I don’t know!
Yes or no, we can’t really say…
The Modern Tarot’s Duchess of Dubiety
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Not all questions have answers. Sometimes the universe simply isn’t ready to release a teaser or a trailer. In such cases, you would probably have to wait and see for further developments before you make any decision. Obviously not all situations lend themselves to a “wait and see” approach. If you absolutely have to make a decision, take this opportunity to at least think about other related factors that you may have not yet fully considered.
Perhaps you could also interpret this image as there being no better or worse option, with all decisions leading to favourable outcomes or all choices leading to the same outcome.
Learn about our tarot yes or no decision maker here.
Bounded Rationality in the decision-making process
There is another possibility to consider. Have you considered all the options? Or is there another route of action available that you haven’t yet considered? We very often make decisions with bounded rationality, hence there could be some value in talking your situation through with trusted friends and family members. They may share a perspective on the situation that you have not considered.
Removing personal bias
Very often, we allow our personal biases to affect out decision making processes. It can become difficult to choose between yes or no, when our personality itself gets in the way of making a fact based judgement. Tools like a SWOT analysis may help with reducing the influence of such influences. But beware that these biases may creep in during the process of executing the SWOT analysis as well.
Decision making tools
There are several decision making tools to consider using:
- SWOT Analysis – Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats Analysis
- Pareto Analysis – Listing problems and the effect of solving them
- Decision Matrix – This tool helps with evaluating choices
- Ishikawa Diagram – Also known as the Cause and Effect Diagram
- The 5 Whys – Literally what it sounds like – just asking why again and again
- PEST Analysis – Taking into consideration various macro factors
- MOST Analysis – Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Tactics
- Catwoe – Helps you understand what you are trying to achieve and the problems that are getting in the way of achievements
- Many more
Not all of these tools will suit every situation and some are more effective than others in given scenarios. Nonetheless, it helps to familiarise yourself with these tools so that you have some level of intuitive understanding of which tools to use when situations arise. Sometimes, you can use multiple tools to compare outcomes. When confluence of outcomes are achieved with multiple tools, you would have a better basis to make a sound decision.
In summary, this is a summary of considerations to go through when you are stuck on a decision:
- Reassess all the options you have considered
- Analyse the difference between the outcomes of all choices
- Get feedback on the issue from people you trust
- Whenever possible, delay the decision making process until more information is available to you
- Ask yourself if you know enough about the situation to make a decision
- Remove personal biases