Choices vs Decisions

July 31, 2016 — Leave a comment

What comes first, the choice or the decision?

The definition of choice is; the act of choosing, the act of picking or deciding between two or more possibilities, the opportunity or power to make a decision.

While the definition of decision is; a choice that you make about something after thinking about it, the result of deciding, the ability to make choices quickly and confidently.

Maybe one way to tell the difference is the amount of information you need to make that choice, or decision. Decision are more process oriented, you go through analysis and steps to determine your options. Choice is more of a mindset; you choose between what the right or wrong choice might be.

We can go through our life making decisions on where to live, work, and play, but do we make the choice of how to best live and make more proactive choices in our life. We can spend a lifetime making all sorts of decisions, yet we spend little time making distinctive life choices.

I believe we may need to focus more on making choices than making decisions. We need to make real and necessary choices on how to lead our life in the most purposeful way possible.

Once you chose to make a decision you start to gather the facts you need to make an informed decision. Choices can be changed, but from my point of view, once you decide to do something, you do it.

Napoleon Hill wrote in his multi-volume The Law of Success book, The Golden Rule;

The man of DECISION cannot be stopped!

The man of INDECISION cannot be started! Take your own choice.

If you chose to decide on whether to take action on something, it’s final. Then you start to think about the right choices you need to make in order to support the decision. The decision is the goal, the choices are the tasks to accomplish it.

Decision is a more general term that does not imply the existence of alternatives. It is driven more by needs, goals and problems than by simply encountering a set of choices. Choice, then, is selection from alternatives.

One way to distinguish between a choice and a decision is to look at it from a sales perspective. A client might decide to purchase from a particular vender, and then they’ll chose which products, services and/or options the vender offers.

But does the slight difference between choice and decision really matter? I don’t think so, as long as you follow-up with action.

Indecision, otherwise known as procrastination, is what you need to stay away from. Mr. Hill wrote that successful men and women are those who reach decision quickly and then stand firmly by those decisions after they are made. Indecision is the devil’s tool, when we procrastinate, we fail to live the life we’re supposed to live.

So why do we procrastinate? FEAR is usually the reason. Fear of making a mistake, losing money, getting sick, getting criticized, etc. etc. etc… James Allen wrote in his book Eight Pillars of Prosperity, “Men who are afraid to decide quickly for fear of making a mistake, nearly always make a mistake when they do act.” How many opportunities were missed because someone, or you, didn’t pursue it because you were afraid of making a mistake or getting criticized?

Once you have identified all your options, weighed all the information, and made the best decision you can, don’t look back, and never second guess. When it comes to making good choices and proper decisions, all you can do is all you can do.

 


Choice

The will to evil and the will to Good

Are both within thee; which wilt thou employ?

Thou knowest what is right and what is wrong;

Which wilt thou love and foster?

Which destroy?

Thou art the chooser of thy thoughts and deeds;

Thou art the maker of thine inward state;

The power is thine to be what thon wilt be;

Thou buildest Truth and Love, or lies and hate,

Of thou dost choose the evil, loving self,

Thy cries and prayers for Good shall all be vain;

Thy thought and act bringeth thee good or ill;

Deep in thy heart thou makest joy and pain;

As thou pursuest Good, striving to make

Evil depart, thou shalt rejoice and say: —

“Lo! Light and Love and Peace attend on me:

Truth fadeth not, and Good abounds always.”

Choose as thou wilt thy thoughts and words and deeds.

And as thou choosest so shall be thy life:

The will to Good shall bring thee Joy and Peace,

The will to evil, wretchedness and strife.

~ James Allen, Poems of Peace (1907)


References

Decisions vs. Choices: Is There a Distinction?

https://www.thindifference.com/2012/06/decisions-vs-choices-is-there-a-distinction/

Making Choices and Decisions

http://www.refreshleadership.com/index.php/2015/06/making-choices-decisions/

Choice vs. Decision

http://changingminds.org/explanations/decision/choice_decision.htm

The Choices And Decisions We Make In Life

https://youtu.be/jTJXwzdgnWg

 

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