{"id":83569,"date":"2022-11-06T20:24:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T00:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=83569"},"modified":"2022-11-14T14:19:40","modified_gmt":"2022-11-14T18:19:40","slug":"brave-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/brave-decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Brave Decisions: How to Make Choices Like a Stoic Philosopher"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Should you make a decision<\/a> before you have all of the information? How should you balance risk and safety in the decision-making<\/a> process?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Courage Is Calling<\/em>, Ryan Holiday gives advice on accepting uncertainty and being bold in decision-making in the style of ancient Stoic philosophy. This involves embracing uncertainty<\/a> and making choices before they’re made for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading to learn about making brave decisions, the Stoic way<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Embrace Uncertainty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Holiday argues that courage requires you to be decisive. You can\u2019t predict the future<\/a>, so deliberating about decisions for a long time won\u2019t help. To move forward, you have to accept uncertainty and make brave decisions, trusting that your choices will work out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you\u2019ve always wanted to quit your desk job to run your own business, or you\u2019ve always wanted to live in another country. You may or may not succeed, but Holiday says to do it anyway. Simple, everyday existence brings many risks, so it\u2019s pointless to always prioritize safety. Sometimes you need to sacrifice your security so you can evolve and grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Changing your life<\/a> sometimes requires a leap of faith. Maybe parts of your life are no longer fulfilling, or your current circumstances are no longer meeting your needs. To start down a different path, you have to believe in yourself and trust your vision of who, what, and where you want to be in the future.<\/a> However, you shouldn\u2019t rely on blind faith that everything will work out. Use the strengths, knowledge, and skills you already have to build your new life and draw on support from loved ones to help you in your efforts.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a Choice So It Isn\u2019t Made for You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t spend all your time afraid to make the wrong decision. Instead, have the courage to be bold and decisive.<\/strong> When you spend too long analyzing possible outcomes, Holiday asserts that your inaction chooses for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One example of this would be choosing not to vote in your country\u2019s elections even though you\u2019re eligible. When you don\u2019t vote, you\u2019re essentially choosing the candidates who win and the laws that get passed, regardless of whether you\u2019d have supported them with your vote or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a Pattern of Bold Action<\/strong>

It\u2019s easy to fall into a pattern of inaction. As we\u2019ve discussed, the alternative\u2014being bold and decisive like Holiday suggests\u2014often means we have to leave our comfort zones. If you never leave your comfort zone, you never move forward.

Here are some steps for developing a pattern of making bold choices:<\/a>

1. Think about what the consequences of inaction will be.<\/strong> Ask yourself whether the benefits of taking action will outweigh your reasons not to act.

2. Take accountability for the things you do and the things you don\u2019t<\/em> do.<\/strong> We\u2019re equally responsible for both.

3. Think about what you\u2019d say to a friend in the same situation<\/strong>, and follow your own advice. Examining the situation from the outside might give you some needed objectivity.

4. Listen to your intuition. <\/strong>If you have strong feelings about something, they\u2019ll probably guide you in the right direction.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Not making choices can have dangerous consequences when the stakes of your decisions are high. For example, if you witness injustices in your community and you don\u2019t speak out or act against them, then you\u2019re playing a part in their continued existence. Silence means you choose to accept the current reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Small Decisions Have Big Consequences<\/strong>

In high-stakes situations involving people\u2019s lives and livelihoods, the price of inaction is clear: There\u2019ll be immediate suffering if you make a cowardly choice. However, inaction can also be dangerous when the stakes seem low.

Every day, we face choices that call on us to be brave. You may think choosing the easy route instead of the courageous route once in a while won\u2019t make a difference, but according to the authors of How Will You Measure Your Life?<\/em><\/a>, your integrity is made up of small decisions accumulated over time,<\/a> not just the high-stakes moments.

If you focus only on the short-term cost or benefits of your actions, you\u2019ll fail to grasp their full consequences. Making a cowardly choice one time can easily lead to a pattern of cowardice, so do the right thing all the time<\/em>, no matter the circumstances. For example, if you lie to a friend, you may escape an uncomfortable situation in the short term, but you\u2019re setting up a bigger issue down the road. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Exercise: Start Making Brave Decisions in Your Everyday Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Holiday asserts that the path to a courageous life starts with making small, brave decisions every day. Reflect on how you can start incorporating courageous actions into your<\/em> everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n