What have I learned from Harry Potter and Bugs Bunny about decision making?

For a hypothetical argument's sake, let's roll with the assumption that everyone is making the best decisions that they can with the information that they have in the moment. Most people, most of the time, aren't making decisions that they think are bad or wrong. We're all doing the best we can with what we got.

If we truly believe that, there's an awful lot of space for us to invite in compassion, sympathy, forgiveness and empathy when we make decisions that doesn't work out.

We make a decision. It works out. Or it doesn't. And we move on from there.

Instead, it's easier to get caught up in the opposite direction: second guessing, regret, remorse, resentment, finger pointing, blame and over thinking our past decisions. I made the decision. The best I could at the time. And now I want to use new information to make the best decision I can in this new moment.

A cool little plot device in The Half-Blooded Prince (one of my favorite Harry Potter books) is a magical potion called Felix Felicis. From the Harry Potter Wiki:

"Felix Felicis, also called "Liquid Luck", is a magical potion that makes the drinker lucky for a period of time, during which everything they attempt will be successful. It turns an ordinary day into an extraordinary one."

Harry successfully uses it towards the end of the book and has the ultimate trust in his own judgement and decision making. Harry also tricks Ron earlier in the book into thinking that Ron drank the potion before a big Quidditch match. This helps Ron get out of his own head and lead his team to victory. It has striking similarities to "Michael's Secret Stuff" in the Space Jam movie where Bugs Bunny tricks his teammates into drinking water thinking that it makes them better basketball players.

Harry and Bugs both know the power of the placebo affect. Science has proven that our brains can convince our body that a fake treatment is the real thing.

If given the opportunity and no side effects, we all would be walking around like Harry after he takes the potion. After he consumes the potion, he seemingly makes a bizarre decision and responds. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing... or at least, Felix does."

And so, that is the confidence and trust I want to cultivate in my own decision making. Mentally, I know I'm making the best decision I can in the moment, but it's oh so easy to forgot.

As a fun little hack, I've labeled my water bottle Felix Felicis. From now on, every morning when I wake up and drink water, I'll be reinforcing a little luck and magical thinking into my decision making.