Summarize this article in one sentence.
Blindly committing to a big decision may lead to consequences you might regret later. This is also the tact some people use to lure people into making a commitment without fully considering the ramifications, such as a real estate agent, a prospective employer, or a partner. A spontaneous decision often is a poorly considered one. Do not make a decision based on one person's opinion because you are afraid will make the wrong one. If you are indecisive, a person who has something to gain from you may turn that against you. They'll assure you that it is the right one, what are you waiting for? But if a person is afraid or scornful of waiting for another opinion, or doing research, or otherwise weighing your options...that is a warning sign. Beware of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). FOMO can mean that you are afraid that if you do not act now, you will miss out on an opportunity that will never present itself again. Chances are good that is not the case. Keep in mind that people who try to force you to quickly make a decision instead of giving you time to make an educated choice are often doing so precisely because they don't want you to do any outside research; they don't want you to be able to call their bluff. While you may not want to be a completely skeptical person just to avoid being gullible, if you tend to be too naive, then you should work on being a bit more critical when you approach a situation. Whether your older brother is telling you a story about your neighbor or a telemarketer is trying to offer you a discount on your phone plan, you should work on having your guard up and asking yourself and the person you're with whether the information could possibly be true. Sure, this may make some social situations a bit more unpleasant than they would be if you were agreeable and went along with everything a person said, but this will keep you from being gullible. Whenever you're given a new piece of information, ask yourself how much you can rely on the source, how likely it is to be true, and what counterarguments a person might make to the contrary. You don't have to be completely distrustful just because you want to be less naive; however, if you really want to work on not being gullible, then you can't go around trusting every person who comes by your side. Get to know people and establish a relationship with them first, whether you're becoming closer with a coworker or dating someone new. Making people prove themselves to you instead of believing them at face value is a sign of strong critical thinking. Try to see things from the other person's perspective to identify their possible intentions. Ask yourself these questions: Why are they in such a rush for a commitment? What do they have to gain? How well do I know them? People who are gullible tend to trust anyone who gives them information, especially if they consider that person to be older and wiser. However, don't let a person's age or authority sway you into believing something that isn't true. Remember that people of any age have to prove themselves to you first. If you're too trusting right away, then people are likely to take advantage of you and to trick you into doing something that's not really good for you. If you want to not be gullible, then don't let yourself jump to conclusions before having all of the facts yet. Just because your teacher missed a day of school, don't believe that they're fired just because that's what your best friend is saying. Just because your boss is being extra nice to you this week, don't assume it means you'll be getting a promotion soon. Make sure you have time to gather all of the information you need before you make hasty assumptions. People who are gullible sometimes don't want to take the time to figure out whether something is true or not. However, this is exactly what you should do if you want to avoid falling into a trap. The fact of the matter is that if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Whether a Prince Charming type you just met is trying to sweep you off your feet or your friend is asking you to invest in a business that is "guaranteed" to make you rich, you should always hesitate before you enter a situation that sounds like it will make all of your problems go away. If you feel like you've encountered the most perfect opportunity in the world, then chances are that there's a catch. Remember the truth of the statement, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." If you're offered an amazing opportunity, then there's probably something you have to do in return. No one wants to just give you a chunk of money, an amazing gift, or a piece of property without wanting something in return. Ask yourself, how will this opportunity benefit the other person? If someone is offering you a gift certificate, what would be the incentive? Would the person really be doing this out of the goodness of their heart? Though it's admirable to work to be less gullible, you should know that being gullible isn't all bad. In fact, the ethologist Richard Dawkins maintains that being gullible actually helps us survive as children. It's gullibility that makes you believe your parents when they tell you that you shouldn't leave the house because there are scary people outside, or when they say that you shouldn't wander into the woods because of monsters. This kind of thinking does keep you aliveto a point. This doesn't mean you should continue to be gullible, but that you shouldn't be frustrated with yourself for being gullible, either. It's likely that your gullibility has helped you in more ways than you may know. People who are gullible tend to hear one story about a certain phenomenon and then believe that it proves a larger truth. Don't make hasty generalizations just because of a story you heard, and sharpen your critical thinking skills by learning as much as you can about the situation before deciding. Though stories can help you can a better understanding of a situation and can give statistics and big issues a more human context, they can't be your only source of information. For example, if your friend says, "Don't get a Volvo. My cousin has a Volvo, and she says it's always breaking down on her. Get a Jetta instead," then this may be stating a truth about one person's experiences with a Volvo, but it doesn't mean it's true for all Volvos.
Do not rush to make big decisions. Be more skeptical. Make people earn your trust. Don't jump to conclusions. Avoid anything that sounds too good to be true. Know that there's some evolutionary good in being gullible. Don't think anecdotal evidence always proves the truth.