Meditations for Mortals
Decision-making
Calculate the Consequences You’re Actually Willing to Pay

Calculate the Consequences You’re Actually Willing to Pay

from Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts by Oliver Burkeman

How to Apply This

  1. Acknowledge decisions are never painless. Before acting, consciously admit that every significant choice comes with an unavoidable cost, whether emotional, relational, or practical.

  2. List possible consequences of each choice. Take a real decision you face. Write out likely trade-offs, not just what you hope for but also what you might lose or risk.

  3. Choose based on the price you’re willing to pay. Ask yourself, ‘Am I willing to accept these costs, or not?’ Make or delay your choice accordingly, granting yourself permission to say yes or no for clear reasons.

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