Choosing Options
Choosing Options
The point is, we always have options as to what we will do. Often, we don’t explore those options or even acknowledge that they exist. Our tendency is to take the most obvious course of action without a great deal thought as to what else could be done.
Exploring options can lead to creative use of our time and creative solutions to problems. Instead of taking the first idea that comes to mind, we could ask ourselves the question: “What else?” That question stretches our thinking, it challenges us to look for other ways of doing things. And don’t go for just one other option - stretch, do mental aerobics, push yourself and try to come up with at least three options. And then ask: “What else?” When you feel you have come up with all possible options, go for one more. There is always one more lying around waiting to be called on.
Allow your creative muse to help generate options. Brainstorm. Brainstorming means writing down every thought that comes to mind, even if it seems a bit off the wall. Some of the best solutions to problems have started as “off the wall” thoughts. When the storm subsides, look through your list and start exploring your options.
Generating options is a creative process, so do creative things. Write down anything that comes into your head. Draw, or just “doodle”, scribble around with a pencil, look out the window and enjoy the view, or mentally rearrange the view – allowing the mind to relax and giving it permission to be creative brings thoughts to the surface.
Once you are sure you have all the options on the table, begin to explore each one of them. Drill down into each one, looking at the pro’s and cons, the consequences of going with that option and the consequences of not going with it. Prioritise the options starting with those that most attract you – and from there begin to choose your course of action.
You have chosen to read this article to the very end. I’m sure you thought of all your options and decided that this was the best way to use your time. Now, what are you going to do next?
Choosing Options - To learn more about this author, visit Jonathan Payne's Website.
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You decided to spend this particular moment reading this article. It makes me so happy that you choose to spend your time reading what I have written, but I wonder how many other options you had. You could be doing something else. Perhaps I could ask why you are reading this article. Is it because your eye happened to fall on it? Or is it because you are a regular reader mine (now that would really make me happy – you should meet my other regular reader!)? Perhaps you have nothing else to do – or perhaps you have plenty of other things to do, so you are taking the avoidance route.
The point is, we always have options as to what we will do. Often, we don’t explore those options or even acknowledge that they exist. Our tendency is to take the most obvious course of action without a great deal thought as to what else could be done.
Exploring options can lead to creative use of our time and creative solutions to problems. Instead of taking the first idea that comes to mind, we could ask ourselves the question: “What else?” That question stretches our thinking, it challenges us to look for other ways of doing things. And don’t go for just one other option - stretch, do mental aerobics, push yourself and try to come up with at least three options. And then ask: “What else?” When you feel you have come up with all possible options, go for one more. There is always one more lying around waiting to be called on.
Allow your creative muse to help generate options. Brainstorm. Brainstorming means writing down every thought that comes to mind, even if it seems a bit off the wall. Some of the best solutions to problems have started as “off the wall” thoughts. When the storm subsides, look through your list and start exploring your options.
Generating options is a creative process, so do creative things. Write down anything that comes into your head. Draw, or just “doodle”, scribble around with a pencil, look out the window and enjoy the view, or mentally rearrange the view – allowing the mind to relax and giving it permission to be creative brings thoughts to the surface.
Once you are sure you have all the options on the table, begin to explore each one of them. Drill down into each one, looking at the pro’s and cons, the consequences of going with that option and the consequences of not going with it. Prioritise the options starting with those that most attract you – and from there begin to choose your course of action.
You have chosen to read this article to the very end. I’m sure you thought of all your options and decided that this was the best way to use your time. Now, what are you going to do next?
Choosing Options - To learn more about this author, visit Jonathan Payne's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
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 Jonathan Payne (Visit Jonathan's Website) Jonathan Payne has spent years studying and working with human behaviour and has facilitated numerous seminars in personal effectiveness. He is a management and executive coach, a professional speaker, a facilitator of workshops and seminars for businesses in effective performance, a personality profiling practitioner and a regular columnist in the local press. Jonathan holds memberships of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa, Coaches and Mentors of South Africa and the Association of Psychological Type International.You can contact him at jo nathan@livingways.co.za or visit his website at www.livingway s.co.za
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