In my first year of college, a professor taught us something called opportunity cost. For novices like I was back then, opportunity cost is the loss incurred on not choosing the next best alternative, after the one you chose. In layman's terms, the easiest example would be - you choose to go to a party instead of sleeping early. The loss of sleep because you chose to go to the party, that's your opportunity cost.
As I have mentioned multiple times in my blogs before, I don't like not being in control of things in my life. That is why I like making informed decisions. But no matter what, more often than not, there is always a variable you miss to take into account. And more often than not, that's okay because that's what the new element is - a variable. It ain't a k. Even so, it bums me out.
And I'd like to believe, I am not the only one.
For all things tangible, you can mostly make informed decisions. But for intangible things, such as life (generic, I know, hehe), these variables hold the power to affect you and make you feel like you're not in control.
Earlier this week, I was deciding all things career-related. I was planning to go to another city for a few months to work, and while that was an amazing opportunity, the opportunity cost for the same would be me missing out on a lot of family functions, social commitments, homesickness, and any other better opportunities I may come across if I don't switch cities. And all of these decisions made me feel like I was losing control; like control was something tangible I was holding in my fist. With every passing thought, I could feel it slipping away like sand from the minuscule gaps between my fingers. And that terrified me.
Another thing you should know about me at this point is that when I am confused, I leave everything to God. Well not God, but I let fate decide things.
But there is a trick to it.
When I flip a coin, or when I make two chits and ask someone to choose one, or when I decide to stick out two fingers and ask someone to choose either - in that millisecond before the coin settles or the person chooses the finger or chit, at that moment; I feel it in my gut, the option I want to be chosen. That is the decision I make, and more often than not, that makes me feel as if I am in control. In all honesty, this is a trick I picked up from some web series. But it works wonderfully.
People say nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity. However, I believe nothing is costlier than choosing the wrong alternative, since that way you don't just lose out on the opportunity but also your control, and confidence to make decisions.
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