Day to day Quote by Chip Heath
““This brings us to the third villain of decision making: short-term emotion. When we’ve got a difficult decision to make, our feelings churn. We replay the same arguments in our head. We agonize about our circumstances. We change our minds from day to day. If our decision was represented on a spreadsheet, none of the numbers would be changing—there’s no new information being added—but it doesn’t feel that way in our heads. We have kicked up so much dust that we can’t see the way forward. In those moments, what we need most is perspective.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: TED Talk “The Art of Decision Making”, 2015
Short‑term emotions cloud judgment, making decisions feel unstable even when facts stay the same. Gaining perspective helps cut through the emotional fog.
In simple terms: Emotions make decisions feel uncertain; perspective clarifies.
Key Takeaway
Seek objective perspective before deciding.
Themes
decision making
emotions
clarity
psychology
bias
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
advice
insight
When to use this quote
- business strategy meetings
- personal life choices
- investment decisions
- team project planning
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
emotional intelligence
perspective taking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you separate feeling from fact?
- What tools give you perspective?
A Different Perspective
Emotions can also provide valuable signals; ignoring them may miss important values.
