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Indecision Just Means Any Will Do: The Problem is Choice

This entry is part 2 of 7 in the series The First World Problem is Choice

OsakaWilson

“If you’ve got all the information and it is that difficult to decide between them, it doesn’t really matter which one you pick. The reason you can’t decide is because one is not sticking out as better for you, so just pick one and do it.”

  • Can’t pick a language?
  • Can’t pick an SRS score for that card?
  • Don’t know whether to use Surusu or Anki (hint: pick Surusu; I’m totally not biased 😛 )?

Then eff it. Pick whichever. The fact that you’re undecided means it doesn’t matter which you choose. How do I know? Well, in the course of your daily affairs, are you ever undecided over whether or not to breathe? No. Why? Because one choice (breathing) is obviously better than the other (not breathing).

The problem is choice. The problem of choice. The problem is there is no problem. Indecision just means any will do.

But…but…but…what if I know more later? What if I find out something later that will make me regret the decision I made?

Yeah. Key word: later. You will know more later. There will be another choice, dozens, millions of choices to make later. But only if you act now based on what you know now. Move on.

I know. You’re afraid you’ll make “the” wrong choice and “regret” it. But regret isn’t regret. Regret is just information you didn’t have at the time. But you only live in the present and you only have the information you have in the present. You only know what you know now. Don’t be a jerkwad to yourself. You have no way of knowing what you will know in the future. So you have no reason to regret anything. You (probably 😛 ) can’t cry time into regressing. And you (definitely) don’t need to.

Act. Push the [x] button on the PlayStation controller of life. Sign the treaty. Decide. Make the cut. Take the shot. Move on.

Make a choice now. Make new choices later.

Series Navigation<< The First World Problem is Choice, Or: Which Language Should I Learn?Logical Reasons to Learn A Language… >>

  16 comments for “Indecision Just Means Any Will Do: The Problem is Choice

  1. Sheryaar
    August 21, 2012 at 22:44

    Well said

  2. フレヂィー
    August 22, 2012 at 01:00

    Damn good!

  3. Jeck
    August 22, 2012 at 11:57

    その通り

  4. Kimura
    August 22, 2012 at 15:44

    What? No Matrix reference? Khatz, I am disappoint.

  5. August 22, 2012 at 16:42

    Here is one of my favorite quotes, might have been tweeted by you khatz, but I saved it (as I do all inspiring quotes):

    “Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.” – Robert Schuller

    There is no perfect system or method, just start with something. I started with Rosetta Stone believe it or not, and while searching for something better I eventually ended up here. One of the only ways to know if something is worth it is to try it and see, then you will know. Also you start a journey that may lead you to the thing that is right for you, but if you don’t take that first step you may not find it. It also helps to try out different things, you get some bonus experience points even if you end up ditching one thing for another.

  6. Jon
    August 22, 2012 at 20:41

    Push the [x] button on the PlayStation controller of life.

    What, you want us to cancel out of life? Or did you mean the [o] button? 😉

    • Sholum
      August 25, 2012 at 07:40

      Khatz just must not have a Japanese PlayStation.
      I never understood why they switched the buttons around.

      • Wurstmann
        June 25, 2017 at 09:25

        Because in the West you use x to check boxes etc.; in Japan it’s o.
        (Yes, I realize that I’m 7 years late)

  7. August 22, 2012 at 20:45

    Love it! Sometimes I can’t decide whether I really want to stick with a flashcard and then just go ahead and graduate it to the highest level. Maybe I will be interested then. That moment of quick sorting and making a decision is also a learning moment. Keep your hands on your joystick of life! (uhhm, didn’t come out right)

  8. Michel
    August 23, 2012 at 15:32

    Did once take the test to become a air plane pilot. Was rejected. Reason: taking to much time to take a decision…In an emergency, the pilot taking a decision has a chance to save the plane…The one thinking too much and not deciding has 100% chances to crash!

  9. August 23, 2012 at 15:46

    A close friend of mine once said,

    “No matter what you do, you’ll regret it later.”

    〜”ʘ‿ʘ”〜 Words of wisdom.

  10. Sholum
    August 24, 2012 at 21:03

    Regret isn’t regret? Man, next thing you’ll tell us is that hookers aren’t hookers and blow isn’t blow!

    But yeah, indecisiveness gets you nowhere as I can attest. The only reason I’m not able to understand the majority of the Japanese I see and hear is because I was indecisive about how to learn for years (different things at different times, but still indecisive).
    Now that I’ve decided, everything is progressing. Even if it isn’t always going smoothly, it’s still going and that’s what counts.

  11. Fabian
    January 15, 2013 at 03:28

    But the X button is the O button in Japan and I can’t remember it all the time and sometimes I make choices I don’t want to! AAH 🙁

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