Life is all decisions in uncertainty

Step one is accepting that you never have all the information. Step two is not being paralyzed by that awareness.

It is not uncommon for people to delay decisions or actions as they seek more information. But these delays are often perpetual and endless as a person grasps for certainty and guarantees under the disguise of getting more information.

The amount and kind of information you need depends on the context. If you are buying a business, you want more information than if you were simply advertising with that business. If you go on a date with someone, you don't need to know as much about the person as you would if you were going to marry them.

Acknowledging and accepting that you can never have all the information liberates you. You can let go of that expectation or desire. Instead, ask yourself a more disciplined question: What information do I need to make a quality decision?

I love this question because it forces you to clarify your criteria, standards, and thresholds. If you can't answer that question, then no amount of information will ever be good enough for you. If you won't answer that question, then your problem is not information. You have an emotional block that you are pretending is about information.

I always keep a handful of questions nearby to help me stay disciplined in gathering and leveraging information. Use them if they are helpful for you:

1. Do I understand enough to have a directionally accurate opinion supported by facts? (not proof or guarantee)
2. Do I understand enough to take action, begin learning, and make progress?
3. Is my mind open and curious to new information as it arrives?
4. Can I adjust my decisions and actions moving forward as my understanding improves with new information?

You will never have all the information, so seek the relevant information necessary to decide and act. It's your responsibility to figure out where that line is for you in each situation. Therein lies the freedom of life and no small part of its art.

Event + Response = Outcome. Do the work.