"Pensar solo comienza en el punto donde hemos llegado a conocer la imposibilidad de decidir."

When you really stop to think about it, true thinking—the kind that digs deep and doesn't just skim the surface—kicks in when we're stuck in a place where no decision seems right. It's like when you're caught in a maze and every turn feels like a dead end. That's when the real pondering starts.

Take a moment to imagine a time in history when this was incredibly relevant: the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The world was on the brink of nuclear war, and President John F. Kennedy was faced with impossible decisions. Should he launch an attack and risk global annihilation, or should he do nothing and potentially allow Soviet missiles to remain in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida? There was no clear right answer—any decision had catastrophic potential. It's exactly in such a tight spot that real, critical thinking had to unfold. Kennedy and his advisors thought deeply, weighing every possible outcome, trying to find a path through the seeming impossibility.

Now, let’s make this a bit more personal. Picture yourself as a startup founder. You’re at a crossroads—your company's burning through cash, and you’ve got two options: pivot to a completely new business model, which is risky, or stick with your original plan and hope you can ride out the storm. Neither option is clearly better. This is where deep thinking, the kind sparked by the impossibility of a clear decision, truly begins. You have to consider every angle, every potential consequence, and even the things that may not be immediately obvious. It’s tough, but it’s also crucial.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Next time you’re caught in a decision where every option feels wrong or risky, don’t rush it. Sit with the discomfort for a bit. Accept that there might not be a perfect answer, and use that tension as fuel to think deeply. Look for creative alternatives that might not be immediately visible. Talk to people who’ve faced similar dilemmas. Sometimes, the best ideas come from these pressure-cooker moments.

Here's a relatable story to drive it home. Think about a friend of mine, Sarah. She was deciding whether to move across the country for a new job opportunity. Staying meant stability; moving meant adventure but also uncertainty. She was stuck—no clear right choice. Instead of rushing a decision, she took a step back. She spent weeks weighing the pros and cons, talking to mentors and friends, and imagining herself in both scenarios. What she realized was that the real issue wasn’t just about the job—it was about what she wanted out of life. In the end, she found a middle path: she negotiated for a three-month trial period. This way, she could test the waters without fully committing. That’s the kind of solution you come up with when you let yourself think deeply in the face of impossible choices.

So, next time you find yourself in an impossible dilemma, remember: it’s in that very spot that the deepest thinking begins. Don’t shy away from it. Embrace the uncertainty, and let it guide you to new insights and solutions.