This Simple Framework Helps Me in Making Better Life Decisions
You’ll definitely relate to it.
Do you have a habit of taking the decision because it has an immediate positive effect? Do you generally regret your decision? Do you feel you could have made a better choice?
If the answer to the above questions is yes, then this article is for you. If not, still give it a read, you might learn something new.
Humans are wired in such a way that we seek instant gratification and don’t go beyond the obvious solutions, which may result in unintended consequences that may impact us. It is important that our actions should be in line with our long-term goals or at the very least do us no long-term harm.
I have recently incorporated one of the major mental models in my life to help me make better decisions: Second order thinking.
So, before we get into second order thinking, let’s look at first order thinking.
First order thinking is basic and superficial, and almost everyone can do it. First order thinkers look for something that only solves the current problem without considering the long-term effects of following that decision.
Let’s take an example to understand it. Suppose Mr. K is feeling hungry, and he goes to the kitchen and eats whatever he can find to satisfy his hunger, whether it’s a chocolate bar, cookie, or packet of chips, without giving it a second thought.
We would call Mr. K a first order thinker because he didn’t consider the effects of his action.
But this level of thinking, as you might have realized, won’t help you make good decisions. If you want to be extraordinary, you must do something extra, i.e., follow second order thinking, which means looking beyond the obvious and understanding the cascading effects of your actions.
Second order thinking is more holistic and lets you solve the root cause of the problem. It is hard and requires effort to see the potential impact of your decisions way into the future.
Let’s look at that example and see how we can apply second order thinking to make a better decision.
After reading my article, Mr. K decided to apply second-order thinking to his life.
He again felt hungry, but instead of having that crap, he reminded himself that consuming these kinds of meals whenever I’m hungry will lead to weight gain and, more significantly, health issues. He drank some water, started looking for alternatives in the kitchen, and chose the fruit available at that time to combat his hunger until he prepared his next meal.
In this case, he made a thoughtful decision by considering the impact of the immediate decision, which would help him stay on track with his health goals.
Always consider the future consequences of following the obvious solution and figure out what else can be done in that situation. The decision might not make sense in the short term, but if it would pay off in the long run, I’d recommend choosing it.
At the end of the day, I promise you’ll be happy with your decision and proud of yourself. Also, you can replicate this in other areas of life to make better decisions.
I hope it was helpful to you and that you would start using it in your life. Good Luck!
