The paralysis of indecision is often worse than a poor decision would have been. The right mantra can break the deadlock:
"We should just go ahead."
"Just go ahead," said Hagbard. "A powerful mantra."
"And if we don't go ahead," said George, "it doesn't matter either. Which
means that we just do go ahead."
"Another powerful mantra," said Hagbard. "Just do go ahead."
—from
The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by
Robert Shea and
Robert Anton Wilson.
When it looks like you're damned if you do, damned if you don't: fuck it, just go ahead. Maybe you've assessed your chances too pessimistically, and all you can really do anyway is your best.
Easily confused by the novice with we must do something; this is something; therefore we must do this, still another powerful mantra. Not all powerful mantras are good for you. Just go ahead only makes sense when you have a course of action that appears to lead in the right direction, even if it seems like you might not make it.