Margin for Error

October 14, 2016

We live in a world rife with uncertainty. We make assumptions that often morph into certainties because we can’t focus on anything if we question everything everyday. Yet if we don’t want to risk betting our whole life on something that turns out to be wrong we should ask ourselves “what would happen if I were wrong?”.

To me I have placed my bets and everything else has taken a backseat. My bets are that “understanding your psychology can make your life better”, “we can change for the better” and “humans are basically good” (maybe the most risky of them all). But what would happen if I were wrong? What would happen if studies came out, not just one or two, but a huge number of replicable studies came out which showed that optimism levels can’t be increased, the human brain is fixed as it is and even though we are good sometimes, it clearly is selfishness that drives everything.

Well I have thought about that. Because the sunny days, time with friends, money and possibly more care-free life that would be available if I backed off of spreading what I believe to be the truth in this world I can never get back. I can never get back the time I spent alone in my room or at Starbucks drafting podcast episodes or writing course materials.

But here’s the thing: there’s margin for error because to me there’s nothing more interesting to think about than how more people can lead a fulfilling life. There is nothing more worthy to me than being able not once or twice but reliably support people who are going through hard times and giving them hope, knowing that this work makes a difference.

If you don’t have that margin of error in your life I don’t want you to feel bad about it. But I hope you realize it and do something about it before it unravels you.