April 17, 2025
By Rittik Das
The Universal Trilemma Triangle is a decision-making model that explains why it’s nearly impossible to pursue three desirable outcomes simultaneously. In every domain — whether personal, professional, creative, or systemic — we often chase three goals that seem essential, only to find that something keeps breaking down. The triangle helps us see why.
It’s not a motivational myth or a productivity hack. It’s a structural pattern. When time, energy, or resources are limited, you can only fully prioritize two out of three goals. The third will inevitably bend, break, or be delayed.
Imagine a triangle where each corner represents one of three goals — for example:
You can optimize for any two. But trying to hold all three will create tension in the system. This pattern isn’t isolated. It shows up everywhere: