Dr. Foster's 30 Laws of Decision Making - Rich's posterous

October 24, 2010

Dr. Foster's 30 Laws of Decision Making

#1: Focus on the most important thing (Are you giving full weight to the most important issue?)
#2: Don't decide until you're ready (Why not give yourself more time?)
#3: Look for all the good things that can happen (What's the best outcome you can expect?)
#4: Choose it or lose it (What big decision are you not making now?)
#5: Base your decision on self-acceptance (Does your decision fit the real you?)
#6: Look ahead (How will your decision play out over time?)
#7: Turn big decisions into a series of little decisions (What small step can you take toward a decision?)
#8: You always havebetter options (What are better options beyond those you've checked out?)
#9: Get what you need to feel safe (What are you doing to take care of your safety needs?)
#10: Do what you really want (Are you sure you've let your heart's desire hold sway?)
#11: If it ain't simple, it ain't gonna work (Are you making things more complicated than they need to be?)
#12: Have a hopeful heart and a cautious head (Have you balanced hoping for the best with protecting yourself from the worst?)
#13: Tune in to what you're saying to yourself (Have you remembered to really listen to yuorself?)
#14: Never let a lower priority outweigh a higher priority (Are your priorities all out of whack?)
#15: No matter what, don't get trapped (Are you protecting yourself from getting stuck?) [For more examples of important traps, see 

#FFP05: Harry Browne's Freedom Principles.]
#16: Know your Achilles' heel (What are the top ten bad habits in making decisions?)

(1) Biting off more than you can chew

(2) Detail mania

(3) Fear

(4) Losing touch with you

(5) The green-eyed monster [envy]

(6) Keeping on keeping on [persistence with what can't work]

(7) Acting without thinking

(8) Dithering

(9) Taking the path of least resistance

(10) Not believing that things can be better than they are.

[Personally, I would add the following to the above list:

(11) Poor diet/unhealthy lifestyle

(12) Allowing your Self 1 to interfere with your decisions

(13) Living your life as a "passive passenger" -- obedience or "following the crowd" -- let others decide for you -- automatic acceptance or rejection of information

(14) Irresponsibility -- blaming others or factors outside yourself

(15) Dishonesty

(16) Coercion -- initiating force, threat of force, or fraud in order to impose your will upon others -- see Why You Must Recognize and Understand Coercion

(17) "Thinking" with your sexual organs rather than your brain -- see #TL05AA: The Breeding Motivation: What You Can Do About It

(18) Unrealistic expectations

(19) Not considering the hidden bad side of people -- see #TL15A: The Good and the Bad

(20) Unwillingness to make drastic changes

(21) Ignoring or neglecting absolute essentials

(22) Denial (of personal disadvantages)

(23) Procrastination and failure to follow through (lack of persistence)

(24) Failure to be a life-long learner and keep abreast of new developments

(25) Failure to distinguish between what you can and can't control

(26) Overconfidence.]

#17: Always take your own best advice (Would you tell your best friend to do this?)
#18: Appreciate the newness of each situation (Are you in danger of applying old learning to s new decision?)
#19: Make yourself proud (Which decision will give you self-respect?)
#20: Pay attention to the big, fat, obvious issues (What are you overlooking?)
#21: Never forget why you made your decision (Are you judging yourself with different criteria from what you first used?)
#22: Know what's real (What realities will affect your decision?)
#23: Get what you need to make your decision a success (Are you equipped to carry out this decision?)
#24: Find and follow an expert (Are you making sure you're relying on smart advisers?)
#25: Keep an open mind (Are you caught in attitudes that keep you from seeing what's best for you?)
#26: Take care of the basics (Will your decision address your basic needs?)
#27: Some things you "know" are wrong (Have you checked your facts?)
#28: You don't have to run from risk (Do you know what the risks are and how to protect yourself?)
#29: Following through makes decisions great (Will you do a great job carrying out your decisions?)
#30: Make decisions to make things wonderful (Will you get something that's wonderful?)

via justrich.posterous.com