What Influences Our Decisions?

Hello Reader,

Have you ever taken a moment to acknowledge just how many internal and external voices influence our decisions?

Let’s start with an example - imagine you are taking part in a gruelling running race; a distance that is straining your endurance capabilities. You have run 2/3rds of the race and you are having a ferocious mental dialogue with yourself as you decide whether to give up or continue running …

In this mental discussion, there are a range of different perspectives; your body is screaming to stop, your values (complete what you start / prove that it is possible) are pushing you to finish, and a variety of emotions (determination, despair, anticipation, courage, uncertainty) are clamouring that you stop or continue. Your experience is saying you have put your body through similar challenges before and other people running next to you are encouraging you to continue. All of these voices are at the decision making table, influencing your active, present mind as you deliberate whether you are going to continue running or give up.

Reader, as you can see from the example, we have a range of influences that contribute to our decision making. We may think we are making logical and rational choices, but oftentimes, there are underlying factors that greatly affect the way we make up our minds. I urge us to learn about these different voices so that we can understand how they influence our decision making.

MY DECISION MAKING TABLE

The analogy I use when exploring the range of voices is that of a table; where I, my conscious / present mind, am sitting at the head. All around the table are the different perspectives, often subconscious, that influence my decision. Some of these viewpoints I have purposefully invited, whereas others are there regardless of my preferences. For me, it is all about awareness! The very fact of acknowledging the voices means that I can incorporate them into my decision making instead of having them influence my choice without me even knowing about it. 

The image below shows ‘my decision making table’, with the range of different influences. I have left a couple of question marks so that you can add more elements to your table.

Me (Present / Conscious)

As I mentioned, the head of the table is Me. This is my present, active and conscious mind that is making the decision and listening to the range of different voices that are around the table.

Values / Beliefs

When making decisions, I prioritise my values and beliefs. Our values and beliefs, by definition, are our principles and standards - the criteria that we consider to be the most important elements in our lives. I want to make decisions that are aligned to my values and beliefs.

Emotions

Our emotions massively influence our decisions. For the sake of brevity, I have just highlighted two general spheres; anxiety (fear) and courage (confidence). Anxiety and fear want to keep us in our comfort zone, urging us to remain in a place where we are safe and comfortable. Courage and confidence, on the other hand, provide the strength to step up to a challenge and into uncertainty. These emotions greatly influence how I make up my mind, pulling and pushing me to choose different options. So, when making decisions, I want to listen to courage and anxiety, as well as the range of other emotions, and incorporate their perspectives into my decision making process. 

Body

Our bodies definitely contribute to our decisions. Burnout is a classic example; regardless of what we want, our body is deciding that we cannot continue and need a break. When making decisions, I urge us to listen to our bodies before they step in and shut us down - working in tandem to be steady and effective. Push our bodies, but do not break them.

Heuristics (Subconscious Mind)

Reader, in order to compute the vast amount of information we receive on a day to day basis, our minds do a wealth of processing behind the scenes. These mental shortcuts that help us make sense of all the data are called heuristics and they work in our subconscious mind. Heuristics are vital for our minds to function, but they influence our decisions without us even knowing about it, affecting how we judge different situations, categorise information, filter options, pursue a task, and see the world. Learn more about heuristics here.

Future Me

At the decision making table, I have purposefully invited my future self to join the conversation. I have done this for two reasons. Firstly, my future self wants to be happy & healthy in the years to come, which is a useful perspective to have in the decision making processes. For example, it tells me to put some money away now for the rainy days down the line instead of spending it all in the here and now. Secondly, my future self is very aware that I won’t always be alive, which again provides a unique viewpoint, propelling us to act in full awareness that our time is finite.

Past Me (Experience)

My past self has a strong voice at the decision making table. I use the lessons from past decisions I have regretted and am proud of to shape my current choices. Oftentimes, I rely on my experience to provide information and advice about what has or hasn’t worked when I was in this sort of situation before. That being said, experience sometimes has too strong a voice, dictating that I stay in the same patterns or routines, so I urge myself to step out of my comfort zone, try new things and build more experience so that my perspective can continue to expand.

Objectives

Objectives are another voice that I have actively invited to the table. Objectives support my decision making in two ways. Firstly, it provides a clear target, an understanding of what I am aiming for, so that I can attune my choice in that direction. Secondly, objectives help me tie the decision into the greater picture, understanding why I am making the choice and how it contributes to my vision. I make sure to listen to my objectives when I am making decisions.

Prioritisation

I treasure the unique perspective of prioritisation at my decision making table because it approaches the conversation from a bird’s eye view. Prioritisation helps me understand how the current decision fits into the bigger picture and if it is truly where I should be focusing my energy. It helps me cater my personal resources to the stakes of the decision, not waste time on inconsequential matters, and pushes me to apply my efforts in the most efficient way. 

Other People

When making decisions, the opinions of other people can, and often do, influence our choice. The question I ask myself is whether their voice has any relevance to the situation? I absolutely want to hear the thoughts of those who are involved in, or may be affected by, the decision, as well as the opinions of the people I value. That being said, I have found that often we listen to the opinions of folk who have no connection or relevance to the situation. My advice; don’t assume every voice is equal and listen to the voices that are relevant to the decision.

Society

I have purposefully put society down at the bottom here. There are, absolutely, a wealth of positive guidelines written into culture’s norms, such as don’t steal, murder or be a cannibal. However, I want to touch on how society influences our decisions by pushing us onto a path that is ‘expected’ or ‘normal’. Society persuades us to fit in. When making decisions, I urge us to think for ourselves and even though the decision may be odd, different, quirky or never been tried before, if it suits you, then I believe it is worth considering! 

CAVEAT

Amazing! Reader, I understand that this concept of the decision making table is philosophical, but it helps me picture the range of different voices that influence my decisions. Even knowing about the perspectives, they definitely still affect my decisions. 

AIM

My aim is to continue exploring the forces that shape my decisions and ensure I first listen to the right ones; my values, beliefs and objectives. Once those have been heard, I do my best to listen to the remainder, with the goal to have Me, my present, active, conscious self, make the final decision. 

I look forward to hearing how you are shaping your decision making table! Please reach out if you have any thoughts or questions - I’m very happy to explore this concept.

Happy Doing!

Helping Young Professionals & Postgraduate Students Improve