Why Not? v No! Why?

Recently, I've found a new lens through which people see the world. When faced with a choice or decision, I am more prone to optimistically ask "Why Not?"

I know some others more likely to need see it and say, "No! Why?" Why do different people have such different outlooks? It is some sort of evolutionary/cosmic balancing act where half of the people on the planet say "No! Why?" and the other half ask "Why Not?"

The "Why Not?"s got people on the moon. The "No! Why?" types prevented humankind from eating poisonous berries. Perhaps a decent balance is necessary.

There can be risks of being too much of one way. I like to think of the "No! Why?" people as being stubborn, obstinate and uncreative. "No! Why?" can also lead to inaction.

The "Why Not?"s can stray down the path of randomness and impulsiveness if unchecked.

What happens when the two types clash?

Nothing. Literally nothing. The two parties can be stuck at opposite sides and nothing gets done. There is no decision so the status quo stays. This is uncool.

Sometimes one viewpoint dominates another view. Like this...

Or this...

But other times, we can get lucky when the two work together and create a solid shared decision.

And sometimes, we have a little bit of each inside of ourselves, that helps to push us along.