Distinguish Between Uncertainty and Risk to Minimize Decision Anxiety
There are many choices in life that can make us nervous or anxious. Choosing the wrong university, buying the wrong car, etc. However, not all uncertainty is a risk. Learn to distinguish from each other to make the choice easier.
As writer Seth Godin explains, often what we really look for when we try to minimize risk is confidence. We want to know that we are choosing a good future, so it is uncomfortable for us not to know which choice is “correct”. However, if all possible outcomes give you more or less what you want, worrying about uncertainty will do nothing for you.
A simple example: the typical high school student going to various colleges has very little risk of going nowhere. Apply to a sufficient number of schools that match what you offer and the chances of you actually going somewhere are really high. Low risk but very high uncertainty about which college or colleges will say yes. It’s not risky. It’s vague. It takes fortitude to live with a future that is hard to imagine, but that is not a reason not to act.
This concept can be applied to social situations, investment, or even purchasing decisions. You may never be completely sure of the outcome before making a decision. However, realizing that uncertainty is inherently not a risk allows you to be more courageous and make decisions, rather than succumb to analytical paralysis due to the fear of making a non-existent “right” choice.
Uncertainty is not the same as risk | Seth Godin
Photo by Martin Fish .