Making Decisions

Making Decisions

So Emily has asked me to make a few posts on our blog and so I thought I would share my experience this week. Per a previous post, we had tickets to the U2 concert on Tuesday and everything was lined up with Emily's sister to watch Dawson. For some reason as we were driving to the babysitter, neither of us felt good about dropping Dawson off, not only with Emily's sister, but with anyone. We don't know the reason why but it was a feeling neither of us could or should push out of our minds.

Being the amazing wife that Emily is, she encouraged me to go to the concert and that she would take Dawson home. She said not to worry about it as she would go home and have a fun evening with Dawson and I could enjoy the concert with my best guy friend and his wife, who bought tickets next to us. I felt a measure of peace about going, but still a little hesitation, so I decided to go.

So Emily dropped me off at the Trax station in Midvale and turned around and went home. Once I got on the trax train, it was packed with eager fans ready to go to the concert. At this point I should have been feeling more peace about my decision, but I started to really feel like I could not go to this concert without Emily. As sweet and selfless as it was for her to suggest for me to go and be there with my friends, while she took care of Dawson, I all of a sudden did not care about seeing U2 anymore. I just wanted to either do it together as a couple or not at all. Since the train was headed up to the University Stadium, I figured I would at least sell my tickets to someone, get our money back, and then head home.

You would think that once I got up to the Stadium it would be hard to turn around and go home. After all, Emily had already called and said that she got home safe, told me she was going to have a movie and cupcake night with Dawson and told me to call once the concert was over.

I sat down on the grass just outside of the stadium and sought to determine what I was feeling inside. I just kept feeling peace about not going to the concert. Logically it would have made sense to go, as I was there, but my heart was not there anymore and I just felt more peace about passing it up.

I quickly sought out the first scalper that I could find, and offered them my tickets. He gave us face value for the tickets, which means we came out even, not losing or gaining. Once I sold those tickets, I had an amazing sense of peace come about me, as I knew that I had done what was right, even though my mind could have easily convinced me to just go to the concert.

As I walked away from the stadium, I just couldn't wait to get on that Trax train and head home. Because I was so glad that I had made the decision that I did, I didn't even pay attention to what trax train I jumped on. It turned out that instead of heading south where I needed to go, it took me north, right into downtown across from Temple Square. I realized that I needed to jump off and pick the train heading south.

Once I got off the train, I sat down on a bench for a second to ponder all that had taken place. It was an extremely pleasant spring evening, with a slight breeze passing through the tall buildings downtown. Not only that but for some reason, there were hardly any people downtown. It almost felt like I had the city to myself. I decided to walk across the street and stroll through Temple Square before the next trax train came. It was such a peaceful night and I felt so blessed to be there. The sun was starting to set and it was reflecting off of all of the buildings around me.

I decided to say a quiet prayer to myself and thank my Heavenly Father for giving me the strength to make decisions. As I sat there by a fountain, my mind started wandering off and I started thinking about decisions. Sometimes I have struggled when making tough decisions. I am a very logical person, and so I tend to sway towards what is logical and that is not always the correct path to take. As I sat there, I prayed again that I may learn to be stronger in making decisions, so that I may guide my family safely through this life.

As I prayed, I started to get lots of thoughts coming into my mind. So many that I decided to pull out my phone and write them down so that I didn't forget them.

What was going to be a few minutes in Temple Square turned into over an hour of peaceful meditation and inspiration. I am not one to normally receive inspiration on the spot, but the combination of where I was, and my heart and mind being open, allowed me to understand the words that were being spoken to me inside my mind.

I wanted to post the thoughts that I felt that evening. Although I know that these came to me to specifically help me in making better decisions, I know that they apply to most people as well.

Here is what I wrote down while at Temple Square..

- Dan

How to make better decisions

1. Clear my mind
2. Be calm
3. Lean not unto thine own understanding (emotions)
4. Take care of my health so as not to be tired or hungry when I need to make a decision.
5. Do not rush and do not delay a decision
6. Study it out in your mind and take the emotion out of it  (put your heart on the shelf).
7. Do the right thing always. Not what you want, or what your heart is set upon. Do the right thing always.
8. Decisions are made well in advance of when you are confronted with the situation.

Do not take into account others feelings or desires when making a personal decision. Listen only to your own feelings (not emotions) and then have God confirm your decision.

Making a decision while emotional is never a good idea. If you listen to your emotions, you can be steered in the wrong direction.

Have confidence in yourself, but more importantly have confidence in God.

If you don't ask, how can God help?

Making decisions is like flexing a muscle. The more good decisions you make the stronger your ability becomes.

If you don't move, then you will be moved upon.

All in all, go confidently in the direction of your dreams with God at the helm.