Crossroads

[EveWasFramed]

I'd actually posted this comment in the "what are you thinking" thread but thought I'd just make a thread for it - maybe see what other people have chosen when they've been faced with making choices.


Crossroads. Do you make your own choice, based solely on what you know and feel about a particular situation or do you wait for input/influence from outside sources? Do you move forward, go backward or take two steps back and head in another direction....take a different path altogether? *sigh*



.

 

[perfanoff]

I see it as a different thing. The habits and the natural way things will go, and a choice of changing something that would not actually happen. Most of the time the question is about taking a choice, or not taking a choice at all.

The more I get older, the more I figure out that there's a good/perfect time to switching specific things in your life around.

 

[WildernessWildChild]

This is one of the most profound and complex thoughts I've ever seen posted on ALL.

There is no simple answer.

 

[Bones]

When I am at a crossroads, I tend to do the following:

~ Make a "T" for a grid with the left side for advantages and the right side for disadvantages concerning the possible choices to get a general idea of the problematic issue/situation and possible outcomes.

~ After completing the "T" grid for the advantages and disadvantages, I use a Likert scale to rate each choice.

~ And from there, I weight the choices by a percentage.


For instance, before purchasing a telescope (and spending money is just the same as personal crossroad for me), I used the following methodology:

- Excel Spreadsheet

- Header (cells A1 to S1) contained the basic information for the telescope after determining the price range within my budget:

- Name
- Type
- Aperture MM (inch*25)
- Aperture Inch (mm/25)
- Focal Length
- F-Ratio
- Highest Practical Power
- Mount
- Focus Diameter
- Shipping Pounds
- Tube Pounds
- Price
- Average Dollars Paid per Aperture (Amount Paid Divided by the Aperture Size)
- Average Dollars Paid per Pounds (Amount Paid Divided by the Shipping Weight)
- User Review Score Average (average of the average from various sites)
- General Features (such as a computer for finding the object in space w/ GoTo - electronic, hand controller, or manual positioning of the telescope, etc.)
- Automatic Disqualification (such as the weight or size of the telescope exceeding the physical capacity to transport it)
- General Personal Comments
- URL for the telescope (Internet Link to the Product at opticsplanet.net) and

- Used a Likert Scale (level of agreement to a statement) for the specifications of the telescope and other general features I wanted (or classified as must haves, maybe later, and luxury) such as a computer, portability, observation use of the telescope, etc. and

- Weighted the Result Set for personal preferences to keep all things equal for line item categories that could have been placed in super-categories.


During the process, if applicable and not to personal since i am private person, I will ask family members, friends, specialists, etc for their opinion and include it in my spreadsheet.


Please note: I do the same thing for interpersonal relationships, medium to large expenditures for products, problems, etc.

 

[kamya]

I usually spend a lot of time thinking and weighing options and go with what I find is best for me. I find that even if things don't work out the way you plan, they work out in the end some way or another.

When I was younger I let my parents sway a few of my decisions and I'm still paying the price for it (literally).

 

[9006]

I'd actually posted this comment in the "what are you thinking" thread but thought I'd just make a thread for it - maybe see what other people have chosen when they've been faced with making choices.


Crossroads. Do you make your own choice, based solely on what you know and feel about a particular situation or do you wait for input/influence from outside sources? Do you move forward, go backward or take two steps back and head in another direction....take a different path altogether? *sigh*

So .. may .. variables ... impossible .. to .. answer..

 

[LoneKiller]

I go where God tells me to go.

 

[ladyforsaken]

Crossroads. Do you make your own choice, based solely on what you know and feel about a particular situation or do you wait for input/influence from outside sources? Do you move forward, go backward or take two steps back and head in another direction....take a different path altogether? *sigh*

It really depends on the situation itself or what is it that I'm facing. If I feel like I can make a choice or decision based on what I know and feel, I'll go with it. But if I tend to be indecisive on a particular occasion, or other factors tend to make me doubt, I'll wait for input from other people.

It's always difficult for me to take a different path altogether because I've never liked changes. But sometimes, I guess it is necessary if the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, and it is for the better of each or at least most of the parties involved.

 

[ucxb]

Crossroads. Do you make your own choice, based solely on what you know and feel about a particular situation or do you wait for input/influence from outside sources? Do you move forward, go backward or take two steps back and head in another direction....take a different path altogether? *sigh*

IT depends on the level of crisis. I have a handful of people I can rely on as a backbone and feel very fortunate for such. I can not relate to them though

 

[VanillaCreme]

This is one of the most profound and complex thoughts I've ever seen posted on ALL.

There is no simple answer.

Completely agree. I know for me, what I decided to do, and Eve actually knows the huge move I made and I will always have her in my heart for helping me with it... It was difficult. And even though I think it was (and still is) the right thing for me, I know quite a few people would ask why I even did it. Believe me, if I had a manual on my situation, I would have gladly read it. I think everyone's like that at one point or another, that if life situations had an instruction manual, we'd just read it and know what to do.

I guess what my situation involved was the simple fact that I just needed a change.

 

[Edward W]

I think generally you know in your heart what choice to make, but sometimes you need someone else to re-assure you it's correct, or just give you that bump to make it. Of course sometimes someone might see something you're too close to notice so if you have someone you can talk too it's probably not a bad idea.

My two-cents.

 

[EveWasFramed]

I want to thank you all for your kind words and advice. It definitely gave me some things to think about.

 

[LonelyInAtl]

I hope that whatever crossroad you are at, that you make the choice that you feel is in your best interest.

 

[SophiaGrace]

I don't feel comfortable giving you advice based on such limited information.

But, if you have enough information, typically you can make a decision.

If you don't, then you ask the input of others.