Lesson 2
Making Decisions and Setting Goals
Do Now
Journal Entry #3
Write a list of all the decisions you made
today from time you woke up until now.
Then chose one of your decisions and
focus on the process.
Lesson 2
Objectives:
1. Identify the steps in the decisionmaking process.
2. Explain why it is important to practice
decision making.
3. Develop and implement an action plan
for setting a goal.
Making Decisions and
Setting Goals
Health Concepts
 Decision making is a multi-step process that
can be used to make responsible health
choices.
 Practicing your decision-making skills can
prepare you to handle real-life situations.
 Setting and achieving goals is important to the
quality of your life.
 A key to effective goal setting is learning to
develop and implement an action plan.
Making Decisions and
Setting Goals
Activity 1 – Turn to a Neighbor
Define the following terms and provide
examples for each term:
1. Goals
2. Action plan
Making Responsible
Decisions
Imagine finding gift-wrapped boxes at your
doorstep along with a note that states,
“Whichever box you choose will determine how
your life proceeds.” Which box would you
open? Would you just grab the one nearest to
you and hastily tear off the ribbon? Would you
instead take your time and carefully inspect
each box, looking for subtle clues as to its
contents?
Making Responsible
Decisions
Making decisions about major life issues must be
done carefully and deliberately. Just as you
would slow down and look for approaching
cars when arriving at a busy intersection, so
you will need to approach life decisions with
caution. You will need to “look in all directions”
for possible risks, and then act decisively and
without hesitation once the risks have been
identified and weighed.
Making Responsible
Decisions
 The most crucial step in all decisionmaking is to distinguish between ethical
and unethical options.
 Decisions and actions should only be
based on the choices that are among the
ethical options.
Making Responsible
Decisions
Activity 2 – Independent Work
 There are occasions when we do not
have time to use the entire decisionmaking process.
 Give examples of decisions that need to
be made quickly. Explain what you
should do in these situations.
The Decision Making
Model
One of the traits of a health-literate person is being a
critical thinker and problem solver- having the
ability to evaluate information from reliable
sources and then make a responsible decision.
The decision-making model can help you act in a way
consistent with this trait. The model is designed to
help you make decisions that will protect your
rights, health, and self-respect, while respecting
the rights, health, and self-respect of others.
There are six basic steps in making an important
decision.
The Decision Making
Model
Step 1
STATE THE SITUATION
Examine the situation and ask yourself: What
decision needs to be made?
Identify others who may be affected by your
decision.
The Decision Making
Model
Step 2
List the Possible Outcomes
Ask yourself: What are the possible
choices that I could make?
Remember, to include “not act at all,” if
appropriate. Share your options with
responsible family members, teachers, or
friends. Ask for their advice.
The Decision Making
Model
Step 3
Weigh The Possible Options
Ask yourself if there are both positive and
negative results of each choice.
Weigh the outcome, or consequence, of each
option.
Ask yourself: Is this decision healthful, safe,
and legal?
Does it show respect for others and myself?
The Decision Making
Model
Step 4
Consider Your Values
Evaluate whether your course of action is in keeping
with your values and the values of your family and
community.
Ask yourself: Am I comfortable with the possible
outcome?
What will my family and other responsible
adults think about this decision?
What will I feel about this decision in the weeks and
months ahead?
The Decision Making
Model
Step 5
Make Decision and Take Action
Use everything you know at this point to
make a responsible decision.
You can feel good that you have carefully
prepared and thought about the situation
and your options.
The Decision Making
Model
Step 6
Evaluate Your Decision
After you have made the decision and taken action,
reflect on what happened.
You might ask yourself: What was the outcome?
Was it what I expected?
How did my decision affect my health?
What effect did my decision have on others?
What did I learn?
Would I take the same action again?
Decision Making Model
Activity 3 - Group Work
Decision-Making Machine - Handout
Practicing the steps in the decision-making
process will increase your familiarity with the
process, along with the likelihood that you will
use it the next time a major problem arises.
An even more important benefit is that mastering
this skill gives you an added measure of
control over your total health.
Setting Goals
Having and setting goals is one way to help
shape your life in positive directions.
A goal is something you aim for that takes
planning and work.
Setting realistic goals and achieving them
leads to increased self esteem
Setting Goals
Do you view your life as a series of events that
simply happen to you or do you see it as a
work of art that you are constantly shaping and
creating?
Think about your plans for the future. What do
you want to do with your life? What do you
hope to become someday? Do your plans
include further education and a family? What
type of job do you hope to have? What do you
hope to have accomplished by the age of 20?
What kind of life do you want to be able to look
back on when you are 70?
Kinds of Goals
Every goal involves planning, and planning
involves time.
Some goals can be achieved fairly easily and in a
short period of time. Such short-term goals
include getting your homework done by nine
o’clock.
Other goals, such as becoming a teacher or a
professional dancer, pose a greater challenge.
Such long-term goals take a longer period—
sometimes months or even years—to achieve.
Kinds of Goals
Many long-term goals can be achieved by breaking
them down into short-term goals. In order to meet
the long-term goal of playing on the school ice
hockey team, for example, you must first satisfy
the beginning goal of becoming a strong skater.
What kinds of short- term goals do you think might be
necessary to pursue a career in politics? What
short-term goals might help a person work toward
the long-term goal of becoming a professional
athlete?
Goals and an Action Plan
While goals can differ in the amount of time and
degree of effort necessary to reach them all
can be achieved by creating an action plan.
Like the decision-making process, an action
plan is a multi-step strategy for identifying and
achieving goals.
An Action Plan consists of six action-based
steps that can help you accomplish your goals.
Action Plan
1. Select a goal to work on

In selecting a goal, you need to be specific
and realistic. Also, state your goal as
something positive. Do not settle for just
“not failing.” Focus your energies instead
on succeeding. This will help motivate you
to work toward achieving your goal.
Action Plan
2. List what you will do to reach the
goal


Look for ways to break your goal down into
smaller, more manageable tasks.
If your goal is to become a long- distance
runner, begin by training yourself to run
shorter distances.
Action Plan
3. Identify sources of help and support


Identify sources of help and support.
Sources of support and encouragement
are important to achieving any goal.
Such sources might include friends, family
members, teachers, or neighbors.
Action Plan
4. Set a reasonable time frame for
reaching your goal

When first setting out toward any goal, you
should establish a reasonable time limit for
reaching that goal and put it in writing.
Action Plan
5. Establish checkpoints to evaluate
your progress

As with establishing a time frame, such
checkpoints should be reasonable and
realistic
Action Plan
6. Reward yourself after reaching your
goal



Once you arrive, congratulate yourself and
enjoy the personal satisfaction.
One way is to buy yourself something you
have wanted.
Knowing that a reward waits at the end of
the journey will help you work that much
harder.
Other Guidelines for
Setting Goals




Make certain your goal will not harm your
health or anyone else’s.
Be sure that your goal shows respect both for
you and for everyone else affected by it.
Set a goal because it will help you grow, not
because you want to outdo someone or win
someone else’s attention.
If you fail to reach your goal, use what you
learn from the failure to set a new goal.
Goals For Life
What are your personal goals right now—today?
 If your answer is that you do not have any, ask
yourself why. If you do not have positive goals,
you need to ask yourself: Why?
 How can I remove the roadblocks that stand in
the way of my having positive goals?
 Remember, goal setting, like decision making
and the other health skills you learned about in
this chapter, can move you toward the ultimate
goal of total health and wellness.
Lesson 2
Review
1. What are the steps in the decision-making
process?
2. Why are questions about consequences so
important when using the decision- making
process?
3. Julius, who is 16, has ambitions to become a
physician some day. Create an action plan
Julius might follow in reaching this life goal.
Review
Using Health Terms
On a sheet of paper write the term that best matches
the definition below.
Lesson 1
1. The confidence and worth that you feel about
yourself.
2. A process through which you send messages from
others.
3. Techniques that can help you refuse when you are
urged to take part in unsafe or unhealthful behaviors.
4. Specific tools and strategies that lead to better and
more informed health choices.
5. The body’s and mind’s reactions to everyday
demands.
Review
Using Health Terms
On a sheet of paper write the term that best
matches the definition below.
Lesson 2
 A multi-step strategy for identifying and
achieving goals.
 Something you aim for that takes planning
and work.
Chapter 2 Review
Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Self-esteem
Communication
Refusal Skills
Health skills
Stress
Action Plan
Goal