Blinded by Deciding

Pool

The combination of multiple options, uncertain outcome and important consequences seem to add up to making a decision “hard”.
Decision making is hard for us compared to ants and birds not only because we care about the outcome, but we are able to contemplate the complexity of the world and imagine a future we can’t control.

“People where you live,” the little prince said, “grow five thousand roses in one garden… yet they don’t find what they’re looking for…

They don’t find it,” I answered.

And yet what they’re looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water…”

Of course,” I answered.

And the little prince added, “But eyes are blind. You have to look with the heart.”

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (The Little Prince)

In focusing on the decision we may lose sight of where we already are and already have.

Author: James Vornov

I'm an MD, PhD Neurologist who left a successful academic career on the Faculty of The Johns Hopkins Medical School to develop new treatments in Biotech and Pharma. I became fascinated with how people actually make decisions based on the science of decision theory and emerging understanding of how the brain works to make decisions. My passion now is this deep explanation of what has been the realm of philosophy, psychology and self help but is now understood as brain function. By understanding our brains, I believe we can become happier, more successful people.

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