When It Comes to Possible Outcomes, Just Know This
We have to know that there are scenarios where we actually wind up happy in the end
I recently started watching the Netflix series, Punisher. Now, if you’re thinking, “Well that’s a very violent and brutal show,” you’re right — But, violence and brutality aside, I personally enjoy it and think it’s a pretty good show (Then again, I’m also extremely biased towards anything that’s created by Marvel).
Anyways, in an episode that I recently watched, one of the main characters sought out advice from another (not-so-decent) character based on a dilemma that seemed like it would only produce negative results no matter what action were to be taken.
The other character advised to her, “Choose the least worst outcome” and for some reason, that line really stuck with me.
Lately, I’ve been enduring an ongoing mental battle with myself as to what my next career move should be— To summarize, I want to find a different career path; one that would leave me feeling fulfilled.
I’ve been knowingly unhappy with my choice of career for the past few years, but the thing is, I haven’t really done much to change the situation. And the main argument that I keep circling back on are the motives that have been keeping me in the same exact place this entire time —Salary, health insurance, financial security, and so on.
These are all reasons that typically keep most people in jobs that they’re miserable in. And these reasons reminded me of the advice that character in the episode gave — “Choose the least worst outcome.”
Sure, I’m not passionate, enthusiastic, or excited about my job, but at least it pays the rent, right? It provides me with decent health insurance. It gives me the comfort of financial security.
And staying put in this particular job that I’m un-passionate, un-enthusiastic, and un-excited about is the least worst outcome for me. The least worst outcome is that I’d simply be sacrificing my happiness.
But, who wants to live like that?
Who wants to only choose the least worst outcome throughout their whole life? Surely, there must be a good outcome instead — One that creates positive results and actually leaves you feeling happy and fulfilled.
Another thing I’ve recently learned is that among the many skills I have yet to master, negotiation is definitely one of them. The reason being is because I always end up just settling with how things are. I never considered all of the other options. I never felt like going through the process of actually making things better for myself.
But, the whole purpose of negotiation is to produce results for all parties that are better than they were before, right?
Well, when you’re negotiating with just yourself, the only party that you have to consider is yourself. And for me, I always preferred to keep things status quo because I was too afraid of what would happen if things didn’t work out well. I never thought about what it would be like if instead I didn’t fail; if the outcome actually turned out better than before. I never considered what it would look like for me to be happy in my career.
I think the reason why that line, “Choose the least worst outcome” resonated with me so much is because it left no possibility for a happy ending for anyone. It only avoids total disaster.
Then, it dawned on me that I’m kind of living my life exactly like that — Just avoiding total disaster.
When it comes to considering all of the possible outcomes, we have to know that there are scenarios where we actually wind up happy in the end.
We have to know that all outcomes don’t necessarily have to be bad outcomes. We have to know that there are other ways. We have to know that we don’t only have to choose the least worst outcome — That we can instead create a better outcome for ourselves.
We have to continue to grow and to make the best life for ourselves that we possibly can. We have to consider the better outcomes and continue to strive towards those. If we don’t, then we’ll just live in a life full of fear, complacency, and stagnancy. We’ll live a life of regret; of never knowing how things could have been. And that is no way to live.
So, whatever situation you are currently in, just know that it’s not your only option. You can affect change — You can change the outcome. You can have a better one.
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