While you may not always think about it consciously, your mind goes through a series of six steps, or questions, when you make a decision. These include:
1. Situation: Why do you need to make a decision?
2. Goals: What do you want to happen?
3. Choices: What are your options or the alternatives?
4. Consequences: What could happen?
5. Decision: What will you do?
6. Think about it: Did you make the right decision?
Sometimes the process is easier than other times. And, there are also times when you might jump around—you might not go through the process in order, or you might rethink steps before making a decision. You might also skip some of the steps for less serious decisions, like figuring out what shoes to wear.
Think of three serious decisions you made recently. Write them on the lines. Then answer the questions on the next screen.
Decision 1:
Decision 2:
Decision 3:
Review the decision-making steps below. Then, answer the questions.
1. Situation: Why do you need to make a decision?
2. Goals: What do you want to happen?
3. Choices: What are your options or the alternatives?
4. Consequences: What could happen?
5. Decision: What will you do?
6. Think about it: Did you make the right decision?
Do you think you go through all of the decision-making steps involved? If "Yes," how so?
Do you focus on one step more than others? Explain.
What factors influence your decisions? (your goals, values, friends, family, etc.)
How do you make decisions when you feel stressed?
Put your decision-making skills to work and think about what you would do in the situations on this page and the following pages.
Your best friend invites you and some other classmates over for the afternoon, and during the course of your time together tells you that he or she has taken up smoking cigarettes. Your friend then lights one up, as do the others. Then, your friend offers you a puff. What do you do? Make a choice and see where it takes you.
Your friend says, "Right, I get it. That's cool," and you feel relieved and proud of yourself for making a good decision.
Feel good about the consequences? That's great! Now, think about it: Did you make the right decision?
Type your thoughts below.
For the rest of the afternoon, you feel uncomfortable and worried about whether your family will smell the cigarette smoke when you get home.
Not happy with the consequences? Think through the decision-making steps to figure out if you made the right decision.
| 1 | Situations: | Why do you need to make a decision? |
| 2 | Goals: | What do you want to happen? |
| 3 | Choices: | What are your options or the alternatives? |
| 4 | Consequences: | What could happen? |
| 5 | Decision: | What will you do? |
| 6 | Think About It: | Did you make the right decision? |
Now, go back to the beginning of the "choices and Consequences" exercise and try again. But remember, you can't always do that in real life!
Your friend laughs and says, "Okay, I get it. No problem."
Feel good about the consequences? That's great! Now, think about it: Did you make the right decision?
Type your thoughts below.
You and some friends are walking to a friend's home after school. You are in a hurry because you want to get to the house to play your favorite video game. You come upon a wallet with $100 inside. There's also a driver's license. None of you recognize the person the license belongs to. What do you do? Make a choice and see where it takes you.
Ultimately, you feel great about doing the right thing
Feel good about the consequences? That's great! Now, think about it: Did you make the right decision?
Type your thoughts below.
As a result, you can't enjoy the video game at your friend's house because you feel awful about what you did.
Not happy with the consequences? Think through the decision-making steps to figure out if you made the right decision.
| 1 | Situations: | Why do you need to make a decision? |
| 2 | Goals: | What do you want to happen? |
| 3 | Choices: | What are your options or the alternatives? |
| 4 | Consequences: | What could happen? |
| 5 | Decision: | What will you do? |
| 6 | Think About It: | Did you make the right decision? |
Now, go back to the begining of the "Choices and Consequences" excercise and try again. But remember, you can't always do that in real life!
After you resolve the situation, your friend's parents say they are proud of you and your friends, and you feel proud of yourself.
Feel good about the consequences? That's great! Now, think about it: Did you make the right decision?
Type your thoughts below.