LIFE, one could argue, is like a long game of blackjack. In a common version of this, each person is initially dealt two cards. The goal is to add 21 to your hand, or as much as you can without going broke. Players can “stick” or “convert” with their existing hand, asking them to deal another card to add to their total. The danger, of course, is to go over 21 and get kicked out.
It may seem like a far cry from everyday choices, but many of the most important decisions in our lives boil down to these dilemmas. Should I stay put or take the plunge and move house? Should I continue my job or start my own business? Should I endure an unsatisfying relationship or try my luck at love one more time? In each case, we must weigh the safety of what we have against a more dangerous, but potentially more rewarding alternative.
The inherent uncertainty of these dilemmas leaves many of us mired in analysis paralysis, and so we linger in the status quo, never giving ourselves a chance to win big. Some, on the other hand, are too easily swayed by the lure of the new: they act too easily, until their impulsive behavior loses everything. If any of these situations sound familiar, help may be near. Thanks to a growth an understanding of our underlying cognitive biases and how to escape, we now have evidence-based strategies for thinking rationally about these problems, so playing life hand-in-hand has worked to our best advantage.
Article amended on March 19, 2024
We have clarified the location of Possession Island
