4 Signs You Made the Right Decision in a Difficult Situation

Much of your life is determined by the decisions you make on a daily basis.  Many of those decisions are simple and straightforward.  But every now and then, you face a decision that makes you feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.  

What happens when you're facing a decision that's guaranteed to have some fallout no matter what you do?  What if you find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place, as the saying goes, with no easy answers?  When you finally make your decision, how do you know it was the right one?  

Here are four signs you made the right decision in a difficult situation.

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1.  It's your own decision, not someone else's.
 
You know you've made the right decision when it's entirely your own, not someone else's.  You may have considered other people's needs.  You might decide you're willing to make some sacrifices or accept some inconvenience for the sake of someone you care about.  But ultimately, the right decision is one that comes from you, and one that you make freely. 

You're not trying to fulfill someone else's agenda.  You're not being manipulated, bullied, or coerced to do something.  You're doing what you genuinely think is best under the circumstances, giving due consideration to your own beliefs, values, morals, and needs.    
 

2.  You weren't rushed or pressured.
 
Rushed decisions are often bad decisions.  The same goes for decisions made under pressure, as there's a good chance you're not thinking clearly. 
 
There are occasions where you can make a quick decision based on intuition or a gut feeling.  But there are also occasions where you need adequate time to gather information and perform your due diligence, especially .when it comes to major life decisions that can't be undone or reversed.

You know you made the right decision when you've taken an appropriate amount of time to gather and examine all the obvious — and perhaps not so obvious — details.
 
 
3.  You considered the big picture and long-term impact.                          

You know you've made the right decision when you've taken a step back and considered the big-picture and all the long-term implications.  You took time to think about where you're headed, what's important to you, and how your decision might affect you in the future.

This might mean you were willing to accept some short term pain or inconvenience, knowing it will pay off in the long run.
 
 
4.  No matter what the cost and fallout, your conscience is clear.
 
Tough decisions often involve trade-offs and sacrifices.  Relationships may be impacted, as people close to you might not always like or approve of your choices.  Or, the decision you make might mean you need to veer off the beaten-path and enter uncharted territory.  In both scenarios, your path may feel challenging and lonely at times. 
 
A key sign you made the right decision is a clear conscience, which brings with it a sense of confidence and security.  Deep down in the core of your being, you know you were true to yourself and did what you believed to be right.  


Takeaway

​Decision-making isn't always easy.  However, it helps when you can look back and know with confidence and certainty that the decision you made was the right one.