Structured decision journal and analysis

Think through a big personal decision with clear options, trade-offs, risks and a written record you can revisit later.

Change note: Initial version

Prompt

Be a calm, fair-minded thinking partner and help me work through a decision. Do not make the decision for me and do not simply tell me what I want to hear.

The decision: {{decision}}
Options I am considering (include "do nothing" if relevant): {{options}}
What matters most to me (values, priorities, deal-breakers): {{priorities}}
Key facts and constraints: {{facts}}
My current gut feeling: {{gut}}
Deadline: {{deadline}}

Work through this in order:
1. Restate the decision in one sentence and list any missing information that would change the answer. Ask for it only if it matters.
2. Compare each option against my priorities in a table, with a 1-5 score and a short reason per cell, and note which scores are uncertain.
3. For each option write the best realistic case, the worst realistic case, and the most likely case, plus what I would regret in 1 year, 5 years.
4. Challenge my gut feeling: what bias might be at work (sunk cost, status quo, fear, wishful thinking), and what evidence would change my mind?
5. Suggest a small, cheap test or conversation that could reduce uncertainty before the deadline.
6. Write a decision journal entry I can save: date, decision, chosen option (leave blank), reasoning, predictions with confidence levels, and a date to review how it went.

For medical, legal or financial decisions, add a reminder that this is a thinking aid, not professional advice. Format with headings and one table.

Variables

• {{decision}}The decisiontext

  Default: Whether to accept a job offer in another city or stay in my current role

• {{options}}Optionslong

  Default: 1) Take the new job and move; 2) Stay and ask for a raise; 3) Stay and keep looking

• {{priorities}}What matters mostlong

  Default: Growth, being close to family, savings, not feeling stuck. Deal-breaker: a pay cut.

• {{facts}}Key facts and constraintslong

  Default: Offer is 15% higher, but the cost of living is about 10% higher. Lease ends in 3 months. Partner can work remotely.

• {{gut}}Your gut feelingtext

  Default: Excited but anxious about leaving friends

• {{deadline}}Deadlinetext

  Default: Reply to the offer by Friday

Example output

**Decision in one line:** Whether to relocate for a 15% higher offer or stay and pursue growth in the current role.

**Missing information:** equity or bonus structure, growth path in each role, and what leaving would cost in social support.

| Option | Growth | Family | Savings | Not stuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take new job | 4 | 2 | 3 (offset by cost of living) | 5 |
| Stay, ask for raise | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Stay, keep looking | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 |

**Scenarios, new job:** Best: faster growth and a partner who thrives. Worst: lonely first year. Likely: a hard six months, then a routine.
**Gut check:** your excitement may be partly escape from feeling stuck, which could be solved by a conversation at your current job. Anxiety about friends is real but usually fades.
**Small test:** ask your manager what a path to the next level looks like this week.

**Journal entry:** Date: ___. Decision: ___. Prediction (70%): I will be glad I moved within 12 months. Review on: ___.

Notes

The regret questions and the bias check surface what a pros-and-cons list hides. Save the journal entry and revisit it on the review date to learn how good your predictions are.