by Ehis Agboga

Created on: December 18, 2008

D
ecisions have always helped to shape and reshape the lives of men. From the point when Adam took decisions on the names to call the animals God created, man has always taken decisions.

It is an incontrovertible fact that when you are pushed to the wall and there's no one to turn to, you're forced to take decisions. When the ball is in your court and your fate in your hands or when you are between the devil and the deep blue sea, you're forced to take decisions.

The decisions we take affect us positively or negatively. In fact, some decisions are positive and others, negative. Someone has said that, "History will remember you for taking a decision either good or bad, but history will not forgive you for not taking any decision at all."

The fear of what will go down into history has constantly scared many away from taking decisions. They have consciously decided not to decide. Forgetting that, consciously deciding not to decide is not the same thing as indecision.

The state of the mind and the prevailing circumstances are two factors that affect the quality of decisions we reach on any given issue.

While some are so scared that they end up not taking any decision at all; others are so excited such that, they do not carefully consider the pros and cons their decisions would have on them now and in the future.

The necessity of a careful perusal of our proposed decisions is neatly underscored in the Biblical story of King Hezekiah, who in overt excitement showed the treasures of God's house to the visiting Babylonians. The effect of that decision was the carting away of the very treasures he showed the Babylonians during the reign of his descendants.

To avoid such negative after-effects or at least, minimize them, it has been suggested that considerable time be allowed before (important) decisions are reached. Elderly counsel, it has also been advocated, should be sought from elders and professional advice from experts.

While there may not be anything wrong with these propositions, it is well for one to realize that: time waits for no man; and that, there is no relationship between the wisdom of Solomon and the age of Methuselah. Hence, I make bold to say that, the views or opinions of those whose counsel you seek in the process of reaching a decision should not necessarily bind you. Nor, will you suffer any haemorrage if you choose not to seek their counsel at all. This is because only you will bear the consequences of the decisions you reach: good, bad, or ugly. Therefore, no one has the right to force his opinions on you in any matter whatsoever, none must be allowed to play god' over you.

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