Does TOO much CHOICE lead to unhappiness??

Question:An interesting article I recently read takes aim at a central belief of western societies: freedom of choice leads to personal happiness. In the author's opinion, all this choice is actually making us miserable.

We set unreasonably high expectations, question our choices before we even make them, and blame our failures entirely on ourselves. From consumer products (jeans, TVs) to lifestyle choices (where to live, what job to take); we have more choices than ever, yet depression is at an all time high. Thus, too many choices actually undermine our happiness.

As I find myself always questioning major life decisions I've made: Did I get married too soon? Was it the right person? etc... I can't help but agree. Knowing there are other options out there makes me question, even regret, the ones I chose. Especially once something slighty negative arises.

We are less willing to accept the things are parents did because we know we don't have to. But where has that gotten us today?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: An interesting article I recently read takes aim at a central belief of western societies: freedom of choice leads to personal happiness. In the author's opinion, all this choice is actually making us miserable.

We set unreasonably high expectations, question our choices before we even make them, and blame our failures entirely on ourselves. From consumer products (jeans, TVs) to lifestyle choices (where to live, what job to take); we have more choices than ever, yet depression is at an all time high. Thus, too many choices actually undermine our happiness.

As I find myself always questioning major life decisions I've made: Did I get married too soon? Was it the right person? etc... I can't help but agree. Knowing there are other options out there makes me question, even regret, the ones I chose. Especially once something slighty negative arises.

We are less willing to accept the things are parents did because we know we don't have to. But where has that gotten us today?

I believe this can be true, but it depends on personal character. This is also one of the new phenomena seen with the generation of children who are now reaching the ages of 20 - 30. The fact is our parents didn't have too many choices in comparison to us. They worked hard every day and lived during the period which witnessed the largest increase in standard of living ever in the United States.

Thus, they want their kids to lead a better life and have the freedom to choose their destiny instead of having to live the lifestyle they did. Now, growing up with very little want and quite a bit of have the offspring do not know what to do. For the parents, there was no choice - had to go to work otherwise they would starve. For their children - they can go to school, find a job, or do just about anything without fear of starvation or any realistically horrible outcome.

Since many of the current generation of children never had to make any hard choices or sacrifices during their youth, it seems easy to believe that they would have difficulty making these choices later on in life.

no just making the wrong choice can make you unhappy

We do not have time for happiness so do not worry about unhappiness be happy.

I think it is very possible. All our choices can be overwhelming.

In therapy (wink)...

A page right out of Scientology, in case you didn't know it. It's one of their more controversial beliefs: that it is embracing discipline (not the punishment kind, but the selective and discerning kind) that produces happiness and achievement, not unlimited choice -- which we often wrongly label "freedom" in that our concept of that often does not take into account the welfare of anyone but ourselves and perhaps those closest to us.

Does possessing and spending a huge part of the world's wealth make Americans collectively happier than other people? No.

the choices our parents had have actually decreased today...the thought only is what has increased.

we are not nearly as free as they were years ago...and the freedoms keep diminishing!

the loss has become apparent and are showing!

I would think so!! It seems that, the more spoilt and rich a person is, the more they want to have, and that makes them more winy and opinionated in certain situations, as well as them not appreciating what they do have!!

I do believe with age comes wisdom. Until you make a decision and discover it was wrong sometimes is the only way to learn what is right for you.
The best way to continue on is to believe that was meant to be. Do the best you can with where you are and what you have.
When you know what you definitely want there is no choice to be made.
With every 10 years of your life, watch how your needs change, usually for the better.

They are finding that it is causing much unhappiness. Just go to the grocery store to find noodles or soup. How many choices and the flooding of the sense with packaging.

My daughter is 26 and I can see the frustration of too many choices and fear of making the wrong decision over careers and other things.

The other thing that is causing unhappiness is in this age of faster and more exciting, people are confusing excitement for happiness. They thrill seek and race and guitar hero and with video games murder everything in sight. the adrenalin is pumping and they have a physical high and it is being mistaken for happiness. So people start seeking the next adrenalin rush to find happiness.

Happiness can have moments of excitement but excitement will never bring real happiness only a cheap imitation.

Happiness is usually they mundane things in life, being with family, a picnic with friends, getting married, having a baby, watching your kid play sports, watching a movie with loved ones, waking up to a sunny day healthy and free.

People seem to want more now. They buy on credit making huge bad debt decisions that they cant afford and then wonder why they are evicted. Senses are over loaded and everyone needs to live like a millionaire on a customer service rep salary. We have become greedy and wanting.

I think depression is at an all-time high not because we have so many choices, but because so often we are taught that all choices are inherently equal. They're not. Some choices are indeed better than others, and some choices will leave you captive, with no choices at all. More choices can be a good thing, but it also makes life more complicated and requires more thought and careful consideration than having few choices. And being that most people are lazy, they pick the easiest choice, or the most fun one, or the one that everyone else is choosing, instead of studying the options out carefully. That's where depression comes in. If people do not learn to make good choices, they will make bad ones, and that leaves regret and guilt.

NO, I think not enough does.

There is truth to that. A simple example. I go to a sandwich shop and I order a number 4. I can't get a simple number 4 which might be a roast beef sandwich. First I have to answer several questions. What kind of bread? It used to be a choice between white and wheat but now the choices are about 10. I'm bewildered. After the bread, the question becomes cheese and if so what type? Do I want it heated? Types of fixings and so forth. My mood changes. I have worked to hard to get a simple sandwich. It is also possible that the server was unpleasant and unkind. Meanwhile I have lost precious lunch time. Too many damn choices. All I wanted was a simple sandwich. Just give me the damn thing! It appears that my state of happiness has dissipated.
This example can be extended to any other product or situation. I believe you are right.

P.S. I'm not very happy right now. I don't think I will answer any more questions tonight.

Two hundred years ago there was slavery, women couldn't vote and were largely second rate citizens, homosexuality and other taboo lifestyles were publicly forbidden, children participated in manual labor, it was much harder for citizens in the lower income brackets to rise to wealth, arranged marriage was more common, etc., etc.

If there weren't enough choices 200 years ago and too many choices today then maybe you would be happier somewhere between the 1960's and 1980's. If you made bad choices then that's your problem. You can reverse a great deal of the choices you made. You can quit your job and get a new one, you can get divorced, you can move, you can take up new hobbies, you can change just about everything in your life if you want to. If making the wrong choices has made you unhappy then you need to start making decisions that will make you happy. It's not too late. Stop acting like it is.

Choice entails alternatives.So it doesn't lead to unhappiness:mindless choice does.Think,Sir,think twice before you speak

Other than death and taxes it's all choice. So...happiness is inevitably a choice. Having more choices give you a better chance of making a good decision. it's the consequence's and ramifications from bad decisions that you find yourself unhappy. My suggestion is choose wisely and be happy :)