People get in their own way. So says a group of researchers, who also highlight the value of not overthinking a decision. The brain, they have found, appears to make up its ‘mind’ 10 seconds before we even become conscious of a decision.
And we think, and think, and overthink, till the last drop, when infact we already have a decision in our mind much in advance. This new study brings an interesting question in light – should we act first, and think later?
In the past few weeks, I came across two contrasting pieces of real-life incidents that loosely show this void in the human behavior of thinking and action.
In the first incident, as frightening as it may sound, an 81 year old Australian man built a robot to kill himself. You heard it right. A man built a machine to commit suicide. Reportedly, he built a robot that could fire a gun repeatedly, then laid down in his driveway and let the robot attack. Sadly, yet ingeniously, he died.
In the other incident, as bizarre as it may sound, a young man spent one year following every rule in the Bible. Much, much harder, he soon discovered, as he found himself growing his beard, struggling not to curse and asking strangers for permission to stone them for adultery. I suppose his intention was not to mock religion, but atleast he liked something about a forced day of rest.
I feel that its this sort of contrast in our thinking and action that creates a dillusion of stimulation in our minds to start with. I wonder if my dad is right about offence being the best defence. Maybe, maybe not.