Evolve, Advance, Transform - Edition 86
Unlocking Creative Decision-Making: Five Habits to Boost Results and Quality of Life
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a cycle of making the same decisions, only to get the same uninspiring results? You’re not alone. The truth is, most of us default to familiar patterns when making choices because it feels safe. But the irony is, playing it safe often holds us back from the very results we’re hoping for. Here’s the good news: by nurturing creativity in your decision-making, you can break free from these patterns, open doors to new possibilities, and ultimately feel better about the outcomes you achieve.
So, how can you become more creative in your choices? It’s not about overhauling your life overnight. Instead, it’s about adopting small, consistent habits that reshape the way you think. Let’s dive into five practical habits that can transform how you approach decisions, helping you create the kind of results that improve your quality of life.
1. Start Asking “What If?”
When it comes to making decisions, we often fall into the same predictable patterns. It’s not because we lack imagination, but because our brains are wired to conserve energy by sticking to what’s familiar. While this instinct keeps us efficient, it can also keep us stuck. That’s where the magic of asking, “What if?” comes in. This simple question has the power to unlock creativity, broaden your perspective, and help you see possibilities that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Asking “What if?” works because it disrupts automatic thinking. It’s like a gentle nudge, urging you to pause and consider alternatives before settling on your usual course of action. Imagine you’re faced with a decision about taking on a new responsibility at work. Your first thought might be to say no because you’re already busy or unsure of your ability to handle it. But what if you asked yourself, “What if I could manage this differently?” Suddenly, you’re opening the door to new ideas—maybe you could delegate some tasks, team up with a colleague, or even approach it as a learning opportunity rather than a burden.
This habit isn’t about jumping to extreme or unrealistic conclusions. It’s about challenging your assumptions in a way that feels empowering. Start by identifying the beliefs that might be holding you back. For instance, if you think, “I don’t have time for this,” try reframing it with, “What if I re-organised my schedule to make time?” Or if your instinct is to believe something won’t work because it’s unfamiliar, ask, “What if I approached this as an experiment?” Even small shifts in perspective can create a ripple effect, leading to choices that feel more aligned with your goals.
One of the most valuable aspects of asking “What if?” is how it encourages exploration. You’re giving yourself permission to play with possibilities, even those that seem far-fetched. For example, if you’re considering a career change, it’s easy to feel paralysed by fear of the unknown. But what if you treated it as a trial instead of a permanent commitment? By asking that simple question, you’re reducing the pressure and allowing yourself to consider the change in a more manageable way.
The beauty of this habit is that it’s easy to integrate into your daily life. Start small by applying it to low-stakes decisions. Let’s say you’re deciding what to cook for dinner. Instead of going for your usual recipes, you might ask, “What if I tried something new and adventurous tonight?” It’s a simple example, but over time, these small acts of curiosity build your confidence in thinking outside the box. Soon, you’ll find it easier to apply the same creativity to bigger, more complex decisions.
To make this a consistent practice, consider carving out time to reflect on your decisions and ask, “What if?” questions as part of your thought process. Journaling can be a powerful tool for this. Take a few minutes each day to write down a decision you’re grappling with, then brainstorm different ways to approach it by asking, “What if?” Another way to cultivate this habit is through visualisation. As you explore different scenarios, close your eyes and imagine what each one might look and feel like. Which option excites you? Which one feels right in your gut?
Asking “What if?” is ultimately about giving yourself the freedom to imagine. It’s about stepping away from rigid patterns and opening yourself up to creativity and possibility. Each time you do this you’re not only building a habit of thinking more creatively but also creating opportunities for results that feel energising and fulfilling. It’s a small change in mindset that can have a profound impact on your quality of life.
2. Experiment with Small Risks
Creativity in decision-making often feels like it’s reserved for big, bold leaps—the kind of risks that make headlines or transform lives overnight. But here’s the truth: creativity doesn’t have to start with grand gestures. It thrives in the small, manageable risks you take every day. When you experiment with stepping just outside your comfort zone, even in tiny ways, you train yourself to see the world differently. Over time, these small risks build the foundation for more innovative, fulfilling decisions.
Think about your daily routines. Most of us stick to familiar patterns because they’re comfortable and predictable. It’s the same with our decision-making. We default to what we know because it feels safer, even if the results don’t quite satisfy us. This is where the habit of experimenting with small risks can work wonders. It’s not about throwing caution to the wind—it’s about dipping your toes into new waters without the fear of being overwhelmed. Small risks are manageable, repeatable, and incredibly effective at sparking creativity.
Let’s say you’re someone who always takes the same route to work. It’s efficient and gets the job done, but it’s also uninspiring. What if, just once, you took a different route? Maybe it’s a slightly longer path through a park or a scenic detour that allows you to discover something new. While this might seem trivial, the act of deliberately choosing the unfamiliar creates an opportunity for fresh experiences. You might notice things you’ve never seen before or even arrive at work in a more energised state of mind. It’s a simple example, but it illustrates how small shifts in behaviour can open the door to new perspectives.
The same principle applies to decisions that feel a bit more significant. Imagine you’ve been sitting on an idea at work but haven’t shared it because you’re worried about how it will be received. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment or mustering the courage for a high-stakes presentation, why not share it casually with a trusted colleague? By taking this smaller risk, you reduce the pressure and give yourself the chance to refine your idea in a supportive environment. Over time, these smaller acts of bravery build your confidence, making it easier to take on bigger challenges.
One of the keys to experimenting with small risks is reframing your mindset around failure. Many of us avoid risks, even small ones, because we’re afraid of things going wrong. But what if you viewed these experiments as opportunities to learn, rather than succeed or fail? If you try a new approach and it doesn’t work out, it’s not a loss—it’s data. It’s feedback that you can use to adjust and improve. Every time you step outside your comfort zone, whether the outcome is positive or not, you gain valuable insights that shape your future decisions.
To make this habit part of your everyday life, start by identifying areas where you feel stuck or uninspired. Is there something you’ve been avoiding because it feels too daunting? Break it down into smaller, less intimidating steps. For instance, if you’ve been thinking about pursuing a new hobby but feel overwhelmed by the idea of committing to it, try attending a single class or watching a beginner tutorial online. Taking that first small step makes the decision feel less monumental and opens the door to progress.
Another way to integrate small risks is by making them part of your routine. You don’t have to wait for a big decision to test your creativity. Try something new in your daily activities—order a dish you’ve never tried at your favourite restaurant, start a conversation with someone you wouldn’t usually talk to, or tackle a task at work in a slightly different way. These minor changes may seem insignificant at first, but they add up, gradually rewiring your brain to embrace uncertainty and think more creatively.
The beauty of experimenting with small risks is that it doesn’t require a complete personality overhaul. It’s a habit you can build slowly, step by step, at your own pace. As you become more comfortable with these little acts of courage, you’ll find that bigger decisions don’t feel quite as intimidating. You’ll approach them with the same spirit of curiosity and openness, knowing that even if things don’t go exactly as planned, you’ll still gain something valuable from the experience.
In the end, creativity in decision-making isn’t about being fearless—it’s about being willing to take small, intentional steps into the unknown. Those small risks, repeated consistently, have a way of adding up to extraordinary results. So, what’s one small risk you could take today? Try it—you might just surprise yourself.
3. Make Reflection a Daily Ritual
In a world that moves at breakneck speed, it’s all too easy to rush from one decision to the next without stopping to reflect. You tick items off your to-do list, handle challenges as they come, and keep pushing forward, often without considering whether your choices are serving you well. But here’s the thing: reflection is where the real magic happens. It’s in those moments of pause that you uncover patterns, learn from past decisions, and lay the groundwork for more thoughtful, creative choices in the future.
Making reflection a daily ritual is a transformative habit. It’s not about overthinking every decision you’ve made but about carving out intentional time to assess how things are going. Think of it as hitting the pause button in the chaos of daily life to ask yourself, “What worked well today? What didn’t? And what can I take away from this?” By doing this regularly, you create space for growth, allowing your creativity to flourish and your decision-making to evolve.
The beauty of reflection is that it doesn’t require hours of your day. Even a few minutes of focused thought can yield powerful insights. Imagine, at the end of the day, sitting quietly with a cup of tea and asking yourself a simple question: “What decisions did I make today, and how did they make me feel?” You might realise that the decision to prioritise a certain task brought you a sense of accomplishment, or perhaps a conversation you avoided left you feeling uneasy. These moments of clarity are like breadcrumbs, guiding you toward a deeper understanding of yourself and your choices.
Reflection also helps you spot patterns in your decision-making. For example, you might notice that you often avoid taking risks because you’re afraid of failure, or that you feel most satisfied when your decisions align with your values. Once you identify these patterns, you can start to address them intentionally. If fear of failure is holding you back, reflection gives you the opportunity to reframe it as a learning experience. If aligning with your values brings you joy, you can focus on making decisions that honour those priorities.
One of the most effective ways to build a reflection habit is through journaling. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate—a few sentences or bullet points can be enough. You might start by jotting down a quick recap of your day, focusing on the decisions you made and their outcomes. Ask yourself open-ended questions like, “What could I have done differently?” or “What did I learn about myself today?” Over time, these journal entries become a valuable resource, a map of your growth and an archive of lessons learned.
Another powerful way to reflect is through conversation. Sometimes, talking things through with someone you trust can reveal insights you might not have discovered on your own. Whether it’s a close friend, a mentor, or even a coach, sharing your experiences and getting their perspective can deepen your understanding of your own decision-making process. They might ask questions you hadn’t considered or offer observations that challenge you to think differently.
If you’re someone who struggles to slow down, consider integrating reflection into an existing routine. You might reflect during your commute, while you’re washing the dishes, or before you go to sleep at night. It doesn’t matter when or where you do it—the key is to make it a consistent practice. Over time, you’ll find that these moments of introspection become second nature, a built-in pause that helps you reset and recalibrate.
Reflection also fosters appreciation, which is a powerful motivator for creative thinking. When you take the time to acknowledge what’s going well, you shift your focus from problems to possibilities. Appreciation doesn’t mean ignoring challenges; it means recognising the wins, no matter how small, and using them as a foundation to build on. For instance, if a decision you made turned out well, reflecting on it helps you understand why it worked, making it easier to replicate that success in the future.
The more you reflect, the more you’ll find that it’s not just a habit—it’s a form of self-care. It’s a way of telling yourself, “My growth matters. My decisions matter.” And as you deepen this practice, you’ll notice a shift in how you approach life’s challenges. Decisions won’t feel so rushed or reactive; instead, they’ll come from a place of clarity and purpose. This clarity is what fuels creativity, helping you to see opportunities where others see obstacles and to make choices that genuinely improve your quality of life.
So, as you move through your day, remember that reflection isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. It’s the pause that empowers you to move forward with confidence and creativity. By taking the time to reflect, you’re not just looking back; you’re setting the stage for a future filled with thoughtful, intentional decisions that align with who you are and what you want to achieve.
4. Surround Yourself with Diverse Perspectives
When it comes to making creative decisions, one of the most powerful resources you can tap into is the perspective of others. The people you surround yourself with have a significant influence on how you think and approach challenges. If you’re always engaging with people who think and act like you, it’s easy to fall into an echo chamber where new ideas are scarce. But when you invite diverse perspectives into your life, you unlock fresh ways of thinking that can lead to innovative and more fulfilling decisions.
Imagine your mind as a room. If you’re always furnishing it with the same kinds of ideas, it starts to feel a bit stale. But when you bring in new influences, it’s like opening the windows and letting in a breeze. Suddenly, you see possibilities you hadn’t considered before. This is what happens when you engage with people who come from different backgrounds, have different life experiences, or hold different viewpoints. They challenge your assumptions, spark your curiosity, and expand your capacity for creative decision-making.
Think about a time when you had a conversation with someone whose perspective surprised you. Maybe they offered a solution to a problem that had never crossed your mind, or perhaps they challenged an idea you’d taken for granted. These moments are often uncomfortable, but they’re also where growth happens. For example, if you’ve always approached a career challenge with a traditional mindset, speaking to someone from a completely different industry might inspire you to try something unconventional. These kinds of interactions push you to think beyond the limits of your own experiences and see problems—and solutions—through a wider lens.
Diverse perspectives don’t just come from people, though. They can also come from the media you consume. Reading books, watching films, or listening to podcasts that expose you to new cultures, ideas, and philosophies can have a profound impact on your creativity. For instance, a novel set in a different part of the world might spark an idea for how to approach a project at work, or a podcast on an unrelated topic might inspire a fresh solution to a personal challenge. When you seek out diversity in what you consume, you’re feeding your mind with new material to draw from when making decisions.
Building a habit of surrounding yourself with diverse perspectives doesn’t mean abandoning the people you’re comfortable with or the content you already love. It’s about intentionally broadening your circle and making space for new influences. Start small. If your social circle is mostly made up of people who share similar views, consider attending events or joining groups where you can meet others with different experiences. You might strike up a conversation with someone from a different field or culture, or even someone at a different stage of life. These interactions don’t have to be profound to be impactful; sometimes, even a casual chat can leave you with a fresh idea or a new way of looking at a problem.
Another way to bring diversity into your decision-making process is to actively seek out feedback from others. When you’re facing a decision, ask people with varying perspectives for their input. For example, if you’re considering a career move, you might consult a mentor who knows the industry, a friend who’s made a similar leap, and a family member who can offer an outsider’s perspective. Each person will bring their own unique lens, helping you see the decision from angles you might not have considered on your own.
It’s also worth reflecting on how you respond to differing perspectives. Do you dismiss ideas that feel unfamiliar, or do you stay open to the possibility that they might hold value? Cultivating curiosity is key. When someone shares a viewpoint that challenges your own, try asking questions instead of immediately defending your position. You might be surprised at how much you can learn simply by being willing to listen and understand.
Of course, surrounding yourself with diverse perspectives doesn’t mean you have to take every suggestion or adopt every idea. The goal isn’t to dilute your own voice or values but to enrich them with input that makes your decisions more informed and creative. Think of it as gathering tools for your decision-making toolkit. Each new perspective adds a tool you can use to approach challenges in different ways, helping you craft solutions that are both innovative and authentic to who you are.
The impact of this habit extends far beyond individual decisions. Over time, as you make a conscious effort to engage with diverse perspectives, you’ll find that your thinking becomes more flexible and adaptable. You’ll approach challenges with greater curiosity and less fear, knowing that there are countless ways to tackle a problem. And most importantly, you’ll find yourself making decisions that feel more inspired and fulfilling because they’re shaped by a rich tapestry of ideas, experiences, and viewpoints.
So, take a moment to look at your circle and your habits. Are you exposing yourself to enough diversity in thought and experience? If not, consider taking one small step today—whether it’s reaching out to someone new, picking up a book from a different genre, or listening to a podcast that challenges your usual thinking. The more you open yourself up to diverse perspectives, the more creative and empowered your decision-making will become.
5. Play Before You Decide
When was the last time you allowed yourself to play? For many of us, play gets left behind in childhood, replaced by the seriousness of adult responsibilities. But here’s the thing: play isn’t just about fun—it’s a crucial ingredient for creativity. When you approach life with a sense of playfulness, you unlock a mindset that’s open, flexible, and unafraid to experiment. This is exactly the kind of mindset you need to make creative, fulfilling decisions.
Play, in the context of decision-making, doesn’t mean being frivolous or careless. It means giving yourself permission to step away from rigid, problem-solving modes of thinking and engage with ideas in a freer, more exploratory way. Think about it—some of your best ideas probably came to you when you were relaxed, joking around, or doing something completely unrelated to the task at hand. That’s because play creates a mental space where you’re not bogged down by fear of failure or pressure to perform. Instead, you’re free to explore possibilities, no matter how unconventional or “silly” they might seem at first.
Let’s say you’re grappling with a big decision, like whether to take on a new project or pursue a career change. The natural inclination is to approach it analytically, weighing pros and cons or listing potential risks and rewards. While there’s value in this kind of structured thinking, it can also box you in, leaving little room for creativity. Now, imagine approaching the same decision with a playful mindset. What if you brainstormed as though you were inventing a game? What if you drew a mind map, doodled your thoughts, or role-played scenarios as if you were trying on different possibilities? Suddenly, the decision feels less like a burden and more like an adventure.
One of the most effective ways to tap into playfulness is through physical activity. Movement has a way of loosening mental knots, helping you think more creatively. For instance, taking a walk, dancing, or even tossing a ball around can shift your perspective and make space for fresh ideas to appear. Many people swear by the clarity that comes from stepping away from their desk and engaging in something active—it’s as though the body’s movement jolts the brain into a more playful, open state.
Another way to incorporate play is by approaching problems as experiments. Instead of aiming for the “right” answer or perfect outcome, treat your decision as a chance to try something new and see what happens. For example, if you’re deciding how to improve your daily routine, you might ask, “What if I approached my day like a puzzle, where the goal is to fit the pieces together in the most enjoyable way?” This mindset turns a potentially stressful decision into a creative challenge, where the focus is on exploration rather than perfection.
Children are masters of play because they don’t judge their ideas—they just run with them. Adopting this same non-judgmental attitude can be incredibly liberating. If you find yourself dismissing ideas as “silly” or “impractical,” take a step back and ask yourself, “What’s the harm in exploring it anyway?” Often, the most creative solutions come from ideas that seemed outlandish at first. For instance, if you’re trying to save money but still want to enjoy a holiday, brainstorming playful alternatives like a themed staycation or a camping adventure might lead to a solution that’s both creative and satisfying.
Play can also be a collaborative experience. Engaging with others in a playful way—whether through games, brainstorming sessions, or creative activities—often leads to ideas you wouldn’t have come up with on your own. For example, if you’re part of a team at work, consider hosting a “what if” brainstorming session where everyone throws out ideas without fear of judgement. By creating an atmosphere of play, you allow for a flow of ideas that’s spontaneous and uninhibited, often leading to solutions that feel innovative and exciting.
The habit of playfulness is something you can cultivate over time. Start by giving yourself permission to experiment without an end goal in mind. Maybe you try sketching your thoughts in a journal, building something with your hands, or playing a game with friends or family. Whatever form it takes, the key is to approach the activity with curiosity and openness, letting go of the need to be “productive” or “correct.”
Over time, you’ll notice that this playful mindset starts to spill over into other areas of your life. Decisions that once felt heavy or intimidating will seem more like opportunities to explore and grow. You’ll find yourself more willing to take creative risks because you’ve experienced firsthand that play isn’t about achieving a perfect outcome—it’s about discovering what’s possible.
Ultimately, play reconnects you with the joy of creativity. It reminds you that decision-making doesn’t have to be a serious, high-stakes endeavour; it can be a process of experimentation, discovery, and even fun. So, the next time you’re faced with a decision, take a moment to pause and ask yourself, “How can I bring a sense of play to this?” You might be surprised by the clarity and inspiration that follows.
By adopting these five habits, you’ll notice a shift in the way you approach choices. Instead of feeling trapped or uncertain, you’ll begin to see decision-making as an opportunity to create, experiment, and grow. With each creative choice you make, you’ll not only increase your chances of achieving results that feel good but also improve your overall quality of life. The ripple effects are powerful—when you think differently, you live differently.