Monday, February 27, 2012

Processing Advice - Prayed, Weighed, and Saved

Advice. We all get it, but how do we make our decisions when so much is contradictory? I've come up with a 3-part process that helps me decide what actions to take.

Prayed

Before I go to anyone else, I pray. Yes, there's wisdom in many counselors, but I need to go to the Greatest Counselor and the scriptures.

When I'm facing major decisions, I don't go to just anyone. I go to people I know who pray and who understand me both as a person and as a writer.






Weighed


Recently, I requested input on a certain matter. Each person I approached brought up things I hadn't considered. Their thoughts gave me additional information to sort through and make a decision.




Saved

I tucked away their comments in my memory bank. Further research and more prayer helped me reach the answer I needed.

Writers & Readers: How do you make important decisions regarding your writing and your life? Do you have any other methods to share with us?



I couldn't resist this cute piggy bank. :)

Photos: bjearwicke, kirsche222




14 comments:

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Oh I like your method. I tend to sit on it (which is the equivalent of praying and weighing) for at least three days.

~ Wendy

Linda O'Connell said...

What a cute post! Good method too.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Wendy - I've found making a hasty decision often means disaster. If I'm being pressured, the warning flags go up.

Hi Linda - Thanks on both counts!

Blessings,
Susan :)

Karen Lange said...

Very good method! I appreciate this reminder to start the week!
Blessings,
Karen

Rhonda Schrock said...

I think you covered the bases, Susan. Very well! You boiled it down to the basics.

My husband is my top (human) advisor. I am so thankful, then, for the others God has put in my life that I trust to tell me the truth. That really is a priceless gift.

Blessings, friend.

Loree Huebner said...

I pray and weigh too!

Cindy R. Wilson said...

This is a good process. I find I tend to make decisions about my writing career faster than personal decisions and I think it would be smart to take a bigger step back from those issues and do more praying.

Nancy said...

I like this very much. I may go to someone for prayer, but it is after I have prayed on my own first. I like your idea of saving the output from others. Sometimes something they say will apply later to another problem. I usually date and write down these brief prayer times. When I find the note later, something jumps off the paper that I can use.

JD said...

Good method, Susan.

As to how I make important decisions, I pray on it and seek the advice of people whose opinion I respect. I also make a list of pros and cons to try and see the situation more objectively.

Have a great week. :-)

Sarah Forgrave said...

A very wise method, Susan. :) I love getting input from others, but I do try to limit the number of people I confide in. Sometimes too many voices can cloud the waters.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Karen - Thanks for popping in!

Hi Rhonda - I try not to get complicated, but keep everything easy to understand. :)

Hi Loree - Yay for praying and weighing!

Hi Cindy - That's an interesting point. We may use a decision-making method in one area of our lives but forget to apply it to our writing.

Hi Nancy - If I don't write things down, they slip away. It's a good practice and part of my journaling.

Hi Janette - Yes, I've also written down the pros and cons. Someone seeing things on paper helps me focus.

Hi Sarah - Another good point. Also, some people have more expertise in an area than others.

Blessings,
Susan :)

quietspirit said...

Susan:
This is a good formula for making decisions. I try to use the prayer aspect. I need to weigh things against the needs I have and the needs of my family. I only have a few people I can talk to about personal issues.

Chatty Crone said...

This is a lot of good advice. sandie

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Sandy -

Thanks. I hope you found it helpful.

Blessings,
Susan :)