“If you cannot understand why someone did something, look at the consequences and infer the motivation”
— Jordan Peterson
Simplified Meaning:
When you don't understand why a person took a specific action, examine what happened as a result of their action and try to figure out the reason behind it. For example, if a coworker suddenly starts working extra hours, and you notice they later receive a promotion, you can guess that their motivation was to get noticed by the boss and move up in their job. This way of thinking can help you make sense of people's actions even when their reasons aren't immediately clear. By looking at the outcomes, you can often see what they were really trying to achieve and understand their behavior better. It's useful advice for dealing with confusing situations in life, making it easier to act wisely, communicate better, and build better relationships.
Related tags
Actions Analysis Behavior Consequences Decision-making Intention Motivation Psychology Reasoning UnderstandingFEATURED QUOTES