October 2024

October Thought of the Month

"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there."

~ Kofi Annan

It is so important for all of us to know how to make good choices. I recently got my ballot for this year's election and gave it a brief read so I know what to research before I submit my votes. When I was able to vote for the first time, I was so excited to participate because I knew what so many men and women went through to give me that right. I couldn't understand why voter turnout was so low in news reports. But none of the networks ever covered why. And honestly I didn't really think too much about it either. I think everyone assumed that some Americans didn't care.

Part of the problem is accessibility. When states increased the number of days we can vote and allowed more people to vote by mail because of COVID, participation improved. I think another factor is a fear of making a choice. What if I help the wrong one in?

We make decisions every day, and some of them are life changing. In the case of the small things we do daily, it's so automatic we barely think about it anymore. With big things, we can get so overwhelmed that paralysis of analysis sets in and we procrastinate. That got me thinking. Just how does - or should - choosing work?

It starts with recognizing the situation, analyzing the conditions affecting it, and reviewing the pros and cons. This gathered information in mind, we consider the end result we want to achieve. These give us what we need to make a decision.

For example when we're hungry, we ask "What do I want to eat?" That leads to seeing what's in the frig, wondering if we want to cook or if take out sound good. Next we consider what each option entails. If our health is the main concern, we look at which choice will give us the best nutrients. If we're dieting, we look up how many calories each option has.

We all want the best consequences from our choices. Our power in achieving that for both small and large decisions lies in being aware of as many factors involved as we can be and knowing our own internal factors: our whats, wheres, and whys. An election is one of the most important decisionmaking moments for Americans and citizens of other countries (consider the state of people in places with restricted or no rights). Please be proactive and remember that doing nothing means giving your power away.

BONUS: If you're interested in more information, read this Psycology Today article: "How to Make Better Decisions."

[Thought and image design by Elaine C. Oldham]