Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t

IMGP4596

Nature provides us the answer when we look silently. The decision making conundrum is always between logic and instinct.

Financial markets go up and down. We still refer to it as market sentiment. And sentiment follows not from logic

Our happiest choices in life almost always stem from last minute decisions. We do our painstaking research before venturing out to accomplish something. And more often than not, the rules change in the last minute. When faced with uncertainty, all logic goes out the window. We’re mentally stripped bare of all reasoning and decide based on our gut.

Great people, striking people are all those followed their instinct. Mozart, Beethoven, Van Gogh, Lincoln etc. Their conviction came from knowing and the knowing came from something deep within.

Naturally, following one’s instinct is a dangerous game too. Many a time, we go wrong and the repercussions can be disastrous. But picking oneself up and moving on to the next decision is all that keeps us going.

Logic keeps us on the boring middle path. Secure, predictable, average.

Instinct keeps us alert, shows us great successes and great failures. Its all about extremes. Like the delicate flower whose stamens stand exposed to the elements. There is great risk of death, of being crushed by even a mouse. But the choice to remain open gives the greatest gift. New Life.

Damned to more probable failures than successes if you follow only instinct. Damned to mediocrity if you follow only logic.

Which payoff would you choose?