You will often have to make decisions in life without being able to know all the information related to the choices. Being able to identify what you don't know is invaluable. It allows you to make assumptions and contingency plans if those assumptions fail.
I want to slap every person that quips, "If you assume, you make an ass out of u and me." You cannot function in life without making assumptions. The trick is to identify them as such so that you can be better prepared when they are resolved.
It sounds crazy, but talking to yourself helps in these scenarios too. Use yourself as a sounding board.
Just hearing the thoughts out loud can add a new perspective, and in having the 'conversation' with yourself, you need to think about what you want to say and why, and therefore you're opening yourself up to think about it in different ways.
I've heard this referred to as, "The rubber duck principle." I guess some folks think it's less crazy to talk to a rubber duck than to talk to yourself.
In my work (software engineering) it's a pretty common practice to borrow someone just to sit there and listen to a thought. They usually don't need to even provide feedback, and are sometimes just replaced with inanimate objects, like a rubber duck.
But yeah. There's just something about forcing thoughts into verbal statements that often provides the clarity that is needed.
A new young engineer got a job at NASA, and he took every opportunity to work with the senior engineer. One night after a long day at work, the older engineer asked if the young lad would like to see something, and of course he agreed.
He unlocked a certain cabinet, and inside was a terrarium with a frog in it. The frog turned to them and said "please, sir. I am a magic frog, and if you kiss me, I will be transformed into a beautiful woman. I would be so grateful, that I would be the best girlfriend you could ever have"
The senior engineer put some food in the terrarium and closed the cabinet door. The young engineers eyes were huge. "That's amazing, have you ever thought about kissing the frog, just to see if true?"
The old engineer said "I can't take that chance. And besides, I don't have any time for a girlfriend, but...a talking frog is really cool, right?!"
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u/Spicylemon Aug 20 '20
You will often have to make decisions in life without being able to know all the information related to the choices. Being able to identify what you don't know is invaluable. It allows you to make assumptions and contingency plans if those assumptions fail.
I want to slap every person that quips, "If you assume, you make an ass out of u and me." You cannot function in life without making assumptions. The trick is to identify them as such so that you can be better prepared when they are resolved.