Ellen Langer, prominent psychologist and mother of mindfulness" said, “Don’t make the right decision; make your decision right,” is a profound statement that encourages us to shift our perspective on decision-making. It suggests that instead o…
Ellen Langer, prominent psychologist and mother of mindfulness" said, “Don’t make the right decision; make your decision right,” is a profound statement that encourages us to shift our perspective on decision-making. It suggests that instead of agonizing over finding the ‘correct’ choice, we should focus on making the most of the decisions we do make.
In life, we’re often faced with the daunting task of making decisions, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to make the ‘right’ one. But Langer’s wisdom tells us that what truly matters is how we handle the aftermath of our decisions. It’s about taking action to ensure that the path we’ve chosen becomes the right one for us through our efforts and commitment.
Applying this to our lives means embracing the choices we make and putting in the work to make them fruitful. It’s about being proactive and taking responsibility for our decisions, rather than passively hoping we’ve made the right call. This approach empowers us to create positive outcomes and learn from every decision, rather than being paralyzed by the fear of making a wrong choice.
So, the next time you’re faced with a decision, remember Langer’s advice.
Consider, if a choice leads to failure, can you recover from it? If so, it's better to fail at it than not to act at all. For example, parkour on the roof of a skyscraper is not something you can learn from and try again if you fail. But standing in front of a crowd and giving a speech that isn't well-received can be a very valuable experience IF you learn from it and go again.
Thanks for reading. What's the scariest thing you've tried and failed at? Share in the comments below. Follow for more like this. Till next time, keep failing forward!
Ellen Jane Langer, the originator of this insightful quote, is a prominent figure in psychology. She earned her Ph.D. at Yale University in Social and Clinical Psychology and joined the faculty at Harvard in 1977. Known as the “mother of mindfulness,” L..
