1. How To Make Decisions

2. How to Make Decisions: Two Good Choices
Sometimes, you get to choose between 2 (or more!) awesome, pleasant things.
Hanging out with this friend or that one
Accepting this new job offer or that one
Getting this cute puppy or this cute kitten
Sometimes, you can compromise and find a way to get the benefits of both.
Sometimes, you have to choose one option.

3. How to Make Decisions: Two Good Choices
Pros and Cons List
Make a list of pros (good consequences) and cons (bad consequences) for each choice. Apply points to each item based on its importance in your life. Then, do the math!
Get a Puppy
Get a Kitten
Pro:
Cute (5)
Provides exercise (10)
Can make puppy Christmas cards (5)
Con:
A lot of work (10)
Sheds (3)
Easier to take care of (8)
Portable (4)
Cat Attitude (11)
Allergic (50)
Ms. Sarah used this strategy to decide how to go home to Indiana this summer. Should she buy a ticket on a plane or drive? The drive would be longer but cheaper. The plane ride would be stressful, but quicker…but also more expensive. If she drives, she can go whenever she wants. If she buys a plane ticket, she would have to go whenever she could find a good ticket. How to choose?!

4. How to Make Decisions: Two Good Choices
Sage Advice
Ask for advice from those who are older and wiser than you!
If you think that person makes good choices and is successful, they probably have had life experiences that can help you
Share who you get sage advice from and how you picked them.

5. Choose What’s Hard Ready for some sage advice?
When you can choose between two GOOD choices, choose what’s hard:
You will learn more about the world and yourself
You will grow as a person
You can be so proud of yourself for doing hard things!

6. How to Make Decisions: Two Bad Choices
Sometimes, you have to choose between 2 (or more!) unpleasant things.
Cheat on the test or fail, because you didn’t study
Do the dishes or do the laundry
Sometimes, you have to choose one option even though you don’t want either.

7. How to Make Decisions: Two Bad Choices
Comparing Consequences
Ask yourself: For both decisions, what is the worst reasonable outcome or consequence?
Don’t choose the one with the worst reasonable outcome/consequence!
Should I do the community service or refuse?
Should I help my friend steal candy from the store or stand up to the friend and leave?
Should I do the community service or refuse?
If I do the community service, the worst reasonable outcome is I feel frustrated
If I refuse, the worst reasonable outcome is a stricter consequence, like ISS or having my parents called.
Should I help my friend steal candy from the store or stand up to the friend and leave?
If I steal, the worst reasonable consequence is getting arrested and having a record.
If I leave, the worst reasonable consequence is a rough patch in our friendship. Do I really want to be friends with someone who steals anyway?

8. How to Make Decisions: Two Bad Choices
Guiding Life Principles
What matters most to you in life? Honesty? Kindness? Loyalty?
Look at the examples of guiding life principles and pick your top 3. Write these in your notes.
If your best friend asked you to help rob a bank, how should you respond based on the three principles you wrote down?

9. How to Make Decisions: Any Choice
Lasting Feeling
“The feeling you have last is the one that lasts.”
Example: You wanted to exercise but are feeling lazy right now. You choose not to. You feel relieved at first, but in an hour or tomorrow you might feel guilty. The guilty feeling stays.
Make the decision based on what feeling you would prefer.
This tip works for any kind of choice.
Think about the feelings you would have immediately after making the choice and in the long run. The last feeling (the long run choice) is the one that will impact you the most.
Another example: You want to drink the milkshake, but you are lactose intolerant. It will make you sick. It feels good to drink it, but afterward…yuck.
Another example: It might feel good to tease someone because others are laughing at your jokes. After, you will probably feel guilty and wish you could take it back.
Try to predict what the lasting feeling will be and decide based on that!

10. How to Make Decisions: Any Choice
Here’s a trick!
Fast questions
Make a choice
What are your real feelings?
This trick has two parts. In the first part, a friend asks you a series of questions involving choices– winter or summer, night or day, soda or lemonade, etc. Then, they cleverly slip in the two things you are choosing between. What is your gut reaction? Which did you choose?
The second part is how you feel right now. You’ve made a choice. If you were forced to stick with that choice, would you feel upset, disappointed, etc.? Or are you relieved and happy? Your gut emotions can help guide you!
Example: You are trying to decide whether to take Spanish or ASL. Go through this trick with an example student. Then, ask them how they feel about the choice they made.