We are hardwired to be optimists, constantly rationalizing our decisions to make ourselves feel better about our situation. Our brains don’t like being wrong, we find ways to convince ourselves that the choice we made is the right one. At its core, a proverb is a survival tactic. These expressions keep us going.
But here’s the thing: proverbs are often contradictory.
To illustrate this phenomena, let's run through some contradictory pairings.
Look before you leap.
He who hesitates is lost.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
What you see is what you get.
Better safe than sorry.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
There’s no place like home.
The grass is always greener on the other side.
Sometimes, the proverb that you cite in a particular situation doesn't reveal what is happening, but rather, what you want to believe is happening. It is a coping mechanism.
CONTRIBUTED BY GLENUX
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