Have you ever noticed that our desires are usually not fulfilled once we are in the middle of receiving them? This is usually because we are insatiable on the one hand and dissatisfied on the other. But what’s more, the more options we have, the worse we feel and the more anxious we feel.
Once upon a time, when we went out to buy a box of cereal, we only had a few options. Now it seems that there are thirty different varieties of cereals, and it seems that they are being presented with more flavors on a weekly basis. Wasn’t it easier when we could go to the store and eat a kind of cereal or two?
The success of modernity is bittersweet due to the overabundance of options. Having too many options causes psychological distress, especially when combined with regret, comparison, and a desire for the best of everything.
There are steps we can take to mitigate many sources of distress. But they are not easy to follow. They require discipline, practice, and a new way of thinking.
Here are some things you can try to avoid the stress of choice as much as possible:
1. Choose when to choose and when not to choose
Choice is essential to our overall well-being. However, too many options have negative results for us. To handle excessive choices, we must decide which options in our lives really matter and focus our time and energy there, missing other opportunities.
2. Be a voter, not a collector
The ones who choose are people who can reflect on what makes a decision important. Perhaps neither option should be chosen or a new option should be created. The collectors are simply passive selectors of what is available. Those who select take the time to modify their objectives, while those who select do not. Those who select do not follow the herd while the gatherers do. Good decisions take time and attention. So choose and you will feel less stressed.
3. Satisfy more and maximize less
Maximizers suffer the most in a culture where we have too many options. Maximizers are more concerned with regret, missed opportunities, and social comparisons. We have to learn to accept well enough. This will amplify our satisfaction. It is often difficult to accept good enough, especially since we live in a culture of too many. The trick is to embrace and appreciate the satisfaction.
4. Practice an attitude of gratitude
Our evaluation of our choices is profoundly affected by what we compare them to, including comparisons that exist only in our imagination. Focus on the good aspects of an experience rather than the negatives. By doing this, you can enhance your subjective experience by consciously striving to be grateful for your choices.
By taking these steps, you will free yourself from choice and enjoy the culture of abundance we live in, as well as take a step back and not be paralyzed by the omnipresence of choice.