How to navigate your emotions to make the right decision

1. List what you’re feeling right now

Tired? Hungry? Irritable because your shoes hurt? Deal with those distractions first. “The ability to separate between your feelings in the moment and your emotions about the choice ahead of you will set you up for decision-making success,” says Fosslien.

2. Identify the relevant emotions

“Relevant emotions also tend to last longer than irrelevant emotions, so if you still feel the same thing a few hours or days later, that’s a good indication it’s a relevant emotion,” adds Fosslien. Research shows these are the key feelings to think through:

Anticipation – if one option makes you feel particularly energised and motivated, perhaps it’s worth seriously considering.
Anxiety – what is the desire underneath your anxiety? For example, I often feel anxious about giving my clients what they need, but I’ve learnt that the desire driving this anxiety is to get feedback; to keep learning so my career goes upwards. So now I’ll proactively ask clients, ‘What can I do to make this work better?’
Regret – try picking the option that will minimise regret, as this reveals your values. I’m deciding whether to put a little bonus into my pension (boring) or splash it on fancy dinners (woo hoo!). I imagine how I’ll feel 20 years from now. The money goes into my pension.

Why we find it so hard to make decisions (and how to get better at it)