Do
what you feel
in your heart
to be right,
for
you'll be criticized
anyway
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Making decisions is rarely a clear-cut situation or circumstance. If we were able to see the ultimate effects of our actions, then there would be no real decisions. We would lose our בחירה חפשית, our human ability to make free choices.

Our world requires that we make many decisions. It is not often clear which path to choose. We may receive some help from a confidant or another trusted individual, in order to reduce the risk.

One possible way to reach a reasonable decision is by brainstorming a list of the pros and cons relating to the issue, and then and seeing which list is longer. However, this does not relate to the fact that some points on the list are likely to be more important than others.

We can resolve this limitation by weighting the items on a scale of 1 to 5 or 1 to 7. In that way some important items will count more than others, in order to help create a fair distribution.

Alternatively, we can prioritize items in our list from the most important items to the least important, and then determine whether the top level needs and demands have been met.

Be sure that you list all of the pros and cons listed. Create your lists before making a decision. After deciding on a specific issue, you will tend to give more weight to the side that favors your existing decision. On the other hand, a list that is prepared before making any decision can be more objective. If you cannot be objective, somebody else may make up or weight part or all of the list for you.

Of course, only you can create subjective issues such as dating. However, a partner or a confidant may help elicit the ideas.