When you are faced with 2 or more hugely consequential decisions, how do you sort it all out?

I’m terrible at it. I usually agonize quite a bit. I usually ask the opinions of others, but now I’m learning too much of that is a bad idea. Eventually, I succumb to there is no perfect answer, pick one, and decide I can live with any bad consequences. I think about the worst scenario with that decision and what I can do if the worst happens. If I can handle the worst, then I can be ok.

If I have multiple big decisions at once I do my best to decide on one or two as quickly as possible and get them off my plate. If they are all interconnected it can be harder.

My last boss was so good at staying calm and handling problems as they come. This included problems that arose from a bad decision, or a mistake made. He just kept moving forward.

Here is a Ted Talk on decision making. It hit home for me.

AQare you talking hypothetically or do you really have something going on? Because as stated there is too much unknown. Depending on the possible outcomes, I might seek advice from someone whom I respect who has knowledge in that particular area.
I might also try a fast and meditation. Lots of great people have had information come to them in dreams, so I wouild be paying attention to them,
Good luck.

As logically as possible.

Two columns on a sheet of paper. Pluses and minuses of each option. A lot of it is based on best guesses and percentages.

I usually don’t ask other people, because they don’t know me as well as I know me, and may have their own agendas.

But with all the logic in the world, it often comes down to a gut feeling of what feels right.

I make a pro and con list.

I’ve asked for advice but, in my experience, when the people you’re talking to have no idea what you’re really facing they can’t really give advice.

Shit. Everything @elbanditoroso just said.

Like @Dutchess_III said, I get a notebook and make a pro vs. con list on paper. Then you can see it all at a glance.

I just ask my sister. If she is wrong I can always crash in her garage while I sort it out.

Sometimes I do the list. Sometimes I just step back from the task at hand and wait and see what thoughts come to me. Sometimes I’ll get an epiphany from something external, like a random discussion with someone, not necessarily about the dilemmas but about something else.

Sometimes it’s not necessary to make a decision on one or both of the issues at this time. I’ll ponder and think “maybe I’m jumping the gun. Maybe no changes need to be made just yet.”

I faced this last year. I was looking at changing jobs, leaving a marriage, moving to a different state.. I feel like I did the best I could, the job decision came down to clicking a button online that said “accept” or “reject.” Nerve racking to say the least.

I mull things over, chaotically collecting data, for a few days (sometimes a week or two if I have the luxury of the time). Then decide. Then a day later I go with my gut, sometimes flipping a coin. If I’m disappointed in the results of the coin flip, I go the other way. I figure my brain has sorted it all out without my conscious interference, and it has always worked well for me.

I toss a coin & then fire whoever placed my hot water bottle too near the pillow