People are familiar with choice-creating because it can arise naturally in a crisis, often after normal thinking breaks down. Then people put aside their egos and take in new information. All are included. And the only possible answer is unity, that which works for all. This unity arises through shifts and breakthroughs. 

Choice-creating is the kind of thinking that's missing in our sociey. ... It can also occur in a "time out" moment, where people step back to think, where they address the big issues and seek breakthrough progress. Unlike with "decision-making," breakthrough progress is normal.

In both choice-creating and decision-making people determine what to do. But the thinking process is opposite. With decision-making, judgment is primary, like voting for instance. But creativity is primary with choice-creating. With choice-creating people step back from normal life to review what's going on and check in with themselves about what they want. And to figure out what works for everyone. Both decision-making and choice-creating are necessary for democracy. But choice-creating should be primary because it is the thinking process required for “We the People” to set up the system of decision-making. There should be an ongoing "We the People" for each level of society—nation, community, city, world, etc.— where "We the People" provide responsible leadership to "decision-makers". (See the chart contrasting decision-making and choice-creating)

Dynamic Facilitation can reliably evoke choice-creating in small groups. The Wisdom Council Process and the Creative Insight Council can evoke the spirit of choice-creating in large systems of people.

Aspects of choice-creating include ...

• Facing a vital issue … rather than one we can solve that’s clearly defined
• Advocating for your answer ... this is not about being neutral
• Speaking with feeling … it's not about being objective
• Shifts and breakthroughs are frequent ... it’s not a step by step orderly process
• “Creating the choice" ... rather than "making the decision"
• Authenticity ... rather than speaking as a representatives or from a role
• Safe from judgment … people are protected from agreeing & disagreeing
• Following energy … rather than an agenda (e.g. jumping to solutions is OK)
• Diversity is an asset … rather than people find themselves valuing different people and views
• Reflective ... people see what they are saying and how it fits 

Outcomes of choice-creating include ...

• A unanimous group conclusion …“co-sensus” more than “consensus”
• A "choice" … more than a "decision"
• Empowerment … people own the issue and feel the energy to take it forward
• New meaning …  people create a story of what we are accomplishing
• Spirit of “we” … people come together as “We the People”
• Enhanced individuality ... people become more knowledgable, capable, and unique

More Resources on Choice-creating ...

• Decision-making vs. choice-creating
• Dialogue, deliberation, and choice-creating
• Collective decision-making ... comparing three approaches
• Chart comparing "Wise Democracy" (based on choice-creating) vs. "Deliberative Democracy" (based on deliberation)
• Chart comparing Dynamic Facilitation (choice-creating) vs. Traditional Facilitation (decision-making)
• How to Make a Decision without really Making a Decision by Tom Atlee ... as an example of choice-creating achieved through means other than Dynamic Facilitation

See a video interview interview from 2007 on Choice-creating, with guest host Paul Everett

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