When we talk about decisions, we know that there are big decisions and small decisions. It doesn't matter if the decisions is big or small, the skill of decision making is what everyone needs to learn. That is because we make decisions every day, big or small. And with every decision that we make, we have to bear the consequences, whether good or bad, because we have to be responsible for all our actions.
Teenagers who know this skill will grow up to be independent, responsible and happy adults. Learning and using a decision-making process will help you grow towards this goal: Making Decisions!
* Learning the skill of making decisions is important for both big and small decisions.
* Be responsible for the decisions you make
Who should make the decision?
Teenagers should make own decisions with adults' help. We agreed that adults should help them in the process, but not actually make the decision for them. This is so teenagers can learn from both mistakes and successes, and grow up to be responsible adults, capable of making their own decisions.
Why should teenagers make their own decisions?
* To learn from both mistakes and successes
* To grow up to be responsible adults
* To be independent in the future and not depend on others to make their decisions
We also suggested that if teenagers are not given the freedom to make their own decisions now, they will not learn how to make their own decisions. So it is important to learn the skill now, so that teenagers will be able to make their own decisions in the future and not depend on others to make their decisions.
The good news is, hard decisions become easier when there is a system for figuring them out. Remember this simple process:
Steps for Decisions-Making:
* Step 1 - Identify the real question or problem
For example, your friend asks you to drink. Is the question to drink or not to drink, or whether you should meet your friend's expectation that you have to do what he or she wants? There may even be more than one question. After you have decided what the real question is, you can move on to the next step.
* Step 2 - Brainstorm options
There are a lot of options out there. Make a list. Write them down. You could also include what you think are bad options, it doesn't really matter at this stage. The chances of coming up with a good solution are not a result of how good each option is, but how many you have to choose from. The more the better.
* Step 3 - Evaluate the options
To evaluate your options, you could ask yourself question like, if I do this, would it be fair? Is it a safe thing to do? Does it fit with my values? Does it avoid hurting myself or others? Will it work? Think of all possible consequences to all your options, then pick the best one.
* Step 4 - Try it!
Finally, try it! But don't expect everything to work out the first time you try it. If you make mistakes, remember that mistakes are the experience you get on the way to success. Decisions are only bad if you keep making the same ones. Everyone deserves a chance to learn, and usually, the best way is through trial and error. Whether you fail or succeed, you learn.
If you really cannot decide and want to let your parents or adults to decide for you, it's ok. The decision to decide, or let someone else decide for you, is still a decision. And you are still responsible for it.
And remember, teenagers who know the decision-making skill will grow up to be independent, responsible and happy adults. Learning and using a decision-making process will help you grow towards this goal.
Let's agree to disagree!!!
Teenagers who know this skill will grow up to be independent, responsible and happy adults. Learning and using a decision-making process will help you grow towards this goal: Making Decisions!
* Learning the skill of making decisions is important for both big and small decisions.
* Be responsible for the decisions you make
Who should make the decision?
Teenagers should make own decisions with adults' help. We agreed that adults should help them in the process, but not actually make the decision for them. This is so teenagers can learn from both mistakes and successes, and grow up to be responsible adults, capable of making their own decisions.
Why should teenagers make their own decisions?
* To learn from both mistakes and successes
* To grow up to be responsible adults
* To be independent in the future and not depend on others to make their decisions
We also suggested that if teenagers are not given the freedom to make their own decisions now, they will not learn how to make their own decisions. So it is important to learn the skill now, so that teenagers will be able to make their own decisions in the future and not depend on others to make their decisions.
The good news is, hard decisions become easier when there is a system for figuring them out. Remember this simple process:
Steps for Decisions-Making:
* Step 1 - Identify the real question or problem
For example, your friend asks you to drink. Is the question to drink or not to drink, or whether you should meet your friend's expectation that you have to do what he or she wants? There may even be more than one question. After you have decided what the real question is, you can move on to the next step.
* Step 2 - Brainstorm options
There are a lot of options out there. Make a list. Write them down. You could also include what you think are bad options, it doesn't really matter at this stage. The chances of coming up with a good solution are not a result of how good each option is, but how many you have to choose from. The more the better.
* Step 3 - Evaluate the options
To evaluate your options, you could ask yourself question like, if I do this, would it be fair? Is it a safe thing to do? Does it fit with my values? Does it avoid hurting myself or others? Will it work? Think of all possible consequences to all your options, then pick the best one.
* Step 4 - Try it!
Finally, try it! But don't expect everything to work out the first time you try it. If you make mistakes, remember that mistakes are the experience you get on the way to success. Decisions are only bad if you keep making the same ones. Everyone deserves a chance to learn, and usually, the best way is through trial and error. Whether you fail or succeed, you learn.
If you really cannot decide and want to let your parents or adults to decide for you, it's ok. The decision to decide, or let someone else decide for you, is still a decision. And you are still responsible for it.
And remember, teenagers who know the decision-making skill will grow up to be independent, responsible and happy adults. Learning and using a decision-making process will help you grow towards this goal.
Let's agree to disagree!!!
