THE WISDOM OF DELAYED CONCLUSIONS

STRUGGLING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ON SOMETHING?  SOMETIMES IT’S BEST JUST TO WAIT.

The 2007 movie Charlie Wilson’s War, starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, tells the true story of a U.S. Congressman’s efforts to help the Afghans win the 20-year Soviet-Afghan War.

The congressman (played by Hanks) is supported by a CIA agent (Hoffman), who cautions him about what will happen if the proper investments aren’t made to rebuild the country after the war.

To make his point, Hoffman tells the story of The Zen Master, who wisely keeps saying “we’ll see” when people in the village keep drawing quick conclusions about things that happen around them.

The Zen Master’s point is that things that may seem good at the time can sometimes turn out badly, and things that may seem bad at the time can often turn out well.

The lesson is that we often make snap judgments about something with incomplete information, which can cause us to make unwise decisions and take the wrong action.

Here are 3 reasons to delay quick conclusions until you have more information:

1)  You’re less likely to see situations as hopeless or unsolvable

By taking more of a”wait and see” attitude, you avoid closing yourself off to the possibility of good outcomes.   When you mind is open, you’re more likely to absorb helpful new information and find answers to issues.

2) You have a better chance of developing more elegant solutions

When you take time to look at more of the nuances and complexities of a situation, you’re more likely to see more options and possibilities.  By avoiding the trap of “either/or” or “black and white” thinking, your creativity and imagination can be put to use to develop the best solution.

3) You’re more likely to avoid embarrassing or costly mistakes

It’s easy to fall into the trap of making assumptions about a situation, person, or relationship that turn out to not be true.  When this happens, you may say or do something you regret.   By delaying any conclusions until you have more information, you’re less likely to have to offer an apology, make amends, or unwind a decision.

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