The Fine Art Of Decision Making
‘It were better that in Causes of weight, the Matter were propounded one day, and not spoken to, till the next day.’ Sir Francis Bacon
Recently, because of the thoughtless and stupid actions of another, I was devastated.
My first reaction was just that – to react. But fortunately I was reminded of the wise counsel given to me by Sir Francis. For a lot can happen in a man’s heart between ‘one day’ and ‘the next day’. So it is wisdom, when having to deal with ‘Causes of weight’, that we learn to ‘sleep on it’.
So I wrote pages of notes on the ‘one day’, responding as to how wrong I felt the decision and directives were from the other party. I stated my case in a full and logical format, but even by writing, which I thought would be therapeutic, I still felt betrayed, wounded and miserable for the entire day.
Even when I woke up the following morning, the events of the previous day were still stinging my heart. So I wrote some more. But by midday, I’m pleased to report that, I’d gained a fresher perspective on the matter, and was given a better, more positive plan, to respond to what had been done to me.
I couldn’t change what had happened to me, but I could take control of how I would respond, by simply waiting until ‘the next day’.
What I had written is never going to find its way into a letter or an email – but will remain forever tucked away for my eyes only. However, the matter of whether or not to respond in a certain way – the decision of whether I would or whether I wouldn’t – was resolved by simply allowing time to pass – thus turning my reaction into a positive action.
This decison will now allow me to have the opportunity of building stronger relationships both now and into the future.
