The Curse of 'Once You Decide, You Can't Change It'

"Since I've started it, I have to see it through to the end."
"It would be a waste to quit halfway."
"I don't want people to think I lack grit."

Trapped by thoughts like these, there are people who cannot quit even if they want to.
Whether it's studies, work, hobbies, relationships, or projects... continuing something is considered a virtue and is viewed as a "setback" or "giving up" if you pull out halfway.

But is "continuing" really that important?
We might just be bound by some structural preconception.

The notion that "quitting halfway is bad" is surprisingly influenced by education. For example, in school exams, you don't get points unless you solve them from start to finish. The same structure applies to the parental advice, "You decided to do it, so keep at it."

Having been exposed to this "completion-based evaluation model" for many years, we are unconsciously imprinted with the idea that "quitting equals losing".

However, real-world society, business, and life choices are much more fluid.
What has value is not "finishing the race," but "continuously updating what is optimal right now."

In other words, the flexibility to rewrite your path as needed is more important than continuing to follow your initial choice.

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Let's try a thought experiment here.

Suppose there is a novel you have spent 10 hours reading.
However, the further you read, the more boring it becomes, and you cannot get on board with the story.

Even so, you might think, "I've read this far, so I have to finish it." This is a psychological bias called the "sunk cost effect," a phenomenon where you make poor judgments because you are bound by "costs already paid".

In reality, the time and effort spent in the past have absolutely nothing to do with the decision of whether to keep reading now. What matters is simply, "Is reading this beneficial to me right now?"

But when you are structurally imprinted with the idea that "quitting equals a loss," you continue to make irrational decisions.

There is also risk in "continuing."

For example, continuing a business that isn't working.
Learning that you continue even though your motivation has dried up.
Maintaining uncomfortable human relationships.

These are losses caused by "not being able to quit".

And in many cases, the reason this becomes serious is the structure that defines quitting as a "defeat." In other words, the social atmosphere where the choice to quit halfway is treated as if it "never happened"... that is what binds us.

Quitting is not "failure," but an "update."

It is choosing to re-evaluate the optimal action for your current self, and it is also an adjustment to move forward.

The problem is stopping your thinking because "I decided this at the beginning".

In fact, you should be using the option to "quit" much more actively.

Life is constantly changing.
You won't know if the path you've chosen still suits you unless you stop and take a look.

Continuing to move forward is not the only form of growth.
Stepping away for a moment to look at the bigger picture is also a form of growth.

Perhaps it is okay to listen a little to that inner voice asking, "Isn't it okay to stop now?"

That sense of discomfort,that is probably because of the "structure."

The previous #StructuralAnalysisSeries was...