Two Words That Can Transform Your Thinking
We all have thinking habits that shape how we engage with the world. Here are two common habits that can limit the depth and quality of our thinking:
1. We oversimplify complex issues.
2. We assert ideas rather than explore them.
For example, consider statements like:
In both cases, complexity is reduced to an oversimplified claim, and no room is left for discussion or nuance.
Two simple words can help us challenge these habits: “It depends.”
These words introduce context, a key ingredient in high-quality thinking. Below are a few examples where “it depends” can shift our perspective and lead to deeper insights.
1. "The most successful people set goals."
Well… it depends.
Goals are undeniably valuable – they focus effort, drive motivation, and provide direction. But should we always assume that setting goals is the key to success?
James Clear points out that winners and losers often have the same goals. The difference is in the systems they build. Meanwhile, Dan Pink, in Drive, warns that goals (especially those imposed by others) can sometimes backfire. They can lead to shortcuts, unnecessary risks, and even unethical behaviour.
And let’s not forget the psychological impact of achievement-focused goals. Research suggests that achieving a goal doesn’t always bring satisfaction; it often just leads to setting the next one, creating an endless cycle of chasing success.
Seth Godin puts it perfectly:
“Hunger and thirst could be confused as being the same thing. But they are very different. Hunger for achievement and success, hustling to get this, won’t satisfy the thirst for meaning and connection. No matter how much you hustle.”
So yes, goals matter. But if someone claims “goals are the answer,” my response will be “it depends.”
2. "Those who find meaning are driven by a strong sense of purpose."
Again, it depends.
Purpose is a powerful force – I personally make many of my biggest decisions based on purpose. But I’ve also learned that even purpose has a shadow.
Sometimes, I just want to sit in a coffee shop without feeling the need to “change the world.” If we become too focused on purpose, we risk burnout and missed opportunities. Simon Sinek calls this cause blindness, and Adam Grant warns of identity foreclosure—becoming so locked into a purpose that we close ourselves off to new possibilities.
This same tension applies to strategy. Yes, businesses need a strategy, but an obsession with it can lead to rigidity and failure. I recently heard about a company that executed the wrong strategy perfectly—a reminder that fixation on a single approach can be dangerous.
Even U2 wrestled with this idea. In the late ’80s, Bono reflected on their need to loosen their grip on purpose:
“We had asked our music to do so many things that by the end of the eighties it felt exhausted. Perhaps we needed to release the music from some of its purposefulness, its self-importance.”
Purpose is important. But sometimes, stepping back is just as valuable.
3. "Psychometric tests reveal who people are."
Well… it depends.
Personality and strengths assessments can be useful tools. I’m credentialed in a fantastic profiling system myself. But they are not definitive labels—they are guides, not absolute truths.
People are complex. As Marcus Buckingham puts it:
“There are galaxies inside of you.”
Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers warns us that understanding others is far more complicated than we think. He writes:
“We think we can transform the stranger into the familiar and the known without cost or sacrifice. We can’t. What is required of us is restraint and humility.”
So, while psychometric tools have value, we should use them with care and humility—not as rigid definitions of who someone is.
4. "Live life with no regrets."
Well… it depends.
Dan Pink’s book The Power of Regret challenges the idea that regret is something to avoid. People often say, “I have no regrets,” but does that mean if they could relive their life, they’d change nothing?
Regret, when managed well, can be a powerful teacher. While dwelling on regret isn’t helpful, using it as a tool for reflection and growth can be. A mindset of “I wish I had done that differently” can guide better future decisions.
Regret isn’t always a weakness—it can be a catalyst for wisdom.
Well… it depends.
Dan Pink’s book The Power of Regret challenges the idea that regret is something to avoid. People often say, “I have no regrets,” but does that mean if they could relive their life, they’d change nothing?
Regret, when managed well, can be a powerful teacher. While dwelling on regret isn’t helpful, using it as a tool for reflection and growth can be. A mindset of “I wish I had done that differently” can guide better future decisions.
Regret isn’t always a weakness—it can be a catalyst for wisdom.
The Takeaway: Become a Quality Thinker
The core message of this blog is simple: Resist the urge to oversimplify.
When faced with bold statements or absolute truths, don’t just accept them –?pause, reflect, and consider context.
Before asserting an idea, ask:
“Does this apply in all situations? Or does it depend?”
By doing so, we elevate the quality of our thinking – and ultimately, the quality of our lives.