The selfish ‘if’

Excel is a good ‘analytic’ tool. So are some data mining tools that help us slice and dice the information into perspectives, or should I say views. A dashboard consisting of related views can tell a hidden story. But all stories have something in common viz. assumptions. The story holds water only if certain pre-defined rules are met. For example, in a movie, a person has to die for the hero to take revenge. In the stock market, a P/E multiple of 10 and below may point to a coming 52 week high. The point is all these assumptions are ‘if’ statements.

An ‘if’, by its nature is selfish. Let me elaborate.

We like to classify things. This categorization is a strict ‘left’ hemisphere function that is supposed to make our life easier. In fact, it is the opposite. The more we classify the more patterns we store in our brain. And hence the more prejudices we have. Now, we always tend to compare, dividing the information further and further, till it is atomic. The intellect is a dissecting instrument and can be used to solve logical problems. However, life works in a different way. It can only be understood through a holistic approach. Not divisive. And many a times we are looking at a view and not a self-sufficient story.

Let’s take a computer to understand this better. A software program typically has a lot of ‘if’ statements (loops included). This comparison or an ‘if’ that we come across calls for extra CPU cycles. (a comparator) Look at the only 2 different kinds of jumps.

Jump based on a decision (there are many)
Jump unconditional (there is only one)

The latter executes faster and is an indication of a natural principle. An unconditional jump is the greatest form of love, if I may say so, like unconditional love. You jump not without thinking but following nature’s way. Take for example: the POST (Power on self-test) routine. All machines jump to this reserved location without any doubt. After the basic vital signs are found ok, the OS boots.

An ‘if’ should not be a comparison, a judgment, or a disposition. This narrows our focus. The very word ‘if’ is an antithesis of ‘trust’. And where there is no trust, the relationships perish.

Now you decide whether the ‘if’ is selfish or not.

God Bless!