Day Fifteen: the Final Choice

Here we go again, from what we have started this course now we end with it: the concept of choice. We talked about the different perceptions of risk and how they can influence our choices and our behaviours but I would prefer instead to analyse these factors of influence from the perspective of what I have learned overall in this course. First of all, I find really useful to predict and evaluate different outcomes of a given choice: preparedness is about being aware not only of the choice itself and the two or more different possibilities given by such choice but also of the actual consequences brought by any eventual decision. Weber talked about ‘causal explanation’ and ‘judgements of objective possibility’ in order to shed light on past consequences coming from similar choices / events and to make predictions about other possible outcomes in case of mutation or complete change of such choice or event: based on the experience I made in the past I should be able to adjust my decisions each time toward the most desirable outcome I want to achieve until I ideally ‘reach’ the best choice possible – thus, preparing myself not only for the consequences but also for future occasions. It is like aligning my choices to my personal development agenda, taking each bifurcation, every fall, as an opportunity for growth.

The second step is to seek external assistance if necessary, remembering that it is in any case essential to keep a certain cold objectiveness on the influence that other people can exercise on me: usually, at least for me, it is easier to be more objective and critical toward the opinion and / or behaviour of someone else instead of mine and using such analysis as a parameter for choice it’s easier for me to take a clearer decision on the matter. On this front, it is convenient to build over time strong ‘safety nets’ – people and contacts I can trust upon – in order also to provide myself with an open window toward other possible opportunities. But how actually can I prevent from making a bad choice or from falling again in the same mistakes of the past? Well, I think a constant reminder, a sort of refreshment, of what my true values and goals are is the most effective way to proactively and progressively strive for actions (and thus decisions) all pointing at the same destination – of course, in order to do so it is necessary a great level of self-awareness and self-control, as well as stability and, yes, even a bit of stubbornness.

After these three steps I should be satisfied with the choice I eventually make, but what about when such choice is revealed to be a wrong one? Even before marking a decision as bad, however, I believe it is necessary to actually let time pass by a bit in order to have a full understanding of the consequences and then proceed for the proper evaluation of the overall situation. Second thing is not to panic – after all, if I give myself a proper limited time to recover and find a solution I should be able to keep the track of events and the

focus on what really matters. In this phase it is necessary to build back first of all the self-confidence and then the ambitions of before with the attached values and goals; it is however fundamental not to pursue at all costs the so called old engineering equilibrium but, if possible, I should strive for a new other ecological one more suitable to the current situation – it can be seen with relationships, with friends, with personal happiness… nothing stays always the same and nor should our metrics (values, ambitions, thoughts, choices) do. Then, while taking a decision of course, cultural and personal biases and linguistic barriers have to be always taken into consideration. In conclusion, what I can really take from this course is probably the same approach to choices and risks: be calm, have a plan, and adapt to complexity.