I mentioned this article in another thread, but while reading it again, I kept thinking how perfectly it explains what I go through whenever UAS strikes. This article appeared in a 2004 issue of Scientific American, and was written by Barry Schwartz:
The Tyranny of Choice
The article includes a "test" to determine where one is on the Maximization Scale:
In part, it is a financial consideration, but maybe that is just an excuse I'm making to myself. I don't swim in money, so I can't buy $1000 ukuleles frequently, so when I do buy one, I fret over whether it's a good choice (among the large sea of choices that gets bigger every year) -- or no, actually, I fret over whether it's the "best" choice (for me and in general).
Usually, after a while, I end up making an "emotional" decision, driven by a surge of adventurousness, impatience, or the desire to stop going in circles. That then brings relief -- until a few months later the question if something else might not be a better fit surfaces again, particularly when funds are available at the time and no other interests compete for them in an equally strong manner.
What about you?
The Tyranny of Choice
The article includes a "test" to determine where one is on the Maximization Scale:
- Whenever I’m faced with a choice, I try to imagine what all the other possibilities are, even ones that aren’t present at the moment.
- No matter how satisfied I am with my job, it’s only right for me to be on the lookout for better opportunities.
- When I am in the car listening to the radio, I often check other stations to see if something better is playing, even if I am relatively satisfied with what I’m listening to.
- When I watch TV, I channel surf, often scanning through the available options even while attempting to watch one program.
- I treat relationships like clothing: I expect to try a lot on before finding the perfect fit.
- I often find it difficult to shop for a gift for a friend.
- Renting videos is really difficult. I’m always struggling to pick the best one.
- When shopping, I have a hard time finding clothing that I really love.
- I’m a big fan of lists that attempt to rank things (the best movies, the best singers, the best athletes, the best novels, etc.).
- I find that writing is very difficult, even if it’s just writing a letter to a friend, because it’s so hard to word things just right. I often do several drafts of even simple things.
- No matter what I do, I have the highest standards for myself.
- I never settle for second best.
- I often fantasize about living in ways that are quite different from my actual life
In part, it is a financial consideration, but maybe that is just an excuse I'm making to myself. I don't swim in money, so I can't buy $1000 ukuleles frequently, so when I do buy one, I fret over whether it's a good choice (among the large sea of choices that gets bigger every year) -- or no, actually, I fret over whether it's the "best" choice (for me and in general).
Usually, after a while, I end up making an "emotional" decision, driven by a surge of adventurousness, impatience, or the desire to stop going in circles. That then brings relief -- until a few months later the question if something else might not be a better fit surfaces again, particularly when funds are available at the time and no other interests compete for them in an equally strong manner.
What about you?