Taking the Next Step: Why We Do One Thing Versus Another

Our daily life consists of many decisions, where we move in one direction versus another. What brings us to this next action we have decided to take? Are we reacting or have we planned this? Is it our internal purpose or an outside influence that is determining this? Are we sure or confused in our final decision?

The decision we have to make can be as simple as whether or not to eat ice cream, for example. As a health-conscious but good-food-loving woman, this is something I grapple with regularly. Sometimes I am stronger; sometimes I am not. But what is the pivot point that gets me to a decision?

How do we decide the next action?

The whole concept of productivity, or shall I say the mastery of productivity, ultimately rests on the moment we make action decisions. Some of the movers and shakers of productivity thinking are David Allen's Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (GTD), Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and Tony Robbins teachings

Next action decisions are based upon who you have defined yourself to be.

As a person who has tried all three of the above-mentioned methods for many years now, I mostly make my next action decisions based on the GTD methodology. It doesn't matter how much you base your life on a productivity system, the final decision to act is made from a composite of who you are:

• Purpose: What is your purpose in life?
• Vision: How do you envision your life in the next 3 to 5 years?
• Goals: What do you want to accomplish in the next 1 to 3 years?
• Roles and Responsibilities: What are your current roles and what responsibilities?
• Active Projects: What projects are you currently working on?
• Next Actions: What is on your next action or to-do list?

We all have a sense of our purposes, goals, or responsibilities, whether or not we have identified them independently or by using GTD, Covey, or another system. Once you know yourself and are more comfortable with your inner self, small or big decisions will come more easily. That is where a productivity system is invaluable.

Can our decision be simple?

Getting back to our simple ice cream decision. If your goal is to be healthy for your family, your decision could be to get the low-fat frozen yogurt instead of the creamy ice cream. If your errand list is overloaded, you may opt to forego your usual trip to the ice cream parlor. If your vision in life is to experience more, you may decide to go out of your way to get your favorite ice cream.

The point is to be comfortable with your decision. It doesn't always have to be the perfect decision to be the right decision. But, as you can see, it can fit into so many different parts of your life. It is just one moment of thousands of moments.

One Final Note

I am not saying that you should apply my preferred method of GTD to decide whether or not to eat ice cream - unless you really want to, of course.

Comments

[Theresa Ayers]

There are times when I have so much on my plate that one more thing may tip me over the edge and during those times I make myself slow down and regroup. I do this by asking myself what are my priorities, and what am I trying to accomplish? This allows me to see the bigger picture and to let go of the small details that can bog me down. I really loved your article because it give solid tools that can help a person look at the larger picture and by doing so make more informed decisions. Great Job!