The Science and Art of making Important DECISIONS

The Science and Art of making Important DECISIONS

Sometimes we wonder what goes on inside us while we are in the process of taking important decisions which would have a major impact on us.

Our subject for this discussion is not those urgent situations where-in the decision needs to be taken IMPULSIVELY (fight or flight response). We are discussing only those decisions which require deliberation, consideration and forethought.

The Science of Deciding:

For these decisions our Frontal Lobes (right and left FRONT portion of the brain), Hippocampus, and Prefrontal Cortex is engaged. Also, through our nervous system our entire body is engaged: heart, gut, adrenal glands.

Left Lobe is the seat for: Numbers, Analysis, Reason

Right Lobe is the seat for: Art, Intuition, Feeling

Hippocampus is the Memory center - repository of past events

Prefrontal Cortex is the EXECUTIVE CENTER of the brain

The Lobes (right and left) engage the Hippocampus to provide past instances of similar or almost comparable situations encountered. The heart, gut, adrenals etc. send signals on how the whole body is responding to the thoughts taking place in our brains while we weigh the various paths or options. Now the Prefrontal Cortex takes charge and takes the decision.

The Art of Deciding:

Brains of different people function in a different manner viz. Emotional people tend to give emphasis to FEELING; whereas Logical people tend to give importance to REASON.

It’s important to analyze, understand, and accept our brain chemistry the way it functions when taking important decisions.

The key is to first internalize, buy-in and ACCEPT the decision AND then take the decision externally. Not the other way around: take a hurried decision AND then try to analyze and justify the reasons. Taking the former path will make you more empowered to take actions and more adaptive to the outcomes.

Internalize the decision to see how your body responds to it and what your gut feels about it. By knowing ourselves well - we will be more empowered to take important decisions which are in-sync with our core being.