In today’s world, we are constantly faced with a vast array of choices, whether it’s in the supermarket, online shopping, or even deciding what to watch on streaming platforms. On the surface, having more choices might seem like a good thing — after all, more options mean more freedom to find what we truly want, right? However, research and personal experience show that the more choices we have, the less likely we are to be happy with the decisions we make.
This paradox of choice can leave us feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, and unsatisfied, even after we’ve made a choice. In this blog post, we’ll explore why having too many choices can block us from feeling happy, how perfectionism plays into this problem, and why fewer options often lead to greater satisfaction.
The Overwhelming Restaurant Menu: Too Many Choices, Too Little Satisfaction
Let’s start with a simple example we can all relate to: the restaurant menu. Imagine sitting down at a restaurant and being handed a menu with dozens of dishes to choose from. Initially, you might feel excited — so many delicious meals to choose from! But as you scan the options, you notice that nothing is perfect. Maybe one dish looks great, but it has an ingredient you don’t like. Another dish seems appealing, but you aren’t sure if you’ll love it as much as another option. You find yourself stuck in a loop of indecision, unable to settle on the “right” choice.
When you finally do choose a dish, there’s a nagging feeling that maybe one of the other options would have been better. Even as you eat, your mind might wander back to the dish you didn’t order, wondering if you made the wrong decision. The sheer number of choices creates a situation where no decision feels completely satisfying, and you’re left wondering, “What if?”
This scenario is a perfect example of how too many choices can make it difficult to be happy with the outcome. The more options you have, the more your brain starts searching for the perfect choice — and perfection, as we know, is almost always unattainable.
The Limited Menu: Finding Satisfaction in Fewer Options
Now, let’s imagine a different dining experience: you go to a restaurant with a fixed menu offering just three choices. One of them is something you know you don’t like, so you quickly narrow your options down to two. The decision feels easy, and soon, you find yourself looking forward to your meal without much hesitation. There’s no stress, no endless comparisons, and no second-guessing your decision.
You may not have chosen the “perfect” meal, but you’re content with the best option available to you. And because there weren’t too many choices, you’re far less likely to feel regret or wonder if another option would have been better. With fewer options, your brain isn’t overloaded with possibilities, and as a result, you’re able to enjoy the moment without ruminating on what could have been.
This is a key insight into why fewer choices often lead to greater satisfaction. When the menu is limited, you aren’t searching for perfection — you’re simply looking for the best available option. This mindset shift from “perfect” to “best” makes all the difference in how content you feel with your decision.
The Paradox of Choice: Why More Can Be Less
This phenomenon is often referred to as the paradox of choice. As counterintuitive as it may seem, having more options doesn’t necessarily make us happier — in fact, it often has the opposite effect. Here’s why:
- Overwhelm: When we have too many options, our brains become overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information. We struggle to process all the possibilities and weigh the pros and cons, which can lead to decision fatigue and anxiety.
- Increased Expectations: With more choices comes higher expectations. We begin to believe that one of the many options must be perfect, and we raise our standards accordingly. This makes it harder to feel satisfied with any decision because nothing lives up to the ideal we’ve created in our minds.
- Regret and Second-Guessing: After making a decision, we are more likely to experience regret when there were many other options on the table. We start second-guessing ourselves, wondering if another choice would have made us happier. This post-decision doubt diminishes our overall satisfaction.
- FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): When faced with too many choices, we may feel like we’re missing out on something better. Even after choosing, our brains continue to think about the alternatives, leading to a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.
The Problem with Perfectionism
This is where perfectionism enters the picture. When we have a lot of choices, we are often searching for the “perfect” one — the option that ticks every box and leaves no room for doubt. But perfection is a myth. Whether it’s the perfect meal, the perfect job, or the perfect life partner, the idea of perfection is unattainable because it doesn’t exist.
When we chase perfection, we set ourselves up for disappointment. In reality, no option is ever going to be flawless. This relentless search for the perfect choice only amplifies our dissatisfaction, especially when we’re faced with an abundance of options. We become stuck in a loop of indecision and self-doubt, unable to settle on anything because nothing feels “good enough.”
In contrast, when we have fewer choices, we shift our mindset from seeking perfection to looking for the best available option. This shift allows us to feel more content with our decision because we aren’t expecting perfection in the first place.
How to Make Choices That Lead to Greater Happiness
So, how can we avoid the trap of too many choices and find more happiness in the decisions we make? Here are a few practical strategies:
- Limit Your Options: When possible, try to reduce the number of choices you need to make. Whether it’s in your personal life or at work, narrowing down your options can help you avoid overwhelm and make decisions more confidently.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Instead of expecting perfection, aim for the best possible option within the available choices. Remind yourself that no decision is going to be perfect, and that’s okay. You can still find satisfaction in a choice that is “good enough.”
- Embrace Decision-Making as a Learning Process: Rather than fearing regret, view each decision as an opportunity to learn. Even if you make a choice that isn’t ideal, you can gain valuable insights that will help you in future decision-making.
- Practice Gratitude: Once you’ve made a decision, practice being grateful for it rather than focusing on what could have been. This mindset will help you enjoy the present moment and feel more content with your choice.
- Focus on the Experience, Not the Outcome: When making choices, try to focus on the experience you’re going to have, rather than obsessing over finding the “perfect” outcome. This shift in focus can lead to greater satisfaction and less stress.
Less Is More When It Comes to Happiness
The more choices we have, the more difficult it becomes to feel happy and satisfied with our decisions. Our brains get caught up in searching for perfection, leading to overwhelm, regret, and second-guessing. In contrast, when we have fewer options, we are able to focus on choosing the best available option, which helps us feel more content and less stressed.
By shifting our mindset from chasing perfection to finding the best option in the moment, we can make choices more confidently and enjoy them without the constant worry of what we might have missed out on. Sometimes, less truly is more when it comes to happiness.