Labyrinth of Choice

Decisions are either life-saving or life-threatening. They could be the thin line between success and failure. Sometimes it takes one or multiple decisions to make a difference. Consequently, we make consultations, the oracles being our mind, family and friends; with the ultimate goal of finding satisfaction. 

Depending on the scope, our mind alternates between logic and sentiments in making a choice. The dilemma is either smoothened or complicated by our explicit or tacit knowledge of the factors to consider. However, our personality and experience decides if rationale or emotions prevail in the eventual choice. This mind boggle creates an agitation that resonates beyond the point choice is made; having an eye out for the outcome. Although this is one consultation in which sense should prevail, our minds have a proclivity for skepticism. Why, even the most logical conclusion by all standards often do not keep us at rest. Our minds have a way of making comparisons, reading much interpretations in other things that may, even if only remotely, bear on the matter; causing us to be overly cautious or to take the bull by its horn. The reason to Act or Not to act changes drive. Inaction stems primarily from a fear of the unknown not because logic is discredited. Likewise, damning the fears becomes the spur to act, rational thinking being a secondary drive if ever. 

Aiming to control the wave of factors breaking on our minds, we consult members of our family. The broader perspective this offers can truly be invaluable. But there is a caveat. The logic or sentiments postulated herein is bent towards the adviser's knowledge of the subject matter, personality and experience. We could add a fourth - tradition. He or she isn't wearing the moccasin and doesn't know where it pinches most - even if he or she has worn a moccasin before, we might add. Even with this relativity, particularly with culture bias in the mix, we can only be too sure that their reasoning expunges subjectivity to the barest minimum. Subsequently though, the final decision rests on us - our minds. Our drive to action or not borders on trust or distrust in their logic or lack of it. Either way, the decision herein hinges a bit more on sheer belief, backed by the sentiments born of kinship, than tested proof or disproof of logic. 

Sometimes the issue may require consulting friends. This too is fraught with the same limitations except jealousy replaces tradition, in which case rationale is often erased. The competitive air around peers work against their better judgement when offering advice. In a conscious quest to be ahead of the pack, sentiments is deliberately presented as practical with phony reports of personal instances as a basis. In making our minds up on this, we exhibit an innocence that shades the true intentions of our peers' voluntary hesitance at reason. Naivety.

We could rationalize that a lot is beyond our control when it comes to making choices. We are left with the monumental task of going by our rather parochial minds or chaining our decisions to the view of others and stand the risk, or not, of dealing with the aftermath of our folly. Travis in The Choice said: "The secret to life. It's all about decisions. Little, seemingly insignificant decisions can clear the road for monster-truck life altering ones. Every path one takes leads to another choice. Some choices can change everything - every moment for the rest of our lives." These moments could come hard or easy on us. If we are fortunate to perfect the synch between the oracles, these moments could keep us feeling "easy as Sunday morning."