Sheena Iyengar, Ph.D., has done interesting research on choice. It is very American to desire choice; to believe that choice ultimately is the greatest freedom. Dr. Iyengar has found that the desire for choice is not always a constructive desire, and that when there are too many choices we actually begin to make poorer choices.
How many times have you gone through the 100+ channels on your TV only to conclude, “there’s nothing on!” I find this interesting and telling. Perhaps at the beginning of the year it’s time to look at your choices. Perhaps it’s an opportunity to evaluate how you make choices and to what extent those choices truly get you what you want them to.
To what extent are you considering the long and short term consequences of your choices? In many cases, the choices you make today will have longer term consequences and yet we often only consider them in light of the immediate.
I challenge you to narrow your options, to consider short and long term consequences, and to exercise discipline in decision making….but that’s your choice! Here are a few suggestions:
1. Narrow your choices to 2 or 3.
2. Evalutate the options in light of your core values. Which one will most likely meet them?
3. Stop and consider the short and long term consequences.
4. Think about the effect the choices will have on you, those you care about, and the greater good.
5. Keep emotion out of the equation as best you can. Choices Based on emotion change when the emotion changes.
What can you share with your peers? What are your perspectives on making smart choices? Add a comment below to keep the discussion going.
