I have done some stupid things. But in the beginning, I did not know they were stupid; otherwise, I wouldn’t have done them.
But in looking back, I blinded myself to the warning signs.
I think we all have done things where we look back and can see now that it was a bad idea from the beginning.
We need to make big decisions without emotional influences.
Too much fear and we don’t do anything (maybe ever).
Too much optimism and hope, and we do things we shouldn’t.
Being emotionally neutral is best. Stop and look at the facts without emotions coloring your view one way or the other.
Then choose.
Being emotionally nuetral is almost impossible. The same passion that drives us is also the same passion that causes a buttload of problems. Those emotions are an obstacle to logically thinking when you need it the most. Been there, done that, continue to struggle with it. Great topic.
It’s good practice to look back and learn to identify the various emotions that contributed to our decisions and/or actions. Once identified we can learn to recognize them in the heat of the moment when we are acting and deciding. Other tactics I use are hypothetical role reversals and extremes. I consider how the outcome would look if I’m on the other side, or how my decisions or actions would look if taken to the absolute extreme of success or the absolute extreme of failure. Then, using all factors considered above, I act or decide!
Hard to achieve this “unemotional” state, but an important one to pursue. Responding instead of reacting leads to a better outcome. How? “Pause, process, proceed.” I’m still working on this …
The best decisions aren’t emotional or reactionary.
They’re made from a place of neutrality where facts are allowed to speak.
Pause.
Remove emotion.
Look at what is, not what you hope or fear.
Then choose and ask yourself.
What do the facts say without emotion attached?