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" Because I&amp;#039;m determined to get the most happiness bang for my buck, whenever I have a decision to make I try to gauge whether a certain choice is going to bring me more joy. That requires thinking through different aspects of happiness and which ingredients might matter more, depending on the decision at hand. We&amp;#039;ve all made pro-and-con lists and had endless discussions with friends, colleagues, and family. Sometimes, though, it helps to have another way to look at a tough decision. Here are six questions I ask myself when making one. 1. Will this strengthen my relationships? They&amp;#039;re one crucial key to happiness, so decisions that help me build or strengthen ties are the best choices. Yes, it&amp;#039;s a bit of a hassle and expense to go to a friend&amp;#039;s wedding, but being part of important events in someone else&amp;#039;s life is a way to show how much you value the relationship. The payoff is a stronger bond, shared memories \u2014 a well of good feelings. 2. Will it provide challenge and novelty?  Research shows that these two elements make people happier \u2014 even unadventurous, cautious ones like me \u2014 because they provide opportunities for mastery. But these things can also make us feel insecure, intimidated, frustrated, and stupid. To get past that hurdle, I try to keep in mind that in the end, I usually get a big shot of happiness from new, challenging endeavors. When I considered adding video to my blog, for example, I reminded myself that mastering the process would likely make me happier by broadening my definition of what I was capable of and leading to new relationships (see question 1). I confess that I still feel kind of goofy talking into the camera, but the reward has definitely been worth the effort. 3. What is the opportunity cost? Energy, time, and money are limited, so even if a decision would make you happy, it might not be worth it if it would mean you&amp;#039;d have to give up other activities you love. For example, I could learn to play a musical instrument or speak French, but pursuing either activity would require me to direct resources away from other things I&amp;#039;d rather do. 4. Will this decision help me stay true to myself?  You&amp;#039;re happiest when your life reflects your temperament, interests, and values. Ask yourself: Am I making this decision to impress others, pretend I&amp;#039;m different from the person I actually am, or deny a truth about myself? If you answer yes, move on. 5. When I consider this action, how do I feel? This question is often a quick and reliable barometer of whether to do something or not. If you feel a surge of energy, that&amp;#039;s usually a good sign. If not\u2026you get the idea. 6. Will this option help me to &amp;quot;choose the bigger life&amp;quot;? What is &amp;quot;the bigger life&amp;quot;? That&amp;#039;s the beauty of this question: Everyone&amp;#039;s definition is different. Consider a very work-driven person who is offered a big job promotion, but also has a dream of moving to Italy for a year. By asking herself this question, she might gain new insights about what is really important to her. There&amp;#039;s no right or wrong answer \u2014 only what&amp;#039;s true for you. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/advice/a19269/tough-decision-easier/?src=shelter_footer>