How do you make a tough choice? What do you do?
When it comes to tough choices, I often start with best and worst case scenarios? What's the best case scenario and what's the worst case scenario? Those questions point me in the right direction.
After that, I relay the scenarios to those making the decisions with me. That's not always positive since many people don't want to think about worst case scenarios, but I still think it's important to relay the issues up front so people know what they are working with.
I also think about the long time ramifications of the tough decisions. Thinking about this, I remember two tough decisions I made long ago. One was involving a faraway wedding--we didn't have the money and there were some critical family issues at play at the time. If we did go to the wedding, we ran the risk of spending money we didn't have and also ignoring the critical issues that required our care and attention. We opted not to go, and while the wedding couple as disappointed, I know we made the right decision. In another situation, I missed an important family funeral. At the time, I had already taken too many days off from work due to my children's needs at the time, I was exhausted, and my family needed me. I simply didn't have the time or energy to attend that occasion. I'm still sorry that I missed it, but again, after careful consideration, I knew I made the right decision.
It is very difficult to miss important and significant family events, but when we consider capacity, resources, and responsibilities, we sometimes have to miss those events.
Recently family members had to miss an important, celebratory event related to my family. Because I've had to miss important events in the past, I totally understood why they couldn't be there.
We won't always be able to be where we want to be, and that's why it is so important to be present and do what you can when you can.
In life, we will face tough decisions from time to time. When we consider the worst case, best case scenarios as well as our capacity, resources, and responsibilities on our own and with others who are impacted, we'll likely make the best decisions we can. Onward.