“…choose for yourselves this day…” ~Joshua 24:15 (NIV).
Life is a series of decisions. We make more than 35,000 decisions every day. That comes down to a couple of thousand every hour if you consider you’re sleeping for 7-8 hours a day.
Wouldn’t it be better if you could make some of those decisions in advance? In other words, pre-decide. The pre-decision is the best decision you can make because it can be made without the emotion or pressure of a deadline. And a pre-decision can save you hundreds of decisions each day. Sure, deadlines help push the issue, but more often than not, decisions made in the throes of emotion are bad. We should never make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings. As Jim Rohn says, “We must all suffer one of two things: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.”
Buyer’s remorse comes to mind. How often have you made a purchase you wished you hadn’t made? Time is another thing you can not get back.
The pre-decision can be the best decision you make. Decide today so you don’t have to decide tomorrow.
For example, if you’re expecting a refund or bonus check or getting a raise soon, what would happen if you could pre-decide how to use those funds? In other words, if you separate the emotion of having the check in your hand, would you pay down debt, save money for Christmas, a trip, or upcoming expenses, or would you be more apt to blow it if you wait until the check or raise arrives?
Pre-decision is being intentional with your life. It means making a plan, establishing boundaries, and sticking to them.
For example, you can make pre-decisions with money, time, relationships, health, career, job, business, and many things inside those areas. Mark Batterson says, “If you don’t pre-decide how you will use your time, someone else will.” In that case, it’s as simple as setting and honoring boundaries. And, remember, “no” can be a complete sentence.
Suppose you’re being intentional with your money. In that case, you may make the pre-decision to drink water and not order dessert when you eat out. By deciding before arriving at the restaurant, you don’t have to make the decision when the waiter brings the dessert menu. If health is a concern, perhaps you’ll decide to set aside a specific time to walk every day or work out. That way, the decision is pre-made, and all you have to do is step into the process.
One way to remove emotion from your decision-making is to make decisions ahead of time. John Maxwell says, “If you make decisions in 12 key areas once and for all — and then manage those decisions daily — you can create the kind of tomorrow you desire.” What are those key areas?
- Attitudes.
- Priorities.
- Health.
- Family.
- Thinking.
- Commitment.
- Finances.
- Faith.
- Relationships.
- Generosity.
- Values.
- Growth.
What can you pre-decide in those areas? Under attitude, you can pre-decide to look for the silver lining in life and focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have. What can you pre-decide about your priorities? Start a list: If your list is something like God, family, or job, then it’s easy to establish boundaries. Sometimes, you can find priorities best by eliminating non-essential things in your life. With finances, do you pre-decide when you eat out next month and pre-decide on significant expenses, or is it more impulse?
You see, you already pre-decide many things, so why not pre-decide the essential stuff? Steve Jobs took the daily decisions out of his attire. He wore a black shirt and pants every day. Boom!
You already have pre-decided many things, so why not pre-decide the essential stuff?
- You brush your teeth every morning before leaving home.
- You probably wake up at a specific time. What time is your alarm set for?
- You eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You only have to decide what to eat and where.
- You drive to church, school, or work the same way without thinking about it.
- You drink the same drink (e.g., coffee, tea, coke, etc.), and you probably take it either sweet, with cream, or some other additive.
- You use the same kind/type of pen or pencil.
So what big things do you need to decide on — now? What decision can you make today and manage tomorrow? Money and time are significant areas, but attitude is another. How can making a pre-decision become your best decision this year?
“…choose you this day…” so you don’t have to choose tomorrow.