The Art and Impact of Decision-making.

By Manzi Prince Mugisha.

In life, don't we continually have a variety of options? We are inundated with options and decisions to make as soon as we get up in the morning. Some of them are imposed on us by society, some by the technology we use every day, and some by the circumstances of our existence.

We have some control over what the future holds when we are given the freedom to make our own decisions and act freely. Your future is not determined by your history. The decisions you made and, more crucially, the ones you didn't make have all contributed to the person you are today.

Because you chose not to pursue what you love and were motivated by the pressure from society to obtain a "status symbol," you are unhappy today. Conversely, your inability to make the choices that develop you as an individual but instead give in to this 'status symbol' can have devastating results. We human beings were the only beings created by the Most High with the power of choice. He created us and gave us the power to choose between right and wrong. It was in His ability to dictate the way He wanted us to take, but He did not. That is the first gift we ought to be appreciative of.

But what use is it if we misuse such great power? We choose wrong over right. And it is not because we do not know. Most of the time, all mistakes and bad choices are made with perfect knowledge of the right thing to do. We just decide to ignore it. This concept is talked about quite well in 1 John Chapter 2, verse 16. It says that all that belongs to the world (sinful self-desires). Let me emphasize that, to begin with, SINFUL SELF DESIRES. It does not say sinful worldly desires. It is believed that most of the time, we do things to appeal to ourselves, yet in actual sense, we are appealing to the world. You buy a new shoe not because you like it but because of how you want people to see you. How about that new phone? I hate to break it to you, but the world can never be pleased.

Whatever you do that derives pleasure for yourself is truly not rightful in God's eyes. This does not mean that you shouldn't compromise yourself, but some decisions we make in life appeal to the world or ourselves, and whatever appeals to the world will never appeal to the Lord. What is our take on this then? God created you with a purpose and a path He wanted you to take. He knows that you are capable and that path will appeal to you. Just ask Him and find in yourself that which you are good at and pleased when you do. I talked with a friend some days ago, and they shared some great insights. They told me you can grow, have great wealth and power, and feel fulfilled. Another person, however, can have little and still be satisfied, which I agreed to eventually (though it took some time). As long as that person feels like they are doing what they genuinely love.

In conclusion, it all comes down to the choice. The line between choosing the right difficult thing and the easy way out (the appealing one) is quite thin. And you know the first step towards taking the right way, it is knowing that the power is in your hands. It is up to you to choose between what gives you instant gratification (which is disastrous in most cases) and sacrificing your present self for your future self to be pleased.