The brain doesn’t run on the consensus model.
Nobody really knows exactly how we make decisions. One thing, however, is reasonably clear. Different parts of our brains have different jobs and often don’t agree. The sugar craving area loves donuts and candy bars. The part that is concerned about self-image and extra flab hates them. It is the pushing and pulling of different parts of our brains that makes making decisions difficult.
When we finally make a decision, the losing side hasn’t given up. At best, it has been mollified. The strength of its arguments lose force and are eventually overwhelmed.
Evidence of this lack of agreement can be seen in the remorse we often feel after making a big decision. The nay-saying sections seem to rally after the decision is made and we are committed. I have no idea how this mental tug-of-war plays out in our skulls. Recognizing the tug-of-war, though, can help us make better decisions.
Specifically, we can use the lack of consensus to our advantage. When important decisions need to be made, we can do our best not to leap to quick conclusions. We can deliberately give the nay-sayers a chance to build their case. In a sense, we can give our own internal devil’s advocate a chance to speak.
This isn’t to say that we need to actively think through problems and deliberate on the cons we perceive. Often it is enough to simply give our unconscious minds time to process a problem.
Sleeping on a decision is usually a good idea.
