When Not to Make a Decision

There are certain times when it is prudent to avoid decision-making. We must be very careful that our choices and actions are not derailed by powerful emotions. As Sirach says, “never act in a fit of passion” (10:6).

Don’t rethink a decision when you’re in the process of carrying it out. In general, you should take the time to deliberate but once you’ve made the choice put your hand to the plow and don’t look back.

Every decision involves uncertainty and the risk of failure. If you wait until you’ve perfectly proven the right thing to do, you’ll never do anything. So, remember you are not God and can’t be perfect; Do your best to understand the situation; Make a decision; Take action; then abandon the rest to God for God works all things for good for those who trust Him.

A prudent person will-whenever possible-avoid making a decision while he is angry. So, for instance, if you’re really angry, try not to make a decision. Don’t say anything when you’re angry, and for the love of God, don’t shoot off a text or email or post anything when you’re angry. Don’t make decisions, especially about what to say or what to write when you’re angry.

St. Thomas Aquinas says lust derails good decision making more than anything else. Lust prevents a person from thinking well. If you don’t think well it means you don’t judge well and that means you don’t make good decisions - so don’t make decisions, especially don’t make decisions that could have long term impacts in lust.

Finally, it’s a bad idea to make decisions when we are discouraged or down because we are sick, or suffered a failure, or fallen in sin, or made a stupid move; all these things discourage us, and so we should avoid decisions during such times.

Recognize when strong emotions are at play and don’t make important decisions based on them.