What Problems Can Be Solved By Heuristic
One of the biggest aspects of personal development is solving problems. If you’re going to truly improve your life, then you’ll need to solve problems. These will mostly include practical issues. For example, you may want to lose weight, or get a better job, or get yourself out of debt. This problem solving could also refer to psychological issues like raising your self-esteem, overcoming anxiety issues, or feeling happier.
One way of doing this is by applying something known as heuristic problem solving. This may sound like complex or technical term, but it’s actually quite simple. Heuristics basically refers to any type of problem solving which uses practical methods in order to help you achieve a goal. It also refers to using methods which may not be perfect, but do eventually produce the desired result. Another way of explaining this is basically saying that heuristics are mental shortcuts which we use to make decisions.
A good example of heuristic problem solving includes things like trial and error. Instead of trying to find the perfect solution for your problems, you come up with a list of things which could work. You then try these out until you discover something which does work. What’s powerful about this method is that it will eventually produce a result. As long as you’re willing to continue trying new things, you’ll more than likely discover a solution which works.
Another example of heuristic problem solving is something known as the availability heuristic. What this means is that people generally make decisions based on the information which is available to them. Unfortunately, this often leads to people having a narrow view of reality. For instance, there could actually be a lot more going on than you actually think.
This is why it’s critically important that you gather as much information as possible. Do not make a big decision, without knowing as much about the subject as possible. Doing this could easily lead to someone making the wrong decision.
Yet another example is the scarcity heuristic. This refers to the perception that rare items are more valuable. Now, in many cases this might be true. On the other hand, it may not be true at all. The point is that you need to stop and think before choosing something which perceived as being more “valuable.” Is it actually more valuable, or are you actually misperceiving the situation.
The bottom line is that heuristics are simply the mental shortcuts we use to make decisions. Everyday our brains are forced to make hundreds of decisions. This can be something as simple as deciding what you’re going to eat for breakfast, or as complex as deciding on your career path. Heuristics allow us to make these decisions faster, and also provide a mental framework for doing so. The downside is that this framework can also lead to blind spots. You’ve seen this demonstrated in the examples above. The point is that you need to be aware of this heuristics. This way you can use them effectively, instead of having them work against you.
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