Human decision making...

In his book The Social Animal, in the chapter "Self-Control," David Brooks writes:

"Human decision making has three basic steps. First, we perceive a situation. Second, we use the power of reason to calculate whether taking this or that action is in our long-term interest. Third we use the power of will to execute our decision." (125)

"The first step is actually the most important one. Perceiving isn't just a transparent way of taking in. It is a thinking and skillful process. Seeing and evaluating are not two separate processes, they are linked and basically simultaneous." (127)

"Small habits and proper etiquette reinforce certain positive ways of seeing the world. Good behavior strengthens certain networks. Aristotle was right when he observed, "we acquire virtues by first having put them into action." The folks at Alcoholics Anonymous put the sentiment more practically, with their slogan "Fake it until you make it." Timothy Wilson of the University of Virginia puts it more scientifically: "One of the most enduring lessons of social psychology is that behavior change often precedes changes in attitude and feelings." " (128-129)

Such research findings give me hope that I can affect the direction of change in my own experience. Hope. A fine thing on Easter morning, when the sun is briefly shining on my valley. The dogwood are in bloom.