Top o’ the Mornin’ to Ya!
TLDR: Christian men often struggle with decision fatigue, but by embracing definitive yes/no choices rather than partial commitments, we can conserve mental energy, align with scriptural guidance, and experience greater success in our personal and family lives.
What?
I was reflecting on a discussion from our mastermind group about the concept that “100% is easier to do than 90%.” One member shared how they wanted to limit themselves to one sweet per day or week. Another member pointed out that it would actually be easier to have none at all. This sparked a meaningful conversation about how much mental energy gets drained when we constantly debate choices: “Is now when I want to have the sweet? Yes? No?”
I related how, for a season, I had a clear rule of “no sweets at home, only on Tuesdays at board game night.” This simplified approach made the decision process much easier because it was definitive.
Why?
This concept is actually reinforced in Scripture. Matthew 5:37 tells us, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no, for whatever is more than that is of evil.” When we’re 100% committed to a decision, we’re saying a definitive yes or no. When we’re at 90%, we’re constantly negotiating with ourselves, which drains our mental energy.
I see this play out with my children too. When they ask for permission to do something, sometimes I delay answering because I want to discuss it with my wife first. That delay is okay, but problems arise when I let the question slip through the cracks and either the kids don’t want to ask again or they keep asking without getting an answer.
Lesson
Decision-making drains our energy. Psychologists suggest we only have so many decision points available to us each day before we experience decision fatigue. When we make clear, definitive decisions—100% yes or 100% no—we preserve our mental energy for things that matter more.
This applies to everything from dietary choices to responding to our children’s requests. By rehearsing decisions in advance (“Just say no to drugs” as we learned growing up), we remove the need to make decisions in the moment. Instead, we follow our pre-established processes and principles.
With parenting, this might look like quickly conferring with my wife: “The kids were wondering about doing this. I don’t have any problem with it. Do you?” Then giving a definitive answer rather than letting it linger.
Apply
Think about an area in your life where you want to be more 100% committed. Where has being at 90% (or less) held you back? In what area has not being fully committed led to challenges, setbacks, or “learning experiences” instead of success?
Write down one area where you can make a definitive commitment—where you can let your yes be yes or your no be no—and see how it reduces your decision fatigue and increases your effectiveness.
You be blessed.
100% Is Easier Than 90%: The Power of Definitive Decisions
