15. I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time

Colleagues,

MVP: I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time
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I don’t remember who I learned this from or when I first heard this phrase but learning this lesson has helped me be much kinder to myself and more forgiving of others.

People don’t intentionally do stupid things or make bad decisions, yet all of us do stupid things and make bad decisions. 


Why?


Of course, there are lots of factors, including emotional and psychological ones, but in the end, we do our best with the information that we have. 


Consequences and retrospection are great teachers for the future but are poor friends to the present.


When you screw up (and you will), learn and move on. You didn’t try to mess up. You made the best decision you could with the information you had at the time. This makes enacting lesson 13 (treat yourself as you would a child) a whole lot easier!


Todays intention: Reprocess an old failure – a time you really messed up. Of course, you would do it differently today, but what was the information you were acting on? Were you trying to make the best decision given who you were and what you knew at that time?


Our annual summer tradition is to share the most important things I’ve learned from other people throughout the month of July. This summer we have 20 lessons. You will receive one a day until we are done. If you feel particularly moved and want to share a reaction, please ​reply​! 


Cheers!


Frederick