Life Skills & Leadership: Unit 2, Session 3: Making Decisions | Page 40 of 127A. Whole Body Decisions
Participants learn a process for making decisions that encourages consideration of multiple factors.
- Introduce the different factors involved in making decisions. Display Flip chart 1: Decisions. Say:
“In the previous demonstration, we saw how there are a number of factors we rely upon to make
decisions. We consider the logic, our emotions, social rules, and our goals. I’d like to suggest a way for
you to remember all these factors.“We can think of different parts of our body to help us remember the different factors when making a
decision.”- Show Flip chart 2: Stick Figure (drawing of a stick figure person with parts labeled) and distribute
Handout 1: Making Decisions.
“To remember the logical, thinking aspect of making decisions, picture your head. That’s where your
thinking begins. Ask yourself questions like these:
Is it right?
Does it make sense?
What does my experience tell me about this?
How much does it cost?
Is it safe?“To remember the emotional aspect of making decisions, picture your heart. That’s the center of your
feelings. Ask yourself:
How do I feel about it?
Do I have pains in my stomach when I think about this decision?
What are my instincts telling me?“To remember the social aspect of making decisions, visualize your hands. We use our hands to greet
other people or to help them out. So before you make a decision, think about ...
Who might help you with advice?
Who might be affected by your decision?
What do other people expect?
Who will approve or disapprove?“To remember the role our goals fit in making decisions, think about your hopes for the future. In this
flip chart, I’ve drawn some wings (or a cloud bubble) to represent the dreams and hopes for a better
life. When making a decision, ask yourself ...
How will it affect me in the long term?
Will it help me reach my goal?
Will it help me be a better person?“It’s important to know which factors you are using to make a decision. For example, if you use only
your head and ignore what your heart tells you, you may not be as happy in the end.