A lot resonated in an article written by Barack Obama describing the process he developed to address tough decisions.

It seems that at the core of his process, he integrated something he felt would allow him to be confident about his decisions. That something was to do what he could to remain connected with himself and clear about who he is as a person. By paying attention to what enables him to remain coherent with himself, the decisions he made were grounded in his values and principles.

As a result, it seems to have been easier for him to remain authentic and explain his actions to his fellow citizens.

The ability to execute such a process depends on a few things.

One is to constantly review one’s values and principles to see how they interact with the situation that needs a decision. Values rarely are clear-cut enough to give an answer right away, they serve as guidelines. They are also shaped by the variety of situations encountered.

Taking the time out to disconnect from work and the decision process is another. But it’s not there to use the time somewhat mindlessly scrolling through social media or to try to gather ideas there. It is time that allows for reflection as well as reconnecting with who one is. It starts with disconnecting from the work and seeking the exchange with those who help reconnect with who one is. Here Obama describes how he kept, among different options, time sacred to him and used to be with his family and have it remind him of being a normal human being.