The Elevator Button
A few months ago, I visited my brother. We stepped into the elevator of his apartment building and pressed for the 26th floor. Just before the door closed, a young man entered. Breathless, he pressed the 20th-floor button. The door shut. He pressed the button again And again And again!!! When more people got in from other floors, he became more impatient He pressed the elevator button again!! I am sure deep down he knows the mechanism of the elevator function. His act will not help him reach the 20th floor faster. Ultimately, he reached the 20th floor, and we reached the 26th floor. None of his actions altered the outcome. Then why? Because pressing the button gives him a sense of control that he is doing something to change the outcome!! The Illusion of Control We all do this in everyday practice. We keep refreshing the WhatsApp chat, waiting for an important message We keep checking the m...