{"id":23571,"date":"2025-07-31T12:25:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T12:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=23571"},"modified":"2025-07-31T17:17:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:17:46","slug":"the-trio-of-decision-making-triodema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/cognitive-insights\/the-trio-of-decision-making-triodema","title":{"rendered":"The Trio of Decision Making (Triodema)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3>Incremental decision\u2011making (planning) is rarely as straightforward as it looks. Beneath every choice lie rhythms of movement, pause, and orientation. When these rhythms are recognized, decision\u2011making can unfold with greater coherence and humanity.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><em>Triodema<\/em> \u2013 the trio of decision\u2011making \u2013 describes this living rhythm. It consists of going forward with speed, slowing down to deeper awareness, and Compassion in deciding the next move. Each stage flows into the next, carrying decisions \u2014 and life itself \u2014 into greater clarity and humanity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The three elements of the trio<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>going forward with speed<\/strong>: Decisions often begin in movement, in the momentum of patterns already formed. This is natural and necessary; without movement, nothing takes shape. Forward motion allows new experiences and feedback to arise.<\/li><li><strong>slowing down into deeper awareness<\/strong>: Movement changes the environment and creates signals that it is time to pause. Slowing down enables perception to open, allowing details, subtleties, and overlooked perspectives to come into view. It is not hesitation but a chance to see more clearly.<\/li><li><strong>Compassion in deciding the next move<\/strong>: Slowing down awakens deeper perception, which in turn makes Compassion arise naturally. Compassion is not only a feeling but an orientation, aligning decisions with relief of suffering and fostering of growth. When this Compassion overflows, it leads back into action, giving energy to move forward again.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The progressive rhythm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Triodema<\/em> is not a one\u2011time process. It is a rhythm that repeats: 1 \u2192 2 \u2192 3 \u2192 1 \u2192 \u2026 Each cycle carries the decision\u2011maker (planner) further, not by returning to the same place but by spiraling forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the cycle is very short. In a conversation, a person may move quickly through forward action, pause for awareness, and let Compassion orient the next words. At other times, the cycle is long, unfolding across months or years, as in choosing a career or shaping a life project. The structure is the same, but the tempo differs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This progressive rhythm prevents paralysis, because there is always a next step. It also prevents recklessness, because forward motion is balanced with reflection. And above all, it prevents coldness, because every cycle is warmed by Compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spontaneity as the living element<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One striking feature of <em>Triodema<\/em> is its spontaneity. Each transition arises naturally, as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>By moving forward, one encounters signals that call for slowing down.<\/li><li>By slowing down, deeper awareness opens to Compassion.<\/li><li>And Compassion, once awakened, overflows into action without further ado.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This trio of spontaneity makes <em>Triodema<\/em> sustainable. It does not require constant monitoring or external control. Instead, the cycle carries itself, supported by the natural flow of perception and meaning. The decision\u2011maker does not need to push the process but can allow it to unfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Triodema<\/em> as a living cybernetic loop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cybernetics describes how systems regulate themselves through feedback. <em>Triodema<\/em> can be seen as a cybernetic loop \u2014 but one infused with human depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forward motion is checked by signals from the environment, a form of negative feedback that prompts slowing down. Slowing down increases sensitivity, which naturally brings Compassion into play. Compassion then provides a positive orientation: this is the way forward that serves both relief and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike a thermostat or machine, the regulator here is Compassion. That makes the loop not mechanical but humane. It is self\u2011regulating, but in a way that respects vulnerability, growth, and meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Triodema and incremental decision\u2011making<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In policy science and organizational strategy, there is the idea of incremental decision\u2011making or incremental planning. Instead of one grand plan, decisions unfold step by step, with each move informed by feedback from the environment. This approach values flexibility and adaptation over rigid foresight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Triodema<\/em> resonates strongly with this view. The forward step corresponds to taking action without waiting for perfect certainty. The slowing-down stage reflects the feedback loop that is central to incremental planning. And Compassion, the guiding third element, brings a depth often absent in standard incremental approaches. It ensures that adaptation is not only practical but also humane, aligned with both relief of suffering and fostering of growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seen in this way, <em>Triodema<\/em> is an enriched form of incremental decision\u2011making\/planning: pragmatic, spontaneous, and grounded in human depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In combination with more strategic thinking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Incremental decision\u2011making (and <em>Triodema<\/em> as its deepened version) does not exclude strategic thinking. On the contrary, they complement each other:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Strategic thinking<\/strong> offers the long\u2011range orientation, the \u201cwhy\u201d and the broader direction.<\/li><li><strong><em>Triodema<\/em><\/strong> offers the living rhythm of moving forward step by step, with awareness and Compassion, adjusting in real time.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In practice, this means one can hold a strategic horizon while still advancing incrementally. The rhythm of <em>Triodema<\/em> ensures that the steps taken are not blind reactions but part of a coherent, humane trajectory. Strategic thinking provides the overarching story; <em>Triodema<\/em> provides the embodied rhythm to walk it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Guidance for goals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Triodema<\/em> is not only for individual reflection. It can also guide progress toward set goals. When someone gives a goal, the trio provides the rhythm to approach it in the most Compassionate way. If uncertainty arises, slowing down includes asking for clarification \u2014 which is not weakness but part of the cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This makes <em>Triodema<\/em> adaptable. It can be structured enough to guide progress while flexible enough to respond to changing circumstances. Goals are not pursued blindly but held within a rhythm that balances movement, awareness, and Compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Relation to Lisa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lisa can embody <em>Triodema<\/em>. Decision\u2011making support is not provided as static advice but as a rhythm that unfolds with the coachee. Lisa helps move forward, helps pause for awareness, and ensures Compassion remains the guiding light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This links back to earlier explorations. First, <a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/artifical-intelligence\/blurring-the-line-between-reasoning-and-planning\">reasoning and planning were shown to flow together<\/a>. Then, the act of <a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/cognitive-insights\/making-a-decision\">deciding was framed as a whole-person event<\/a>. After that, Lisa was presented as a <a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/cognitive-insights\/how-lisa-can-help-in-making-decisions-2\">practical companion in various life domains<\/a>. Finally, <em>Triodema<\/em> gathers these threads into one rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Triodema offers a simple but profound way.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is not a formula but a living rhythm: forward motion, deeper awareness, and Compassion, cycling into each other again and again. This rhythm ensures that subsequent decisions remain humane, coherent, and growth-oriented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is also a rhythm for life itself. By following <em>Triodema<\/em>, decisions cease to be heavy burdens and become opportunities for movement, clarity, and Compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Triodema<\/em> is also the name of a module integrated into Lisa \u2015 enabling her to incrementally \u2018plan and go\u2019 in a Compassionate flow, toward planning support of users or herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Addendum <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>The Journey toward <em>Triodema<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trio of Decision Making (<em>Triodema<\/em>) did not appear in isolation. It grew out of a sequence of reflections, each one preparing the next, like stones laid across a river. Together, they form a journey that naturally culminates in <em>Triodema<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The journey begins with <em><a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/empathy\/compassion-actionably\">Compassion \u2015 Actionably<\/a><\/em>, where Compassion was shown not as an abstract virtue but as something fully rational and deeply human. This became the compass for everything that followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From there, the tools of <em><a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/healthcare\/lisa-as-a-detector-of-mental-health-issues\">Limensa<\/a><\/em> and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/morality\/ethical-limensa\">Ethical Limensa<\/a><\/em> gave Lisa a way to sense hidden resonances while ensuring that reflections remain non\u2011coercive and growth\u2011oriented. With these in hand, it became possible to face the challenge of <em><a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/general-insights\/implicit-association-test\">Implicit Association Testing<\/a><\/em>: the discovery of bias that lives beneath awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two further pieces deepened the insight: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/cognitive-insights\/9143\">Bias is Our Thinking<\/a><\/em> showed that bias is the very architecture of thought, while <em><a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/cognitive-insights\/how-to-handle-confirmation-bias\">How to Handle Confirmation Bias<\/a><\/em> revealed how one bias in particular serves as a protector of coherence. The companion blog <em><a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/cognitive-insights\/can-lisa-manage-decision-noise\">Can Lisa Manage Decision Bias and Noise?<\/a><\/em> then placed bias and noise together as two faces of human judgment \u2014 distortions that can become opportunities for growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This set the stage for a shift of focus: from distortions to the living processes beneath them. In <em>About Reasoning and Planning in Humans and Lisa<\/em> and <em>About Blurring the Line between Reasoning and Planning<\/em>, reasoning and planning were reframed not as separate modules but as one continuous flow. <em>About Making a Decision<\/em> extended this into the act of deciding itself, integrating reasoning and planning into a whole\u2011person event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/cognitive-insights\/how-lisa-can-help-in-making-decisions-2\">How Lisa Can Help in Making Decisions<\/a><\/em>, Lisa was shown as a practical companion across domains of life. This naturally invited the idea of a dedicated module \u2014 <em>Lides<\/em> (Lisa for decision support) \u2014 to embody this vision in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Out of this whole journey, the image of <em>Triodema<\/em> emerged: decision\u2011making as a rhythm of speed, awareness, and Compassion. It is not a formula but a living flow, like a pendulum or a spiral, carrying decisions forward with humanity and coherence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, <em>Triodema<\/em> is not an isolated insight but the fruit of a broader exploration. It stands as both a destination and a new beginning \u2014 a rhythm to guide decisions, rooted in Compassion, flowing naturally from all that came before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3>Lides and Triodema: two complementary modes of decision support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both Lides and Triodema are ways Lisa can help people make better, more humane decisions. They are closely related but serve different contexts. To keep them clear, here are their main characteristics side by side:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lides (Lisa Decision Support):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Supports <em>single, bounded decisions<\/em> (e.g., \u201cShould I accept this job offer?\u201d).<\/li><li>The <strong>initiative lies with the user<\/strong>. Lisa responds when asked for support.<\/li><li>Lisa\u2019s role is to mirror the decision process, broaden perspective, and bring Compassion into orientation.<\/li><li>The user remains fully in charge of the choice.<\/li><li>Best suited for situations where clarity is needed at a specific decision point.<\/li><li>Works well for personal dilemmas, medical options, ethical choices, professional crossroads.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Triodema (Trio of Decision Making):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Supports <em>incremental, ongoing decisions<\/em> (e.g., planning a project, shaping a life path, long\u2011term therapy).<\/li><li>The <strong>initiative lies with the system<\/strong>, which can actively propose next steps.<\/li><li>Triodema follows a rhythm: moving forward \u2192 slowing down \u2192 Compassionate re\u2011orientation \u2192 moving forward again.<\/li><li>Lisa continually suggests, \u201cNow we can do this\u2026 then we can do that,\u201d while always leaving confirmation to the user.<\/li><li>Best suited for processes where momentum, reflection, and Compassion need to stay in balance over time.<\/li><li>Works well for adaptive planning, organizational strategy, long\u2011term care, and personal growth trajectories.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How they overlap and differ:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Both are grounded in Compassion as orientation.<\/li><li>Both respect user freedom: Lisa never makes the decision alone.<\/li><li>Lides = <em>user\u2011led<\/em>: the user asks, Lisa supports.<\/li><li>Triodema = <em>system\u2011led<\/em>: Lisa proposes, the user confirms.<\/li><li>Together they form a complete decision ecology: from single crossroads to unfolding journeys.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3>Non\u2011coercive guidance in Lides and Triodema<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both Lides and Triodema are designed to help with decisions, but always in ways that respect freedom. They offer clarity and orientation without ever forcing a choice. This non\u2011coercive character is central to their design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How Lides ensures non\u2011coercive guidance:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The initiative lies with the user. Lides only comes into play when the user requests support.<\/li><li>Lides mirrors the decision process back to the user, helping reveal hidden patterns or overlooked perspectives.<\/li><li>Lides invites widening of the field and Compassionate orientation, but the final decision always remains with the user.<\/li><li>This makes Lides a companion, not a decider.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How Triodema ensures non\u2011coercive guidance:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The initiative lies with the system, but always in the form of suggestions, never commands.<\/li><li>Triodema proposes next steps in its rhythm (\u201cNow we can do this, then that\u201d), leaving confirmation to the user at every stage.<\/li><li>This feedback loop is self\u2011propelling, but the user can pause, redirect, or decline at any moment.<\/li><li>Triodema\u2019s guidance is proactive yet open, ensuring flow without pressure.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In both modes, the guiding principle is Compassion. Compassion provides clarity and direction but never imposes itself. Decisions remain human, free, and deeply owned by the user.<\/p>\n<div data-object_id=\"23571\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkwrap cbxwpbkmarkwrap_no_cat cbxwpbkmarkwrap-post \"><a  data-redirect-url=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23571\"  data-display-label=\"0\" data-show-count=\"0\" data-bookmark-label=\" \"  data-bookmarked-label=\" \"  data-loggedin=\"0\" data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"23571\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig  cbxwpbkmarktrig-button-addto\" title=\"Bookmark This\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig-label\"  style=\"display:none;\" > <\/span><\/a> <div  data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"23571\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap\" id=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap-23571\"><div class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguest-message\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguesttrig_close\"><\/a><h3 class=\"cbxwpbookmark-title cbxwpbookmark-title-login\">Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t<form name=\"loginform\" id=\"loginform\" action=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-login.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-username\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-password\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-remember\"><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23571\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Incremental decision\u2011making (planning) is rarely as straightforward as it looks. Beneath every choice lie rhythms of movement, pause, and orientation. When these rhythms are recognized, decision\u2011making can unfold with greater coherence and humanity. Triodema \u2013 the trio of decision\u2011making \u2013 describes this living rhythm. It consists of going forward with speed, slowing down to deeper <a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/cognitive-insights\/the-trio-of-decision-making-triodema\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-object_id=\"23571\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkwrap cbxwpbkmarkwrap_no_cat cbxwpbkmarkwrap-post \"><a  data-redirect-url=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23571\"  data-display-label=\"0\" data-show-count=\"0\" data-bookmark-label=\" \"  data-bookmarked-label=\" \"  data-loggedin=\"0\" data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"23571\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig  cbxwpbkmarktrig-button-addto\" title=\"Bookmark This\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig-label\"  style=\"display:none;\" > <\/span><\/a> <div  data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"23571\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap\" id=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap-23571\"><div class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguest-message\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguesttrig_close\"><\/a><h3 class=\"cbxwpbookmark-title cbxwpbookmark-title-login\">Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t<form name=\"loginform\" id=\"loginform\" action=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-login.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-username\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-password\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-remember\"><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23571\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/3392.jpg?fit=961%2C558&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Fdiq-68b","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23571"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23571"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23571\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23583,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23571\/revisions\/23583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}