Washing jeans and other big decisions.
That is something I’ve always wanted to know. I mean, I’ve read that some people never wash their jeans. That’s just weird. It’s at least as weird as how we humans make choices.
That last line was a hint and I’ll say this up front—this post isn’t really about washing jeans or doing laundry, or anything of the sort.
The number of times it’s appropriate to wear clothing items without washing them often seems based more on folklore or a person’s upbringing than professional advice.”
—from The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
I’ll go out on a limb here and say seeking professional advice is usually the nuclear option for most of us.
Tell me that’s not the truth. How many things do you do, or not do, thanks to your mom and dad? Plus, the scary part is that folklore probably has more to do with our choices than mom ever did. With all due apologies to mom, she likely has more influence than she should.
Then, mix in the fact that we humans tend to randomly accept or reject the advice we got from our parents without due consideration for what’s best for us now or any modern advancements that may have occurred since.
Who or what influences your choices? That’s what I’m diving into here.
I’ve said it here before—we always have a choice. And we usually have more than one or two. Learning how to recognize them is the key. It’s a central tenet to living LifeUntucked®.
Recognizing how many choices I’ve made based solely on how Mom and Dad did something got me wondering. I mean, I got lucky in this category. I learned a ton from my parents.
Still, I’ll admit there are also things I’ll never do just because that’s how Mom or Dad did them. And I can’t identify the difference.
How many other choices do we make without any rational thinking?
That folklore thing clearly fits in here. By folklore I mean, the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community passed through the generations by word of mouth. Now that’s a recipe for disaster!
That’s the traditional definition. Translate it into contemporary terms, with all the nonsense on the internet and social media, and our decision-making ability can get real-scary-real-quick.
I raise this not because we’re able or likely to change this behavior…
… it’s at least important to be aware of this minor defect in human nature so we don’t get burned by our own doings in this life of ours.
The more I thought about it, the more curious I became. So, I do what everyone does in moments of curiosity like these—I Googled it!
Annnnd, I stumbled across this gem by behavioral scientist Susan Weinschenk, titled simply, “How People Make Decisions.” Here are a few interesting takeaways from the article—
- “All decisions involve emotions.” Well, that blows the whole concept of the rational buyer, doesn’t it?
- “Most decisions are not made logically.” Even the big ones, when we think we are being logical.
- “Too many choices means people won’t choose.” I knew that one, my last boss proved that one every day.
- “Most of our decisions are made unconsciously.” Translated, that means without thinking.
The more we dig into this choice and decision-making thing, the more we’ll realize how hard it is to make a good one.
No, I’m not trying to be defeatist or anything. Of course, good decisions are possible.
Most of us will never admit to ourselves that our decisions are primarily based on our emotions and biases. The rational part is hard to work into the process. It takes awareness, practice, and intention.
If we learn to raise our self-awareness, learn to recognize when we can trust our instincts, and take the time necessary for more informed decision-making on complicated matters, we can make better decisions.
The thing is, being human can be challenging. We all struggle with the big questions—like how often to wash our jeans.
Remember, you can always ask your mom.
Be untucked.
p.s. By the way, if you’ve ever wondered about the laundry thing, you may want to check out the post here.
p.p.s Here’s a quick read on the art of decision-making.
p.p.p.s. Oh and remember to share this post with a friend. Thanks, I owe you one!
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