For choices you can’t undo, slow down. Sleep on it, ask someone wise, then sleep on it again.
STILLNESS
WHAT THIS MEANS
A small number of decisions do not offer a second attempt, and those deserve a completely different process from the rest. Urgency around them is usually manufactured, by someone else or by your own discomfort with being undecided. The cost of taking an extra week is nearly always lower than it feels.
Before anything irreversible, sleep on it, describe it out loud to someone with no stake in it, and sleep on it again. If it is still right after all that, you will know without arguing yourself into it.
A QUESTION TO SIT WITH
Which decision in front of you cannot be taken back?
MORE IN PATIENCE & TIMING
- Sleep on it. Midnight you is dramatic, and morning you has better judgment and breakfast.
- Before giving advice, ask, “Do you want help or do you want me to just listen?” It’ll save half your arguments.
- Ask a question and then let it sit. The best answers usually show up after the awkward three seconds.
Free, with nothing to buy inside it.