Local vs. Global Maxima

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where both options seem daunting: staying in or changing the path. Staying in feels easier since it is within our comfort zone, but we cannot expect different results from the same actions. Changing the path is often intimidating because it involves exploring new avenues, which sounds exciting on the surface. Still, it also requires developing resilience to embrace failure with a constructive attitude and managing uncertainty.

I was recently experiencing all these emotions and with this post, I want to share what helped me think beyond them constructively. As I was weighing various alternatives on how to steer things my way, I realized that there are situations where

finding something that appeals to my mind and heart in the moment and near future is perfectly workable than trying to determine an optimal one. In other words, opt for local maxima. 

Local maxima and global maxima are terms used in mathematics to describe the maximum value of a function within a specific interval versus the entire domain. 

Oftentimes, we have a certain vision imprinted in our minds for a particular scenario. As we try to debug and resolve that scenario, we often focus solely on finding a route from our current situation to that final, envisioned outcome (the global maximum). In the process, we may encounter several dead ends, which can be exhausting.

In such situations, constantly working toward finding the shortest path from the source to the final destination (global maximum) may not be the most productive approach. Instead, how about aiming for an energy-efficient route by focusing on the next few steps and celebrating even small wins along the way? You can’t avoid dead ends entirely, but what’s critical is conserving your energy so that you can backtrack, change course, and try again.

That’s all for now. Do share your thoughts on whether this resonates with you, or if you think differently.

Dippy