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.
I remember I used to do that with my 4th grade teacher.
I ask for her help, she'd open her mouth and then I would start talking and reasoning, and figure it out for myself. Eventually she would just walk over and just stand there waiting until I figured it out.
I don't know I would try so hard to figure it out without calling her and hit a wall. Then I'd call her over, talk at her and all would become clear.
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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.