The decisions we make in childhood, adolescence and in our adulthood determine what happens to us and become of us. Our decisions now affect our future. The decisions we make in life can make or unmake us. Our decisions affect our careers, type of marriages we have, quality of life, financial health, physical and mental health, careers, success and even how long we live.
While we cannot control everything in our environment that affect us, we have the capacity and agency in influencing a lot of things affecting us. We make a choice to drop out of school, to drink, do drugs and marry the wrong person. We make a choice a choice to beat up our wives, visit the doctor and eat healthy. We make a choice to work harder or be lazy.
Typically, all adults are “presumed capable” of making their own decisions until proven otherwise. Making a bad decision does not mean a person is incapable of making a decision. Some people make irrational, illogical or poor decisions not based on deliberation, reasoning or sound knowledge; they may just be based on beliefs, values, personal preference, convenience, poor judgment or culture.
That said, people’s decision making abilities may be affected by their cognitive abilities, level of education and exposure, occupation, mindsets and worldviews also. A person’s ability to understand factual information relevant to the decision they wish to make, ability to appreciate the reasonably foreseeable consequences of their decision or indecision will affect the quality of the decision the person make.To put it in another way, a person with better cognitive abilities will make a better informed and more logical decision than a person with lesser cognitive abilities. Similarly, a person who is more cognitively and intellectually more aware will likely seek relevant information, weigh the risks and benefits of a decision before drawing a conclusion and vice versa.
A person’s cognitive abilities may also be affected by a physical and mental illness, disability, medications, substance use, experience, age/aging, personal autonomy or influence etc. The presence of illnesses or disabilities may limit someone’s capacity to make a decision.
As people, we should be aware that our decisions and actions have consequences on our lives and those around us. Our decisions may affect us for the rest of our lives. As such, we should take decision making very seriously. We should be aware of the factors that influence our decisions always.
Are they affected by our beliefs and values only or they are affected by factual or relevant information pertaining to the decision we wish to make? Are we making a choice based on undue influence of others or we are making it because we weighed our options and all alternatives? Did we seek information from the right source or from someone we know or agree with us? Are we making a decision because it more convenient or it is in our best interest? Are we making a choice because of fear or it is our best option?
Think carefully on every decision you make. Decisions about your health, education, career, where you live, place of worship, who you associate with, your spouse, children, finances, will, next of kin or substitute (in the event of your incapacity).
Look around and think about some people in your family, community, school etc. Some are poorer, incarcerated (imprisoned), injured, disabled or even died because of their decisions and choices along the way.
Be wise, make informed decisions always. Seek the right information and from the right sources before making any decisions because your life depends on what you decide.
Be safe out there.
Signed
Akosua G
Ontario, Canada
March 03, 2020.