2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
A large selection sometimes becomes not an advantage, but a problem. But this can be fixed.
According to When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing? when we have fewer choices, we are more happy with our decision. And trying not to miss out on the best results in insecurity, frustration, stress, regret, and discontent with life.
Renowned psychologist Barry Schwartz has called people who always strive to find the best solution maximizers. They embark on a tedious study of all possible options, spending a lot of time and effort. But due to the limitations of thinking, it is simply impossible to evaluate every available option. Ultimately maximizers are less happy with their choices than "moderate" people. They make decisions quickly, without considering a million options.
In his book The Paradox of Choice, Schwartz described an experiment with shoppers. One group was asked to try six varieties of jam and choose which one they wanted to buy. And the other has 24 species. The second group found it much more difficult to make a choice. According to Schwartz, only 3% of people eventually made a purchase. “The wide choice may be discouraging for consumers as it forces them to put in more effort to make a decision. So consumers just don't buy the product,”he explains.
When there are too many factors to consider, people start looking for the best option. This happens, for example, when buying a car. You need to consider the price, reliability, power, warranty, color. The selection process is very tiring, but as a result, you can still be dissatisfied.
Learn to settle for a good option without striving for an unattainable ideal. Otherwise, you will not achieve anything.
Moderation is a decision-making strategy that strives for a satisfactory outcome rather than an optimal one.
Choose the first option that suits your needs. Or an option that meets most of the criteria. But don't look for the ideal.
Schwartz advises following this plan when you need to make a decision:
- Define your goals and rate the importance of each one.
- Group the options. Think about how likely each of them will satisfy your desires. Choose the most winning one.
- Consider the implications of your choices to redefine your goals and future outlook.
More often than not, it turns out to make the best choice and without unnecessary thought. Rely on your intuition, do not get hung up on the search for the ideal and evaluate each option only on its merits, and not in comparison with others. Life will be easier when you learn to settle for a good option instead of chasing the best.
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