The Signs You Make Bad Decisions Regularly and How to Improve

Have you ever found yourself saying, 'Why do things always turn out badly for me?' or 'Is there always someone to blame for this?' If so, you might be someone who makes bad decisions regularly. Let's delve into the signs of such behavior and explore strategies to improve your decision-making skills.

Signs of Regularly Poor Decision-Making

There are several indicators of someone who consistently makes bad decisions. These include:

tEmotional reactions: Angry baby mamas or people with an overwhelming amount of drama (such as 'crazy ex-girlfriends'). tIrreparable damage: People who break plastics inside and outside their vehicles, and struggle to start their car due to mental barriers (like using a flathead screwdriver). tSocial issues: People with ripped or tattered jeans, or those who demonstrate defiance and lack respect for authority. tLow self-care: Poor personal hygiene, which reflects a lack of self-respect.

One prominent example of someone who suffers from poor decision-making is Jocelyn Alice Wildenstein. Despite having access to billions in her 1999 divorce settlement from Alec Wildenstein, she has subsequently filed for bankruptcy, living off of Social Security. This pattern of financial ruin is a clear sign of poor decision-making.

A Checklist for Evaluating Decisions

If you frequently find that things do not work out as intended in your life, it might be time to reassess your decision-making process. Here is a simple checklist based on my personal experience:

Instantly Remove an Unpleasant Emotion

For example, instead of running 5 miles to address the immediate negative emotion of feeling fat and slobbery after eating chips, you could take a stroll in the park and enjoy the flowers. Focus on activities that genuinely enhance your mood.

Seek Approval from Strangers

If you are looking to gain approval from someone you don’t know well, like colleagues who wear expensive watches, ask them about something meaningful, such as the features of their watch. This approach will make you more likable and genuine in their eyes.

Masquerade Discomfort

Instead of trying to find ways to mask your discomfort, such as looking for discounts on gadgets instead of budgeting, ask yourself if there are any budgeting apps that gamify the process. This makes the task more engaging and enjoyable.

Reframe Weakness as Strength

To justify staying indoors, you may tell yourself you are a hard worker. Instead, use a specific time restriction and a small reward, such as an early night or a treat, to tackle the dreaded task.

Prioritize Urgent Over Important

When faced with urgent tasks, use techniques like Brian Tracy's 'eat the frog' method to tackle the most challenging task first, making the rest easier. You can also break down your tasks into small 'quests' over five to six days and treat yourself after each set of levels.

Embrace the Loser Mindset

No matter how legitimate your reasons are, challenge yourself to take a small step out of your comfort zone. For instance, if you aspire to start a business but are hesitant, try signing up for an online business course.

Bury Aspirations Without Thought

Instead of giving in to the fear of not making it big, break down your aspiration into achievable steps. For instance, if you want to start a business, focus on creating better solutions to everyday problems.

Don't Rock the Boat

Instead of avoiding confrontation, find the chink in the problem's armor and address it gradually. For instance, instead of giving up on your son’s baseball practice, suggest trying a new restaurant for lunch on Fridays instead of happy hour.

Focus on Outcomes Over Process

Instead of dwelling on the negative outcome of a bad stock pick, focus on the process and ensure you're doing everything right. Good decision-makers study their past decisions to improve their future outcomes.

Conclusion

Improving your decision-making skills is a valuable investment in your life. By recognizing the signs of poor decision-making and implementing these strategies, you can enhance your ability to make better choices, regardless of the obstacles you face.