If you Google “how decisions are made” you’ll find a theory that says people gather information, narrow choices, review the evidence, and choose among alternatives. Maybe this is how Star Trek’s Spock made decisions, but neuroscience and brain scans tell a different story.
One example from my own experience illustrates how decision-making actually happens.
When I moved to New York City, the cost of real estate meant I had to trade my beautiful, stone house in the suburbs of Philadelphia for a 2 bedroom apartment with no outdoor space.