Pros and Cons Decision Prompt: Weighted Answers for Big Choices

I'm deciding: [DESCRIBE YOUR DECISION]

Create a weighted pros and cons list:
- List 3-5 pros with weight (Low/Medium/High/Very High/CRITICAL)
- List 3-5 cons with weight (Low/Medium/High/Very High/CRITICAL)
- Give a weighted verdict (what does the weight say?)
- Suggest a middle ground if there is one

Context: [ADD ANY IMPORTANT FACTORS]

After you describe your decision, the AI will:

1. List pros with weight ratings so you know which benefits matter most
2. List cons with weight ratings so deal-breakers stand out
3. Give a weighted verdict to show which option wins
4. Suggest compromise options you might not have considered

What to expect: You’ll get balanced pros and cons with a clear verdict you can sanity-check.

Your decision:

Should I take this remote contract role? It pays 30% more but has no benefits, and I’d lose my current job security and health insurance. I have MS and need reliable healthcare.

What you get with pros cons:

PROS

• Higher income (+30%) — Could save extra for emergencies or HSA contributions [Weight: High]
• Remote flexibility — Better for managing fatigue and medical appointments [Weight: Very High]
• New skills — Contract work builds a more diverse portfolio [Weight: Medium]

CONS

• No health insurance — Critical for MS management; would need marketplace plan [Weight: CRITICAL]
• No job security — Contract could end anytime; risky with chronic condition [Weight: Very High]
• No PTO/sick leave — Can’t take paid time off for flare-ups [Weight: High]
• Higher stress — Constant job hunting between contracts [Weight: High]

WEIGHTED VERDICT: Don’t take it. The healthcare and job security risks outweigh the income bump. Your MS needs stable insurance access.

MIDDLE GROUND: Negotiate with your current employer for remote work (cite medical need) or look for permanent remote roles with benefits.

Say this into your phone or computer:

“Pros cons for this decision” (then describe what you’re deciding)

Variations for Different Situations

For Job Offers

Pros and cons for: [JOB OFFER]

Include:
- Compensation (salary, benefits, PTO)
- Work environment (remote/hybrid/office, culture, accessibility)
- Career growth (skills, advancement, stability)
- Health factors (insurance, flexibility, stress level)

Weight each factor. I have MS and need [YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS].

For Major Purchases

Pros and cons for: Buying [ITEM] for [PRICE].

Include:
- Financial impact (cost, financing, maintenance)
- Practical benefit (will I actually use it? how often?)
- Accessibility (does it reduce strain or fatigue?)
- Alternatives (what else could I do with this money?)

Weight each factor for someone on a fixed budget managing MS.

For Life Changes (Moving, Relationships)

Pros and cons for: [LIFE CHANGE]

Include:
- Emotional impact (happiness, stress, support system)
- Practical logistics (housing, healthcare access, transportation)
- Financial impact (cost of living, job market)
- Health factors (climate, medical facilities, accessibility)

Weight each factor. My MS means I need [YOUR PRIORITIES].

For Treatment or Medical Decisions

Pros and cons for: [TREATMENT OPTION]

Include:
- Effectiveness (success rates, symptom relief)
- Side effects (severity, manageability)
- Logistics (time commitment, travel, cost)
- Quality of life impact (energy, daily function)

Weight each factor. My current situation: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION].

Pro Tips

• Force a recommendation: Add: “After the pros/cons, tell me which choice you’d make if it was YOUR life.”
• Flag deal-breakers: Add: “Mark any CRITICAL factors that should override everything else.”
• Surface reversibility: Add: “Note which factors are permanent versus temporary.”
• Account for deadlines: Add: “I need to decide by [DATE]. Does that change the calculus?”

Quick Reference

Why This Works

The “pros cons” trigger:

• Activates a classic decision-making framework
• Forces balanced analysis instead of confirmation bias
• Weight ratings reveal the true priorities
• Structured list makes comparison easier than mental juggling

The psychology:

• Brain fog makes holding multiple factors mentally exhausting
• Seeing them written removes working-memory load
• Weights help when everything feels equally important
• Middle-ground ideas reduce all-or-nothing thinking

Works across all AI platforms:

• ChatGPT (free or paid)
• Claude (free or paid)
• Microsoft Copilot
• Google Gemini

Troubleshooting

“The list is too balanced — I still can’t decide.”

• Add: “Force yourself to pick one option and explain why.”
• Or: “Which option would you choose if you had to decide right now?”

“It’s missing important factors.”

• Add: “Also consider: [FACTOR YOU CARE ABOUT].”
• Or: rerun with more context about your situation.

“The weights seem wrong.”

• Add: “Weight from the perspective of someone with MS managing [YOUR SYMPTOMS].”
• Or: “Reweight with [FACTOR] as CRITICAL priority.”

“I need more than just pros and cons.”

• Combine with BLUF: First run pros cons, then ask, “BLUF: which option based on this analysis?”
• Or: “After pros/cons, show best-case and worst-case for each option.”