Making a Choice
Making a Choice
Transcript
As we've already discussed, in order to act with intention, you need to gather information, conduct some honest self-assessment, consider possible outcomes, and assess risks and rewards. Acting with intention takes thought, time, and effort. And it works best when you talk through your process with people in your life whose opinion you trust and respect.
My hope is that by now you've had an opportunity to do some of this important work. You now know what intentional decision making entails. You know a little more about the role your values play in the choices that you make. And you know that going to college isn't the only option for transitioning service members, but is one of many viable options and possibilities after exiting the military.
You should also have a better sense of how vitally important it is to engage other people, voices, and perspectives as part of your process. And toward that, you've now had the opportunity to hear directly from fellow veterans about how they went about making the decision you're about to make-- how they approached the choice, what factors they considered, which questions they asked, and, critically, whose guidance they relied upon to help them choose.
Having now spent some time considering your own unique circumstances, motives, and goals, and having spent some time listening to and learning from others, you're now ready to make your decision.
Now, I want to be clear. Just because you've been intentional in your decision making process does not mean that a single, straightforward option or answer will present itself to you as the correct one.
Remember, intentional decision making isn't about coming up with the right answer about how you should proceed. It's about identifying a course of action that aligns well with who you are, what you care about, and what you want to achieve.
The goal is not to sniff out the secret, hidden truth. And it's not to discover the only correct outcome. You're not searching for "the one."
The goal, instead, should be to settle on a choice that reflects the reality of where you are in your life and where you want to go. Just because you've made a decision doesn't mean that decision is etched forever in stone.
Yes, if you've made your decision with care and in conversation with others, then there's no reason why you shouldn't feel confident in seeing it through. Trust your instincts, and respect your process.
But it is possible that you will come across a new piece of information. Or perhaps your personal or professional circumstances will change. Maybe you'll have a conversation that is unexpectedly transformative, or you'll realize something new about yourself.
If any of these things happen, if the calculus of your decision changes in some meaningful way, then it's OK for your decision to change, too. That doesn't mean that you've failed to make the right decision in the first place. It means simply that your choice is evolving, as you are.
Once you have settled on a course of action, you'll cycle out of the decision making phase and begin the process of converting your intention into action. And as you do, keep always in mind why you made the decision you've made, and let your very best hope for yourself animate your next steps.
My hope is that by now you've had an opportunity to do some of this important work. You now know what intentional decision making entails. You know a little more about the role your values play in the choices that you make. And you know that going to college isn't the only option for transitioning service members, but is one of many viable options and possibilities after exiting the military.
You should also have a better sense of how vitally important it is to engage other people, voices, and perspectives as part of your process. And toward that, you've now had the opportunity to hear directly from fellow veterans about how they went about making the decision you're about to make-- how they approached the choice, what factors they considered, which questions they asked, and, critically, whose guidance they relied upon to help them choose.
Having now spent some time considering your own unique circumstances, motives, and goals, and having spent some time listening to and learning from others, you're now ready to make your decision.
Now, I want to be clear. Just because you've been intentional in your decision making process does not mean that a single, straightforward option or answer will present itself to you as the correct one.
Remember, intentional decision making isn't about coming up with the right answer about how you should proceed. It's about identifying a course of action that aligns well with who you are, what you care about, and what you want to achieve.
The goal is not to sniff out the secret, hidden truth. And it's not to discover the only correct outcome. You're not searching for "the one."
The goal, instead, should be to settle on a choice that reflects the reality of where you are in your life and where you want to go. Just because you've made a decision doesn't mean that decision is etched forever in stone.
Yes, if you've made your decision with care and in conversation with others, then there's no reason why you shouldn't feel confident in seeing it through. Trust your instincts, and respect your process.
But it is possible that you will come across a new piece of information. Or perhaps your personal or professional circumstances will change. Maybe you'll have a conversation that is unexpectedly transformative, or you'll realize something new about yourself.
If any of these things happen, if the calculus of your decision changes in some meaningful way, then it's OK for your decision to change, too. That doesn't mean that you've failed to make the right decision in the first place. It means simply that your choice is evolving, as you are.
Once you have settled on a course of action, you'll cycle out of the decision making phase and begin the process of converting your intention into action. And as you do, keep always in mind why you made the decision you've made, and let your very best hope for yourself animate your next steps.