Making Decision For Better Future

Decision making is indispensable and an integral part of life. Life is a function of decision. Like the snail and its shell, life and decision making are inseparable pair. In fact, somebody has said “to be great, achieve set goals and objectives, and becoming a blessing, involves soaring above the level of mediocrity
It is not grubbing for worms or scratching for bugs like a pen full of chickens, but soaring like a powerful eagle, great leaders of significant relevance”.
Refusing to let the majority opinion shape your life and standard are hallmarks of a purpose-driven person irrespective of age or status.
It is pertinent to state that being different on purpose is not something that comes naturally and not without challenge. One must understand that, though it is not an easy task, it is achievable. This happens only when  a person is truly decisive.
According to J. M. Power, if you want your dreams to come true, the first thing you have to do is to wake up. According to him,  the art of waking up is deciding.
Change is always resisted because of fear, the acceptance of the Status quo, lack of understanding, and the fact of indecision.  No man makes progress in life without a good decision.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, decision is a choice that you make about something after thinking about it, a determination arrived after consideration.  It is the making up of one’s mind.  The ability to choose in clear terms about a thing.
There is a biblical story recorded in Genesis 49: 3 – 4, about a man named Reuben who scripture states was full of potential, properly positioned as firstborn, tutored by a  Godly father yet did not make progress because of his predominant trait of indecision.
“Reuben, thou are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of Power unstable as water, thou shalt not excel…”
A man’s position is largely determined by the choices he made through his decision, every change and success in life is a function of decision.
It is important for people to decide today.
A great motivational speaker advised that you create a vision and never let the environment, other people’s beliefs, or the limits of what has been done in the past shape your decisions.
Anthony Robbins said, “I also remember the moment my life changed, the moment I finally said, I’ve had it! I know I’m much more than I’m demonstrating mentally, emotionally, and physically in my life.  I decided at that moment which was to alter my life forever.  I decided to change virtually every aspect of my life.  I decided I would never again settle for less than I can be”.
Decision making is a very important skill one must acquire if he or she wants to make progress, because every day, men make multiple decisions (Joel 3: 13 – 14)
It is important to state that decision-making.encompasses the following fundamental elements.
Decisions are inevitable: As a youth, you must understand the inevitability of decision making, you like it or not you must make decisions daily, if you do not, life will make one for you even when you don’t decide,
Decision is a choice, not a gift. If it is a choice, it is your responsibility and it is usually backed with consequences.  Your choice brings changes, change is not accidental, man is not a robot, he is an intentional creation of God, gifted with a subconscious mind to enable him to shape his destiny, and chooses to be better today.
Decisions are not exclusive:  No decision is made in isolation, every decision you make, is related to another area that will place a demand on a person.   For example, the decision of making good grades in school will place a demand on sitting down to study.
When a person decides to get married, he must also be responsible for all challenges associated with marriage including the resultant expenses of keeping a home.
It is necessary to state that every decision is a seed for tomorrow, therefore, whatever decision taken today will manifest its fruit tomorrow.
It is scriptural that whatsoever a man sows, that will he reap. God had assured us in His Word that as long as the Earth remains, the principle of sowing and reaping shall not cease.  Let us take proper steps in directing our decision-making.
Understanding the dynamics of decision making will lead to quality, effective and result-oriented decisions. Such dynamics are to accept responsibility:
Man is a responsible being, no man achieves anything in life without being responsible for it.  A person must accept responsibility for the decisions he makes today for a better future.
Risk taking is a fundamental factor which people must embrace because every decision a person makes has an element of risk.
Successful people do not pass the buck. Excuses are made, they do not exist. Excuses create a way of escape but do not create a way forward.  To be able to make a positive future in life, stop making excuses today.
Benjamin Franklin once said “I never knew a man who is good at making excuses, who is good at anything”
However, there are several factors influencing decision making. The factors are, understanding purpose:  This is necessary because there is a purpose for existence. So many people are yet to come to terms with this stark reality.
Another factor is  Environment: It can make or mar a person It is not saying a new thing that decision-making is highly influenced by environment. Achievements, to an extent, are function of what the environment offers us.   Environment includes  friends and the books you read.
An ancient King of Israel once admonished  “He that walketh with the wise shall be wise but the companion of fools shall be destroyed (Prov. 13: 20)
It behoves everyone to see today as an embodiment of golden opportunities to actualize whatever dreams conceived through making wise decision.
Without sounding religious, may I submit that the best decision anybody can make positively today is to accept Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Saviour and live  responsibly.

By:  Israel Aseminaso
Aseminaso is a social analyst and youth activist.