One of the reasons that we feel tired at night is the sheer number of decisions we make during the course of the day. Some of them are not of great consequence (Should I do laundry today or tomorrow?), while others carry more weight (How shall I respond to that request from my colleague or family member? Can I afford to get a new phone?), and others are of the utmost importance (Should I change jobs/career? Should I get married?).
As you may know, Ignatius of Loyola (whose feast day was July 31) developed a set of “Spiritual Exercises” expressly to help people to make tough decisions − especially those that are life-changing, such as entering into marriage or the religious life. Although he was writing in the 16th century, many of his insights can feel quite modern to our ears today, and they make sense whether you are making a momentous decision or one that is more garden-variety (such as what to plant in your garden!).
Although going through the full set of Exercises is ideal for the weightiest decisions, Ignatius has some thought experiments for simpler decisions when you don’t have strong feelings one way or another. First, you could weigh the pros and cons. Or you could think about what advice you would give to a friend who was in the same situation. You also might imagine that you were on your deathbed – what will you wish you had done? Similarly, you might envision talking to Jesus at the end of your life − what would he have wanted you to do? And lastly, Ignatius recommends walking around for a day or so as if you had already made the decision one way or the other and noticing how it feels. Finally, Ignatius recommends prayer, asking for God’s confirmation of whatever decision you have made.
I hope that Ignatius’ sage advice will help you with whatever decisions you must make today!
