Introduction

Every day, we make decisions that shape our lives, relationships, careers, and futures. Some choices are simple, while others involve significant risks and consequences. Have you ever made a decision that seemed right at the time, only to look back and ask yourself, “What was I thinking?”

In their book What Was I Thinking? How to Make Better Decisions So You Can Live and Lead with Confidence, authors David Ashcraft and Rob Skacel introduce a practical decision-making framework called DOPE.

The DOPE acronym stands for Desire, Opportunity, Power, and Expectations. These four elements help individuals evaluate risks, recognize opportunities, and make more thoughtful decisions.

Rather than allowing emotions, fear, or impulsiveness to control our choices, the DOPE framework encourages intentional thinking and personal responsibility.

What Does DOPE Stand For?

D – Desire: What Do I Really Want?

The first element of DOPE is Desire. Every decision begins with something we want to achieve, experience, change, or obtain.

However, just because we desire something does not necessarily mean it is good for us.

Desire can be motivated by ambition, personal growth, love, or a genuine desire to help others. It can also come from jealousy, pride, selfishness, or the need for approval.

Before making an important decision, consider these questions:

• What am I hoping to accomplish?
• Why do I want this?
• Is this desire consistent with my values and priorities?
• Am I thinking about long-term benefits or immediate gratification?
• How could this decision affect other people?

The key lesson: Understanding why we want something is just as important as knowing what we want.

O – Opportunity: What Is Available to Me?

The second element is Opportunity.

Opportunities are the circumstances, resources, and possibilities that make a particular decision achievable.

Sometimes opportunities appear unexpectedly. Other times, they develop through preparation, persistence, and relationships.

However, an available opportunity is not automatically the right opportunity.

For example, someone might receive a higher-paying job offer. Although the opportunity appears attractive, accepting it could require sacrificing family time, relocating, or taking on responsibilities they are not prepared to handle.

Important questions include:

• What opportunities are currently available?
• Does this opportunity support my long-term goals?
• Am I overlooking other possibilities?
• What are the potential risks?
• Am I acting because the opportunity is right or simply because it exists?

The key lesson: Not every open door is one we should walk through.

P – Power: Can I Make It Happen?

The third element of DOPE is Power.

Power refers to our ability, influence, resources, and capacity to turn a decision into action.

It involves recognizing both our strengths and limitations.

For example, a person may desire to start a business and identify a promising opportunity. However, without adequate financial resources, business knowledge, or a realistic plan, pursuing that opportunity could create unnecessary hardship.

Power also requires humility. Having the authority or ability to do something does not automatically make it wise or ethical.

Consider these questions:

• Do I have the knowledge and skills needed?
• What resources are available to me?
• What limitations must I acknowledge?
• Who could provide guidance or support?
• Am I overestimating my abilities?
• Am I using my influence responsibly?

The key lesson: Wise decisions require understanding what we can control, recognizing what we cannot, and accepting responsibility for our actions.

E – Expectations: What Might Happen?

The final element is Expectations.

Expectations involve anticipating the possible outcomes of our choices.

One of the greatest mistakes people make is focusing only on what they hope will happen rather than considering what could actually happen.

Every significant decision contains uncertainty. Even carefully planned actions can produce unexpected consequences.

Evaluating expectations requires us to consider both positive and negative possibilities.

Ask yourself:

• What is the best possible outcome?
• What is the worst reasonable outcome?
• What is most likely to happen?
• What could this decision cost me?
• How might the outcome affect my family, career, finances, or relationships?
• Could I accept the consequences if things do not go as planned?

The key lesson: Good decision-making involves preparing for realistic outcomes rather than relying solely on optimistic expectations.

Applying the DOPE Framework in Everyday Life

Imagine someone considering leaving a stable job to pursue a personal business.

Using DOPE, the decision becomes more structured.

Desire: The individual wants financial independence, personal fulfillment, and greater control over their schedule.

Opportunity: A potential market exists, customers have expressed interest, and an opportunity to launch the business is available.

Power: The individual evaluates their experience, savings, professional network, and ability to manage the business.

Expectations: They consider possible profits, financial losses, stress, and the time required to establish a successful operation.

After examining all four elements, the person might decide to start the business part-time before leaving their current employment.

Instead of making an impulsive decision, they develop a thoughtful strategy that balances ambition with responsibility.

This example demonstrates that DOPE does not necessarily tell us to avoid risk. It helps us determine which risks are worth taking.

The Importance of Humility and Self-Awareness

One of the most valuable lessons from What Was I Thinking? is that making wise decisions requires more than intelligence or experience.

It also requires character.

Pride can convince us that we know everything. Fear can prevent us from pursuing worthwhile opportunities. Selfishness can cause us to overlook the needs of others.

The DOPE framework encourages us to examine our motivations, evaluate our circumstances, recognize our limitations, and consider the consequences of our actions.

For people approaching decisions from a Christian perspective, this process can also complement prayer, biblical wisdom, and seeking advice from trusted individuals.

Being confident does not mean believing that every decision will succeed. It means making choices through a thoughtful process while remaining willing to learn and adjust.

Why the DOPE Acronym Is Useful for Leaders

The DOPE framework is especially valuable in leadership because leaders frequently make decisions that influence others.

A business owner deciding whether to expand, a manager considering a promotion, or a community leader planning a new initiative can all benefit from examining the four elements.

Effective leadership involves asking not only, “Can we do this?” but also, “Should we do this?”

The framework encourages leaders to distinguish between personal ambition and organizational needs, evaluate available opportunities, recognize their influence, and anticipate how decisions may affect employees, customers, and communities.

Leaders who consistently examine these factors may become better prepared to handle uncertainty, communicate their reasoning, and take responsibility for outcomes.

Conclusion: Think Before You Act

The DOPE acronym from What Was I Thinking? provides a memorable way to approach life’s difficult choices.

By examining Desire, Opportunity, Power, and Expectations, we can move beyond impulsive reactions and develop a more intentional approach to decision-making.

The framework reminds us that wanting something does not automatically make it right, having an opportunity does not mean we must take it, possessing power does not justify every action, and expecting success does not guarantee a favorable outcome.

No decision-making framework can eliminate uncertainty or prevent every mistake. However, asking better questions can improve our judgment and help us take more thoughtful risks.

The next time you face a significant decision, remember DOPE:

D – Desire: What do I want?

O – Opportunity: What is available?

P – Power: Can I make it happen?

E – Expectations: What might result?

Ultimately, the goal is not to live without taking risks. It is to make decisions with greater wisdom, confidence, humility, and responsibility.

When we learn to think carefully before acting, we increase our chances of looking back on our decisions with understanding and satisfaction rather than regret.