How do I avoid making bad decisions in life? 

I bet you also ask yourself that question. Don’t you? 

Let me briefly share with you 5 practical ways to answer the above question.  

1. Think Bigger Picture  

Think bigger picture is the first way that can help avoid making bad decisions in life.

Think bigger picture means keeping the end in mind.

  • Ask yourself this question: “what kind of outcome do I anticipate by doing what I’m about to do?”
  • Describe where you want to see yourself by doing what you want to do. It is clarity of where you want to be, which will help wisely decide. 

Keeping the end in mind means clarity on your destination. 

  • Life is like a journey. Because it is like a journey, you therefore need to be clear where you want to be at the end of the day.
  • At the beginning of everyday, think how you would like the end of your day to look like.
  • Keeping the end in mind could simply mean you do 4 things as described in “4 little things to make my day.”

2. Think Personal Growth

  • Ask yourself this question: “By choosing to do what I want to do, how am I going to grow as a person?”
  • Your growth should be in these areas of your life: spiritual, mental, intellectual, emotional and physical. 
  • Growing in each single of the above areas creates balance in life. It is this balance that helps avoid making bad decisions. 

3. Think Relationships

  • Growth in all areas of life, as noted above, is crucial for helping find balance in life.
  • Balance in life does not only have to do with personal growth. It affects relationships. 
  • For healthy relationships, you’ve got to be intentional about finding balance.
  • Finding balance affects relationships in a very positive way. It eventually helps make better decisions. If you want to learn more about relationships, read “How to Establish and Maintain Healthy Relationships.

4. Be Disciplined

Discipline helps avoid making bad decisions.

  • Discipline helps you build and preserve boundaries. You will be clear about what matters most to you. You will know your daily priorities, based on your very important relationships you have in life. 
  • Discipline helps you with accountability. With people, who are willing to help stay on track, you are able to avoid making bad decisions. 

Discipline requires practice.

  • Every new day is another chance to practice discipline. What you were not able to do yesterday, you can still do it today.  
  • You only get better by doing it. 

5. Be Authentic

  • You are unique and have a unique destiny that you alone can fulfill. 
  • Whatever you want to do, then do it not because of trying to be someone else. Comparing yourself to others will make you make bad decisions and end up on a wrong path.
  • Remember you only have one life to live. There is no repeat. Just as none of your past days will ever come back again.
  • Make every single day of your life count. And you can only do it be being you.