5th February 2019
“Rational” means that which can be observed by one of our senses and “irrational” is perception that does not rest on any of our five senses.
Words shape our thinking.
How we phrase a question shapes our decisions.
Think about how we use the words “rational” versus “irrational”.
“Rational” thinking is prized over “irrational” thinking.
We know that our senses are imperfect. A dog hears a greater range of sound than we do. A bear smells more powerfully.
In the same way it is true that when one is faced with business decisions, we do not have 100% of the information.
Important decisions depend on both rational and irrational thinking.
Marriage is a great life decision. How can we gather sufficient information to know the suitability of a spouse for one’s entire life?
Our minds seek control.
One way to exert control is to limit the way we think about life.
Limiting our experience to only that which is “rational” gives us a false feeling of control. But this sits on top of a fear of the “irrational”.
The “irrational” makes us fearful because it is harder to assess or control. But this fear is, itself, irrational.
Our lives improve and our decisions become more refined when we integrate the “rational” and “irrational”.
We are more effective when we can calculate and intuit simultaneously.
Abraham Goldberg
