by Andrei Yashurin

Created on: May 05, 2009   Last Updated: May 13, 2009

It is a commonly held opinion that our successes or failures in life are determined by our decisions. If we make good decisions, our life path is easy and smooth, but if we make bad decisions, our road becomes hard and bumpy, and at the end we have all the chances to wreck our life. How true is that?

There are many books and articles on how to make decisions. Although they contain valuable principles and advice, not all of them are helpful. Some materials make people tense, nervous, and overly concerned about their possible mistakes. I don't think this attitude is healthy and productive.

It is not my intention to imply that decisions are unimportant. But I want us all to see a larger picture, which will allow us not to worry about wrong choices that much. To begin with, let us say that any decision is an outgrowth of our whole consciousness. It involves subconsciousness and conscious minds. It involves our will and our emotions, our deepest beliefs and attitudes. This is why simple techniques from self-help books might not always be effective. If we wish to learn how to make better decisions, we need to start the groundwork at the deeper levels of our personalities.

There are important aspects of decision-making which many people overlook, being entangled by smaller issues. Yet they allow us to lay a firm foundation for further decisions. So, where do we need to start?

First, we need to know ourselves. This sounds simple, but many people are not well-acquainted with themselves. Being busy, they find no time for self-exploration. Little do they know that lack of self-knowledge is the root cause of the turmoil they experience.

Let me suggest several areas where you may start growing in self-awareness:

- know the meaning of your life. Do you have something to live for? Do you have a worthy life purpose beyond survival? Or, you just react to the circumstances and trying not to get hurt?

- know your core values and life priorities. Which things are important to you? Which things are dear to your heart and soul?

- know your gifts and strengths. Which things you do well? In which fields you are an expert? What is the something you feel you could teach to others, who are less experienced?

- know where you need growth and development. (Let us note here that if you cannot do something well, it is not necessary a fault on your side. For instance, you don't have to learn to chop wood if you are perfectly happy at a different work. No reasonable person would condemn

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