Explore the impact of big decisions on our lives through personal stories of breast cancer treatment and reconnecting with a birth mother. Learn how evaluating decision importance and improving decision-making process can minimize regret. Empowering women to take control of their lives is also emphasized.
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Quick takeaways
Prioritizing long-term health and making decisions that align with personal values is essential when facing difficult choices, such as opting for a mastectomy over a lumpectomy in the case of a breast cancer diagnosis.
Spending time reflecting and considering potential outcomes before making a decision can lead to more positive evaluations, while quickly made decisions, especially those with negative consequences, tend to be evaluated more negatively.
Deep dives
Making Life-Saving Decisions: Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy
When faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, Meagan had to make a difficult decision between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. While a lumpectomy would require radiation therapy, a mastectomy offered the possibility of avoiding radiation. Ultimately, Meagan prioritized her long-term health and chose the mastectomy. She also made arrangements with her surgeon to remove the other breast after completing the treatment. Although concerned about the impact on her sexuality, Meagan gained a strong sense of her own voice and made the decision that was right for her.
Understanding the Process of Making Big Life Decisions
Consumer psychologist Dr. Adrian Camillary researched big life decisions and found that the most commonly mentioned decisions included starting a new job, getting married, pursuing a degree, having a child, and buying a home. He also discovered that self-developmental decisions tend to be evaluated most positively, even though they require time and effort. Furthermore, the research highlighted the importance of spending time reflecting and considering potential outcomes before making a decision, as decisions made quickly, particularly self-destructive choices like committing a crime, tend to be evaluated more negatively.
Dealing with Regret: Action vs. Inaction
Regret is a common emotion associated with big decisions. Dr. Camillary's research showed that people tend to regret actions in the short term, such as making regretful comments or engaging in impulsive purchases. However, over time, they tend to regret inaction more, such as not pursuing romantic relationships or not taking a chance to travel. The research emphasized the importance of reflecting on the positives and opportunities that could have resulted from taking action, rather than focusing solely on the potential downsides.
Career, family, relationships - how do we think about big decisions and in turn how do they shape our lives? And what makes a 'good decision?'
On All in the Mind this week, we hear from three people who have faced big life decisions and an expert who researches life's choices and how we can make better ones.
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