uncertainty.

1. WHAT AM I AFRAID OF?

There's usually more to tough decisions in life than just the options that are in front of you. The majority of hesitation stems from fear: fear of achievement, failure, and even of making the same mistakes twice. Our beliefs are shaped by life experiences, past choices, and our outlook on the future. These factors combine to either empower or restrict us. You can identify and conquer your anxieties if you investigate your beliefs.

2. DOES THIS FULFIL MY PURPOSE?

When a decision is driven by purpose, it becomes simpler to learn how to make difficult ones. This relates to the first step, which is to be clear about your goals. Your mission extends beyond a fleeting objective. It's neither a job or a status, nor is it anything tangible. It's the one thing that can actually make your life fulfilling. You'll feel far more equipped to take decisive action and make those difficult choices once you've identified what it is.

3. WHO AM I REALLY DOING THIS FOR?

What would I suggest doing if I had to make a difficult choice? "Create a vision and never allow the constraints of what has been done in the past, the environment, or other people's beliefs to shape your decisions." Avoid getting hung up on what you consider to be your "supposed" behaviour. Don't let the ambitions of other people derail you from your ultimate objectives. Evaluate whether other people are overly impacting your choice by taking a step back and making a clear list of your desires.

4. DOES THIS DECISION HELP ME GROW?

If we allow it, everything that occurs in life—even difficult choices—can contribute to our personal development. However, growth can also be unsettling. Making a choice sometimes feels like racing blindly around a curve in the road. It is crucial to adhere to the six procedures mentioned above because of this. Remind yourself that if you're not growing, you're dying if you're still tempted to stay where you are.

5. WHAT WILL I REGRET THE MOST?

Do you need to learn how to make difficult decisions fast? 
Examine all of your possibilities and ask yourself, "Will I regret not taking this action? the method of the rocking chair: Which choice will you be most proud of yourself when you're 85 years old and looking back on this choice? Which choice would give you the impression that you were left out? 
At times, our strongest conviction comes from knowing that there would be regrets if we went any other route. 
You can never be certain of the result no matter how much research you do on how to make a tough choice.

You have no choice but to act and prepare yourself to face the repercussions. You can reduce some of this anxiety if you've followed a sound decision-making process, like the OOC/EMR technique, by being certain that you've selected the best option available. 
Never forget that it's preferable to take tough decisions and then assess the outcome to see whether your strategy needs to be adjusted rather than being stuck in the middle. Learn more about the four guidelines for making wise decisions, and bid adieu to feeling paralysed when faced with difficult choices. 
Find out more about making critical decisions.