Navigating life's crossroads – Effective approach to decision making

Ningthoujam Ingocha Singh
Contd from previous issue
Applying the WRAP model (Attain Distance), he asks himself what advice he would give a best friend in the same situation. The answer is clear—mental health matters more than parental expectations.
Next, he conducts a Reality Test. His assumption is, “My parents will never forgive me if I quit.” To challenge this, he must have a difficult but necessary conversation with them about his mental health and the sunk cost of the last three years.
Through the 10-10-10 reflection, he weighs the impact across time horizons:
• In 10 minutes, he feels intense fear of quitting.
• In 10 months, he may experience relief from the cycle of exam anxiety.
• In 10 years, if he forces MBBS, he risks being a miserable doctor; if he pivots, he could thrive in a field he truly enjoys.
Case Study C: Jorshika (The Relationship Dilemma)
Jorshika faces a dilemma: whether to prioritize her relationship or her competitive exam.
Using the WRAP model (Prepare to be Wrong), she acknowledges that pausing the relationship to focus on her studies may risk a breakup. Yet, if the bond is genuine, it will withstand a temporary shift in focus.
A Reality Test reveals that his possessiveness is already disrupting her studies, suggesting the relationship is currently a liability to her goals. Through the 10-10-10 reflection, she weighs the consequences across time horizons:
• In 10 minutes, she will feel heartbreak and loneliness.
• In 10 months, failing the exam could lead to resentment, while passing it would bring independence.
• In 10 years, she is more likely to regret sacrificing economic independence for a teenage romance than to regret a breakup.
From Anxiety to Opportunity : Sonia’s parents, Johnson, and Jorshika remind us that decisions are rarely simple—they are layered with values, expectations, and emotions.
However, using the Seven-Step Process combined with WRAP and 10-10-10 allows us to move from "reacting" to "deciding." We may still face difficult choices, but we can face them without the paralysis of uncertainty. When we choose with awareness, we craft life stories filled not with regret, but with meaning, dignity, and hope.
To learn more about effectively using the seven- step process, common psychological biases (decision villains), WRAP model, and 10-10-10 reflection tool, feel free to write to ingochacni@gmail.com.
*All three stories are drawn from real-life experiences. Names have been changed to protect privacy.
 The author is a co-founder of Leibaklei Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management & Labour Rela- tions from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. He has over 13 years of experience across the Renewable Energy, Education, and Oil & Gas sectors.