8 Steps of the Cartesian Square – A Technique That Will Teach You to Make Decisions with Confidence

How often do you get stuck in indecision?

Each of us has faced a situation where making a decision becomes a painful process. We hesitate, fear making a mistake, replay potential scenarios in our heads, but still remain stuck.

Some people have had the opportunity to discover an amazing decision-making technique – the Cartesian Square method. Imagine, some of them once felt sadness, thinking that their lives would never face challenges again. All because decisions made using this method take the most logical path and are based on being completely honest with oneself. Now it’s your turn to get acquainted with this technique.

This technique essentially allows you to look at a situation from multiple perspectives, understand what is truly holding you back, and see the consequences of your choices. After using this method just once, you’ll be able to make decisions faster, more confidently, and with greater awareness—without the unnecessary stress.

Let’s break down this technique step by step. Perhaps after the first step, you’ll be able to make a tough decision, or maybe after the second, third, or fourth… or maybe you’ll discover the answer later when you have gone through all the steps. Either way, you’ll now have a clear framework that will serve as a helpful guide for making decisions.

Let’s begin.

1. What WILL happen if this occurs?

🔹 Start with the most obvious: what will change if you make this decision?

Imagine that you’ve already made your choice. The decision is made, and the step is taken. How will your life change?

To see the situation more clearly, try to write down at least 10 responses to the following questions. The more options you consider, the deeper you’ll understand the situation. This will help you fully realize the consequences of your decision and not miss important details.

📌 What positive changes will this decision bring?
– Will it open up new opportunities for you?
– Will it simplify your life, or will it make it more complicated?
– Will you feel happier, more confident, freer?
📌 What challenges will arise?
– What consequences will you have to face?
– Are there any downsides or losses?
– What will change in your environment, your financial situation, your emotional state?

Maybe the decision is already clear? If not, let’s move on.

2. What WILL happen if this doesn’t occur?

🔹 What if you leave things as they are?

Sometimes it seems that doing nothing is the safest option. But is that really true? What will happen if you decide not to make any changes?

To better understand the situation, try answering at least 10 questions. The more aspects you consider, the clearer the picture will become.

📌 What are the benefits of not making a change?
– Perhaps your current situation is perfectly satisfactory?
– What risks are you avoiding by not making a change?
– Will it provide you with a sense of stability or security?
📌 What are the downsides?
– Will things stay as they are, or will the situation worsen over time?
– Will you regret not taking action?
– How will this affect your opportunities, emotional state, and environment?

This step helps you realize that choosing not to choose is still a choice. If you don’t yet have enough insight, let’s move on.

3. What WON’T happen if this occurs?

🔹 What will we lose if we make this decision?

Every “yes” to something is a “no” to something else. Making one choice inevitably means rejecting other possibilities. What won’t be a part of your life if you make this choice?

To better understand all the consequences, try writing down at least 10 potential losses. The more aspects you consider, the clearer the picture will become.

📌 What important things will you lose?
– What opportunities will no longer appear in your life?
– What will you have to leave behind?
– Will any relationships or habits be at risk?
📌 Which of these is truly important to you?
– How many of these losses will be critical to your happiness and well-being?
– Is there anything that you wouldn’t miss so much?

This step helps you realize hidden losses and sacrifices that might not be obvious at first glance. If you’ve recognized that you’ll lose something truly important, you might want to reconsider your choice. If the losses aren’t critical, let’s move on.

4. What WON’T happen if this doesn’t occur?

🔹 What opportunities will we miss?

If you do nothing, what will remain closed off in your life? What new perspectives will be inaccessible?

Think about the opportunities you will miss out on if you decide to stay where you are. Will you miss a chance for change? For new achievements? For expanding your horizons?

To better see the hidden prospects, try to write down at least 10 opportunities you might miss.

📌 What doors might remain closed?
– Is there a chance to improve your life quality that will be lost if you don’t make a decision?
– Will you lose a chance to take an important step towards your goal?
– Will you miss out on personal growth, career successes, or new connections?

This step helps you realize that what we miss can be just as important as what we gain. If the missed opportunities are significant to you, this may be your final signal to make a choice. If not, let’s proceed to the next step.

5. What truly matters from all of this?

🔹 Let’s bring everything together and filter out the essentials.

By now, you have a wealth of information. But it’s important to understand that not everything has equal significance. What conclusions from the previous steps really matter most for your decision?

You might highlight the strongest arguments that will guide your next steps or, on the contrary, disregard details that aren’t crucial. This step helps you focus on the important things and eliminate the unnecessary noise.

📌 What matters most?
– Which consequences have the greatest impact on your life?
– Which pros or cons will really change your life?
– What influences your choice the most?

If it’s now clear what’s most important, you’ll have a clear sense of what to base your decision on. If the clarity is still lacking, let’s move on.

6. What are the real risks and fears?

🔹 What’s holding us back: a real threat or an illusion?

What exactly is stopping you from making the decision? Are you held back by a real threat, or is it just the fear of change? Sometimes we fear things that aren’t really there or exaggerate the consequences. Which of your concerns are based on real facts, and which exist only in your imagination?

At this stage, it’s crucial to assess all the risks objectively. This will help you separate real threats from hypothetical ones. You might realize that much of what you feared isn’t as scary as you thought.

📌 What causes the most fear?
– Which threats seem the most real?
– What are you afraid of, and is there any reason for that fear?
– Which fears are illusions and not worth fearing?

After this step, you’ll be able to decide if the risks are justified or if they’ve been exaggerated. If doubts still remain, let’s move to the next step.

7. What are the alternatives?

🔹 What if it’s not “yes” or “no”? Maybe there’s a third option?

Decisions are rarely black and white. In your situation, there may not only be the “yes” or “no” option, but also a compromise that allows you to find a solution that best meets your needs. Perhaps there are alternatives you haven’t considered?

This step helps you get out of a potential deadlock by offering new approaches to the solution. If you haven’t yet found a better solution, you can revisit thoughts on other paths. But if you still don’t see any viable alternatives, it’s time to proceed to the final stage.

📌 What other options can be considered?
– Are there any other solutions that can satisfy your needs?
– Can you do something to avoid extremes?
– How can you adapt your choice to make it more flexible?

Finding alternatives might open new horizons and help make the decision more grounded. If suitable alternatives are found, move on to the final step.

8. What’s the first step you can take right now?

🔹 Enough thinking – it’s time to act.

Any analysis is useless unless it leads to action. What small but real step can you take right now to move closer to your decision?

Even if you’re not sure about the final decision, taking action will show you whether you’re moving in the right direction. And if it turns out that the step doesn’t lead to the desired result, you can always adjust your course. The key is to take action and feel that your reflections weren’t in vain.

📌 What small step can be taken?
– What’s the first step that will move you forward in your decision?
– What can you do to check if you’re heading in the right direction?
– What task can you accomplish right now to feel you’re moving ahead?

This step helps overcome the fear of making decisions and start acting. Even if the step isn’t entirely accurate, it will still be a step forward. Once a decision is made and the first step is taken, the action will move you in the right direction.

Conclusion

📌 How can you use this technique in life?

The Cartesian Square method is a powerful tool that can be applied not only in challenging situations but also in everyday life. It helps you develop flexibility in thinking, enhances your awareness when making decisions, and strengthens your self-confidence.

Now that you’ve mastered all the steps of this method, you have a practical tool that will help you clearly assess the possible outcomes and consequences of any decision. Remember that you shouldn’t get stuck in overthinking or postpone actions. Once you’ve understood all the possible scenarios, it’s important to move forward, even if things are still not entirely clear. The decision is made – it’s time to act!

Keep in mind that this method helps you not only to choose but also to move forward confidently towards your goal, adapting your decisions as the situation unfolds.