You can increase your happiness by limiting your choices seams almost unAmerican or uncivilized. As a society every add you see express the idea that the more choices we have the more freedom we have and of course the happier we become.

After watching the video at the bottom of this article I began thinking about an experience I had two weeks ago. Out pool liner had deteriorated to the point of no more procrastination. It needed to be replaced Now! Got a couple of estimates, chose the company I would use and then he gives me this whole catalog of liner choices.

My wife in her infinite wisdom said the choice was all mine. I thought and stressed for two days trying to make the best choice. I had got so caught up in making the perfect choice that I had completely forgot that the salesman had told me that the best choices were on page one and I could get the heaver liner for the price of the lighter. There were two choices on page one I liked one the other thumbs down.

The point I’m trying to make is this, If I had been given just the two choices in the beginning I could of made the decession in an instant. So in this case more choices led to a couple of days of mild stress trying to pick to “Perfect” liner.

I think if you watch the video you’ll find the Psychologist Barry Schwartz has made some surprising observation in his study on “freedom of choice”. He concludes that a multitude of choices leads not to more happiness but rather just the opposite increasing dissatisfaction.

Watch the video and tell us what you think.

[Recorded in Oxford, UK July 2005 Duration:19:48]

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