by Elizabeth Betzer

Created on: March 20, 2009   Last Updated: September 02, 2009

First of all, let's establish that All decisions are based on perception. I think, therefore, I am. I am? I think! Need I go further? Brains are complex, multi-layered and faceted super muscles, that control everything in your body, (and in your body that comes out). Hiccups are bound to happen. Just the other day I was thinking about my brain, and I was wondering what would happen if you could give your brain a "vision" test like you do your eyes. Then I could see how clearly I see. Forget the ABDWXQ abdwxq. Imagine the test for testing your "in"sight.

Then I realized, they do have those tests. Psychiatrists give them. The difference beingthat your brain doesn't get a prescription for cool glasses or colored contacts, that you can take on and off, depending on your need for them. Your brain gets some kind of serotonin or dopamine re-uptake, inhibiting, balancing the logic/emotion type pill to help you "see" the world better.

Making bad choices once in a while is not caused by a brain condition, or an emotional condition. The only condition that causes us to make bad decisions is called "the human condition" from which we all suffer. As to Why? Because we are all human. Not one of us is perfect, or even close. We are All going to make mistakes based on both correct and incorrect perceptions.

The headline "why your brain can't always make good decisions" is vague. Is it assuming that I have the ability to always make good decisions, and choose not to?Or that I have a faulty decision maker, that is unaware that it is faulty? Or that at the time the decision has to be made, I do not have all the pertinent information to make a correct/good decision? Who is to say that from my perception, the decision I made was wrong? Isn't that your OPINION?Who decides that a decision was bad or good? This train of thought could go on and on, so I am (based on my perception) going to make a good decision here, and bottom line it.

My problem with this question is that it suggests that these "anomalies" in our decision making processes are a bad thing, and they are not. Life is a journey. Each and every second of every day, we are either making a decision, or in the process of deciding to make one (if that makes sense). Sometimes, the only way you learn important life lessons, and build character, or gain humility, is by being wrong. That we do notmake good decisions all the time, keeps us humble and honest about who we are. If it weren't for the bad decisions, we would never be able learn, or appreciate the good ones.

Then again, you could always skip that real, human, life defining stuff and become as perfect as those psychiatric judge people and take those re-uptake inhibiting things they give out. Wait, which humans were gonna get to judge which decisions were good or bad again? But? Well, wouldn't that be based on some other human with "the" condition's perception? So then? Ugh!

Just see paragraph 5, and all will be well again! By the way, you could Decide to smile today!

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Betzer.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.