Decision or Choice – what’s the difference?

Making a decision or making a choice. Why are they different, and why does it matter?

“I need to decide whether to wear a facemask at the supermarket or not”.

“We need to choose who to include in our self-isolating family circle”.

We continue to live in unusual times. In which many of us might consider the words ‘decision’ and ‘choice’ to be ever-present, and almost interchangeable.

As communities lock down, open up in phases, and experience ongoing unpredictable health spikes, we’re all having to continually navigate what we do and don’t do – and who with – in ways which could affect not only ourselves but those we care for, as well as people we’ll never even meet.

In this illuminating article Shahana Dattagupta outlines why it’s so important that we start to understand the difference between deciding and choosing:

“The difference between decision and choice is terribly significant because it is the difference between surviving and thriving. Our society has become riddled and crippled with decision-making, and we have forgotten to make choices – simple and straight. We have forgotten to be comfortable and confident about what our internal compass tells us”.

These words were actually written long before our current health crisis, but they’ve never been more relevant.

How to thrive, not just survive

If we are to thrive, to emerge stronger from the fog of fear and uncertainty we’re experiencing right now, we need to build our skills for making choices, not just decisions.

The Wheel Of Consent does exactly that. It helps you learn the difference between when you’re willing to do something for the benefit of others, and when you want something truly for yourself. In other words, the difference between making a decision, and a choice. Between surviving and thriving.

Looking after your wellbeing involves more than simply making decisions about minimising risk, it includes learning to make choices that nourish you.

I can help you with that – check out coaching, or courses and workshops with me to find out how.