The Decision Canvas guides you in a structured way through a difficult professional or personal decision based on ACT Coaching. The Decision Canvas can help you ask the right questions and reach a good decision without going around in circles or staying awake at night.
As always with canvases: they are simply a starting point, an inspiration, and a decision aid. Adjust the canvas to suit your needs.
You can download the canvas here:
Available also as Miro Template. Of course, I would be delighted to receive a like on Miro 🙂
Page 1: The Decision Canvas
Do you need decision support and are ready for a good decision? Download the Decision Canvas and print it out. Now, set aside an hour where you can work undisturbed. Fill out all areas of the Decision Canvas, preferably from the top left to the bottom right. However, the canvas is also a living document: until your decision date, you can keep working on this document, adding or crossing things out. Just as you like, at your own pace.

The Decision Canvas. Structured Decision Making. © 2024 by Peter Schmutz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Details and instructions
The main points are already briefly covered in the actual Canvas. Here are additional tips and explanations that can help you fill out the sections.
What needs to be decided?
Consider what decision you actually want to make. It’s worth taking a close look: Is it a decision between the current situation and several new options? If you have two options, are there possible combinations of both? What if you could do something entirely different? Or: do you need to choose an either-or option now, or can you work towards an option step by step over time? For example, self-employment: It might not just be about being employed or self-employed overnight. There are part-time models, for instance, to build up self-employment gradually over five years.
By when?
Set a specific date by which you want to have made your decision. Especially with difficult decisions, you might be tempted to keep postponing it. Sleepless nights, going around in circles, or remaining in an unsatisfactory situation can negatively impact your well-being in the long run.
Data and facts about your options
Gather the most important data and facts about all your options. Focus on aspects that are objectively certain or at least can be estimated with clear probabilities: people, financial resources, locations, prospects, activities, etc. Fears and anxieties will be addressed later under reason and gut feelings.
What do you stand for? What are your values?
What values and qualities do you associate with a fulfilling life? What is important to you? These values will help you on page 2 to understand which uncertainties you can live with through the help of these values. Read more about values and find your own values.
What information do you still need?
Look at the data and facts about the options: Are there any pieces of information that are crucial for a decision but are still missing? Note everything in the Decision Canvas and create to-dos.
Who do you want to involve in the process?
Discuss your options and decision situations with external people. Focus not on advice, but try to gather different perspectives. Friends, acquaintances, or depending on the decision situation, professional advisors (such as bank advisors, accountants) or coaches can help.
What does your mind tell you?
Look at the data you’ve gathered and consult your reason. Be open and curious about all the thoughts that come to mind. Allow critical and uncomfortable thoughts and fears to have a voice without judgment. They are important and protect you from acting impulsively and thoughtlessly.
What do your heart and gut say?
Now consult your body, your heart, and your gut. Often, your body decides much faster than your mind. The mind then tries to find plausible explanations for a bodily feeling and may present arguments that fit the feeling but do not truly reflect your opinion or attitude. Imagine the best possible outcome of each option. How does it feel? What does your heart lean towards? Which option causes more anxiety?
Page 2: Commited Action
In page 2 – Committed Action – we might get a significant step closer to the decision:
The goal here is not to get rid of unpleasant feelings and fears. It is about using your values as motivation and a compass. Which of the unpleasant thoughts, fears, or worries are you willing to accept to live a fulfilling life? The future is uncertain. Therefore, a decision is rarely perfect and usually comes with risks, unpleasant feelings, or fears.
Transfer the information from the Decision Canvas to Sheet 2.

In the service of my values and a fulfilling life, I am willing to:
The question now is: What risks am I willing to take for a fulfilling life? What uncertainties am I willing to accept for a fulfilling life? What unpleasant feelings and fears am I willing to embrace for a fulfilling life?
Move all the cards or information that you are willing to accept for a fulfilling life into the circle. To which option do the cards belong?
Now is the time to make the decision
Look at the two sheets. Let the information sink in. Choose an option. Recognize that some of your thoughts will try to change your mind. Thank them for the warning and remind yourself of your values.
You can also be proud that you have gathered all this information and engaged in the process.
Good luck with your decisions! If you need support in this process, turn to a trusted coach. Good coaches will not give you advice but will guide and lead you through difficult decision-making processes in a structured way.
Fighting against your worry monster?
Are you stuck in a whirlwind of thoughts and you find yourself fighting against worries? Do you know the feeling: Unpleasant thoughts and emotions keep coming up, disrupting your focus, and no matter how much you try to push them away or distract yourself – they always come back?
The Worry monster App offers you a playful introduction to how your brain works and teaches you effective strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for a healthy way to deal with unpleasant thoughts and worries.

