[amoral lemur]

Barry Schwatrz has written The Choice Paradox: exploring the idea that choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.
http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on..._of_choice.html

Does having extensive choice make us happier or do we look at say hair products and just get overwelmed and wander out of the shop having either bought nothing or wondering if we made the right choice (would another choice have been better?)

Does this go as far as affecting our satisfaction with our relationships - after all there is (at least in theory) a catalogue of people we can choose from on internet sites a big change from past times where we might have met limited people in our lifetime.

How does choice affect you? Does choice equal freedom? How does choice impact on your happiness?

[*LucyE*]

I see some people paralyzed by choice.

I'm a fussy, discriminating kinda person and have no problems critiquing and eliminating options. I like choice so long as they are real choices not just crap option A and crap option B.

Does it equal freedom? Depends on what the choices are.

Does it impact happiness? I would say a tentative no, based on the thought that happiness is a state of mind and an unsustainable high. Trying to maintain that consistent high is often unachievable which seems to make people unhappy. One can choose to accept their crap option A, make the most of it and be happy with their choice.

[cinnabubble]

Gen X used to suffer from "options paralysis" because, when you can do anything, choosing one thing means not choosing everything else. Many of us ended up doing nothing or doing interim somethings because choosing was too hard. I imagine choices are even harder these days.

[Sunnycat]

Yes for some. I get overwhelmed by choice for some decisions and then can't move forward as can't make a decision. It's one of my biggest faults.

[amoral lemur]

Gen X used to suffer from "options paralysis" because, when you can do anything, choosing one thing means not choosing everything else. Many of us ended up doing nothing or doing interim somethings because choosing was too hard. I imagine choices are even harder these days.

I really relate to that state of mind and I think it has impacted on the direction my life has taken.

[Saecularis Angel...]

I think we need to bear in mind that choice comes with stacks of manipulation. You're not just choosing a hair product, you're choosing a marketing spiel, and that plugs into all sorts of complex psychological phenomena.

[Sunnycat]

I really relate to that state of mind and I think it has impacted on the direction my life has taken.

Yep! Can agree with this fully, I think back to so many wasted opportunities due to my lack of ability to make a choice and follow it through.

It's not choice at I find overwhelming but due to low self esteem (and most of my childhood being told I was useless and a loser) I never lt adequately confident to make a decision. Always worried about making the wrong choice and something bad happening and therefore did nothing.

[pinkcupcakes]

Yep! Can agree with this fully, I think back to so many wasted opportunities due to my lack of ability to make a choice and follow it through.

It's not choice at I find overwhelming but due to low self esteem (and most of my childhood being told I was useless and a loser) I never lt adequately confident to make a decision. Always worried about making the wrong choice and something bad happening and therefore did nothing.

this is me too. even my driving instructor said that im a good driver but i hesitate too much, i need to make clear decisions. i just dont have the confidence to trust in my own decision.

[50ftqueenie]

This reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend in our mid 20s. We were lamenting that we still had no idea what we wanted to do career wise and she said "sometimes I wish I lived in the dark days of Communist China and someone would just come along and tell me..ok S, you are going to be a Kindergarten Teacher" (she was joking). I certainly struggle with too much choice sometimes, but like anything I hope I learn from the struggle.

[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

I think for a lot of people it can lead to more dissatisfaction. As PPs have said, it can lead to a lot of indecision and second guessing your decisions. I think as well there's a bit of grass is always greener, and of course it's impossible to know if the alternative would have been better or worse so if things aren't perfect it can be easy to blame that choice.

Personally, I don't have much of a problem with choice and making decisions. My general attitude in life is to have no regrets, and even with the crappy stuff that has happened I try to look at it as getting me to where I am in my life. When it comes to small decisions like products I just don't see them as having a huge impact on my life, and when it comes to big decisions I have a process I tend to work through to get to a decision, then stick to it.