It seemed only a matter of time before Joe Biden caved in to step aside from the November 2024 presidential race. The pressure had mounted with publicly raging discourses. On a personal level, I believe he wanted to continue his legacy for another four-year term. However, recent lapses during his public appearances were hard to ignore as they negatively swayed the voters and his party about his capability to perform.

For me, the situation proved to be a textbook case of “difficult choice”.

Making decisions involves advantages, disadvantages, and unknowns. No one can predict the future. It is even more difficult when decisions are mandatory with due dates and substantial stakes.

The race's dynamics changed when Biden gave in to the pressure, altering campaign strategies on both the Democrat and Republican sides. It opened opportunities for others, like Kamala Harris, to be considered as contenders against Donald Trump. Similarly, the failed assassination attempt on Trump could have resulted in a different Republican candidate, leading to an unexpected race.

We all face decisions in life, from selecting a life partner or career to choosing goods and services. Choices usually lead to unpredictable outcomes. Some are voluntary, while others are imposed by circumstances. Choices made out of necessity differ in weight and leverage from those made out of desire. Purchasing a house or car is less desperate than choosing a hospital for medical care.

Recently, I faced a difficult decision between two medical service facilities, complicated by limited and conflicting information. The amount of data can either deter or enable decision-making. Scanty details call for more clarification and decision delays, while too much information can be overwhelming. In my case, both occurred, leading to confusion and frequent changes in direction. This affected my focus and made it hard to decide.

Advice from friends and family further complicated my decision. While well-meaning, varied opinions and new options made it difficult to reconcile the information. Eventually, I realised the importance of analysing and filtering advice to improve decision quality. My challenges were due not only to the data but also to my inability to process the information effectively.

Ultimately, the pressure of choosing among many options became as difficult as the problem itself. I almost relied on gut feeling, which is warned against, with many experts advocating instead for informed decision-making.

Critical thinking and information clarity are crucial for making sound decisions.

I read that we usually face decision fatigue, where the quality of decisions deteriorates after prolonged decision-making. It is better to focus on critical items and summarise information. I nearly made a hasty decision based on gut feeling but was persuaded to seek further advice. Consulting a medical professional clarified my doubts and led to the best option. However, outcomes may not always align with our wishes.