When making a decision, do you think in terms of a right decision or a wrong decision? Does this add more pressure and anxiety to the process? In this article, Dr. Michelle Maidenburg encourages individuals to reframe decision making from a dichotomy of right and wrong to a “best” decision to be made in your current circumstances. While applicable for us all, this approach may be especially helpful for if you’re evaluating options and making decisions on job or internship offers.

Below are 6 tips she outlines in her article, but it’s worth a couple minutes to read it in its entirety. Pick which tips may help you the most when evaluating options for difficult decisions. May you be confident that the next decision you make was the “best” decision for you in that set of circumstances.

Dr. Maidenburg’s 6 Tips for Making Difficult Decisions

1. Consider the “best” decision instead of a right or wrong dichotomy.
2. Break down the decision by core values that are operating for you (and why they are important in the decision).
3. Notice the emotions attached to your values and how those would be aligned or challenged as you consider the potential outcomes.
4. Take into consideration emotional and intellectual variables within your decision making.
5. Question what else you might consider and make attempts to expand your information (to the degree that makes sense for you).
6. Try out the exercise Dr. Maidenburg suggests as tip #6. We’re big fans of a quadrant exercise and this is a way to examine your decision from an advantages/disadvantages standpoint and also incorporate your values.