Win-Win situation is a cognitive thought process!

In an intense situation of chase and escape, in a wild-life scenario, we often observe that, the predators, the lion or lioness chases its prey for satisfying its hunger. In this attempt, the beast uses its strength, agility, and predisposition tactics just to satisfy the instinct called “hunger”. Similarly, the prey, deer or zebra or other herbivores animals also uses their strength and agility to the fullest to escape the fatal attack on their life and they do this intuitively to counter their instinct called fear. The predator’s action for attacking its prey and the prey’s reaction for escaping from its predator is the instant results of their instincts called hunger and fear respectively! Instinct or innate or inborn behavior is the inherent inclination of a living organism towards a particular behavior. Such behaviors are carried out in response to clearly defined stimuli (Joseph P. et. al, 2015, p.430). The behavior of the predator is justified as it wants to satisfy the hunger. Similarly, the behavior of the prey is natural as it wants to save its life. These predators attack other animals only to satisfy their hunger but they do not involve in deceiving other animals as comparatively and sadly, men are involved deceiving their fellow men! In spite of their strength, agility we never ever find animals cheats their fellow animals, simply because; their actions are influenced not by reasons, but by their instincts, which are innately available in their behavior.

           Animals act according to their instincts and they do not attack others until they are intimidated. Abdulaziz Sachedina (2009, P.143) elucidates that, “All plants and animals act according to their instincts without using their mind to understand why they act in that way. Human beings use their reason to choose between several options. Such is not the case of other beings”. Often, we see ants or other animals are involved in storing the food for future, but it is men who not only store food for future but also have the business acumen to sell the food for some significant value exchange. This substantial acumen undeniably lacks in animals. Prudently, it is unimaginable to think they would possess this acumen. This means comparatively, men have higher cognitive thinking; they act as per their reasons in most situations. The crux of the discussion about animals here is these creators are indeed nature’s innocent creators, but these creators are modeled by nature as incapable to understand the significance of win-win situation. Animals cannot contemplate or ponder on win-win situations as what men are capable of. Additionally, men have been bestowed with nature’s gift, that is speaking and listening, which supports their thought process and contributes to the added intelligence in them, men though having the cognitive abilities, often misused it. Men often channelized their intelligence either for deception, dishonesty, trickery or for cheating other men.

Essentially, men should focus that, every of their thought process and actions should be driven to achieve the peace! If and only if, humans channelize their nature’s gifted intelligence in selfless manner, they for sure, will contribute equity and justice to society through win-win situations in almost all matters related to life and certainly peace will prevail everywhere. Win-win situation is one of the essential means to achieve peace! 

What is a Win-win situation?

Win-win situation is a cognitive thought process to discover, decide, devise, negotiate, and attempt a plan that provides a mutually acceptable result to all the parties involved in a situation. The win-win situation could be related to both personal and professional matters. Precisely, if both the parties involved are happy with what they have gained from the agreement, then the result is a win-win situation! Vic Zbar (1994, P.90) interprets that, “Win/win is not only a technique, it is also a philosophy which promotes continual and conscious effort to seek mutually beneficial outcomes from our interactions with others”. The win-win situation can be best understood with the story of a wise old man.

Story of a wise old man!

This moral story is about the rich old man and his only son. The rich old man was most honorable and a prominent personality of the town, where he lived. He was popular for his wealth. His wealth includes numerous properties both in movable and immovable form. As a matter of fact, this old man had nothing to worry as he had the free flow of regular income and large amount of capital gains. But for this old man the reason for worry is his only son. His son, a young man who had befriended bad men and he spends money on them. He (son) was not only spend thrift but also reckless and he was least bothered about his future. As he happens to be the son of rich father, he never ever thought to plan his future. He was living with the notion that, his future is secure and he knew he will be the future owner of his father’s estate. But his father, the old man was a principled man and had believed in hard work, honesty, discipline and such other positive values, he couldn’t bear the fact that, his son is irresponsible. The old man was worried, after him, his only son may misuse the property for wrong or unlawful activities. With the passage of time, the old man worries augmented. However, he had a ray of hope that, he can change his son to become a responsible man, who may look after and manages his property with utmost care and responsibility.

One fine day an idea stuck to his mind and he used his wisdom, to ensure that, his only son comes to the terms and become a responsible person. He called his son and told him that, since he was irresponsible and associated with bad men, the whole property and fortunes will be gifted to charity institutions. Listening to this, the son lost ground beneath his feet. He never ever imagines that his situation will be as such, that, he would become penniless and bankrupt. He was inflicted with the thoughts that his friends may leave him forever as he is now of no use to them. He pleaded his father for not taking such extreme step. Considering the pleas of his son, the old man placed one condition before him. Before he listens to the condition from his father, the impulsive son agreed to it, because he doesn’t want to miss his fortunes. The old man given his son very simple task, he asked his son to work in his own business as a daily wage earner for one year and his status will be of mere worker rather being the son of the owner. Further, the son was asked to give his father the daily wages soon after he earned. The son agreed to this condition and each day he worked hard and earned money, and as per the condition, he was giving his wages to his father. But to his utter surprise, his father the old man, use to tear money and throw it in open well (a hole or shaft that is dug into the ground in order to obtain water). The young man would wonder why his father is doing such strange act. One day passed, two days passed and then ten days passed, he now developed uneasiness with his father’s act. On the eventful day, the son gained courage to question his father, he raised his voice and in painful tone he asked his father, “Why are you doing this strange act, my hard earned money has no value for you? Mercilessly, you want to tear my hard earned money and then you drop it into the well!” to which the old man retorted rather in aching voice, “My feelings are same when you spend my hard earned money irresponsibly”. The young man realizes his mistakes and sobbed emotionally and he pursued forgiveness for his deeds. The father was actually a kind man; he attempted this act only to help his son realized the value of hard earned money. The old man patted his son and said, “Wipe your tears, you will be the future owner of my estates” and hugged his son, both the father and son remained happy ever for this win-win situation as the final outcome. The moral of the story is that, the wisdom of the old man made his son realized his folly and allowed him to come to normalcy and become a responsible person. Verily, we men are blessed with cognitive strengths and if we use our wisdom in every decision that affects our lives we would sure reach to a win-win situation rather than win-lose situation or lose-lose situation. Surely, when decisions are backed with wisdom, the results would help contribute positive change and help the peace prevail in society.

References:

1.     Abdulaziz Sachedina, (2009) “ Islamic Biomedical Ethics, Principles and Application”; Oxford University Press, Page No.143, available from https://books.google.com.om/books?id=9wEc0ss0s5UC&pg=PA143&dq=

2.     Joseph P. Huston, Marcos Nadal, Francisco Mora, Luigi F. Agnati, Camilo J. Cela-Conde (2015), “Art, Aesthetics and the brain”, Oxford University Press, Page No. 430, available from https://books.google.com.om/books?id=ekAFCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA430&dq=    

3.     Vic Zbar (1994) “ Managing the future”, Universities Press, ( India) Limited, Page No. 90, available from https://books.google.com.om/books?id=JjILAz69an4C&pg=PA90&dq=