Imagine this: you were eating at a café went you had the unpredictable misfortune of slipping on a puddle on the floor (all those years of ignoring the “Caution: wet floor” signs caught up to you). Your phone slips out of your hand into a by-standard’s coffee. Awkward. The call you expected from your boss comes through, loudly ringing at first, then fading as your Smartphone is infiltrated with liquefied caffeine and cream. You suddenly find yourself back in the market for a new cell phone. You’re walking into your local Verizon/AT&T store when you stop. All you see are rows of models lined up, side-by-side with comparison charts, facts on battery life, and handheld models. With all these choices, you would think that you could be satisfied when find the perfect one to fit your needs. Right?

Wrong.

Cover of The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

You are more likely to feel disappointed by the final model, than if there were fewer cell phones to choose from. In fact, the greater the availability of options, the less satisfied people are with their decisions. Psychologist Barry Schwartz spent several years researching this apparent contradiction and called it the paradox of choice. He explains this phenomenon by observing how people react when given few choices. With fewer options to choose from, there is a clear divide between the benefits of one option over another. However, this distinction fades as the number of options to choose from increases. As more choices arise, the decision making process is more strained—one must now weigh the costs and benefits of a larger set of options. This has three primary effects:

1) Each decision requires increased effort and attention.

2) Mistakes become more likely to occur.

3) The psychological ramifications of those mistakes are greater.

The combination of these effects causes a decrease in satisfaction with a decision between many options. In fact, it makes the process mentally taxing for those who are unwilling to “settle for less.” Sometimes the extra effort required to fully analyze additional options is not worth the potential gain from finding a better option. What I mean by this is that after a certain point, more options will not be beneficial to providing the best choice because the energy required to make that “best” decision is often better spent if one could just settle for an option that would suffice. In context, finding the “perfect” replacement phone is not worth the time and effort saving when settling for a good phone that will work.

Source: Schwartz, Barry. The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. New York: Ecco, 2004. Print. 

First of all, just by simply comparing today to a mere 5 years ago, statistics have shown that shopping is taking on average almost twice as long now than it was. Why is this? That’s right; the choices that we get. What used to happen is that when we need to buy anything at all, there was perhaps only a few things we could choose from. Occasionally, there was only one. So what happens then? We simply just grab one and leave. What tends to happen today when we are shopping for ANYTHING, food, shoes, bicycles, is that we are stunned by the possibilities. We simply cannot make up our minds. In fact, what often happens is that we end up not choosing anything at all. And the reason is simply because we have so many choices. We are afraid that we will make a mistake by choosing the product that may not be the best, and before we buy anything, we need to make sure it IS the best. The choices in society raises our expectations to a level that it simply cannot be satisfied.

Which leads me onto the next point. Choice and expectation shares an almost symbiotic relationship. If we can choose between 20 doughnuts, our expectation of the doughnut we get are definitely much greater than if we only could choose from say 2. This is human psychology, its flaws. The apparently inherent insatiable nature of mankind. But the paradox here is that of those 20 different kinds of doughnuts we could choose from, most likely they won’t even be that much different. One type of dougnut has ‘hundreds and thousands’ sprinkled onto it, while another chocolate sprinkles. But the main makeup of these two doughnuts remain largely identical; same type of dough, made by the same people, and probably tastes the same as well. We are however, drawn into the illusion that this slight variation somehow makes the ‘perfect product’ a lot more attractive, whereas in fact, the increase in the products quality is tiny, if not non-existent. Even if the product IS much more improved from the sole types that existed say 10 years ago, this new kind of choice presented to us raises our expectations to a level that simple CANNOT be satisfied.

Ultimately, we are lead to dissatisfaction. Anyone who has studied even a bit of economics would know about opportunity costs. For those of you who don’t know what it is, opportunity costs are what economists and others alike use to describe ‘the next best alternative forgone when a decision is made’. That is, what is left out when we choose something, what we could have perhaps instead bought. It is quite obvious that opportunity costs are and always will be negative things. Suppose you had to choose between buying a house and a car; if you bought the car, you would think I wish I had gotten the house instead. Similarly, if you had bought the house, you probably somewhere alone the line would regret this decision also. Because we want everything. The extensive choices we get in society today only accentuates this problems. My mother used to buy us yoghurts every week, when there were only peach and chocolate flavours. Now, no matter how cruddy those yoghurts tasted, we were still satisfied. We didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything anyways; those yoghurts were our only choices. But nowadays, we could choose between original and low fat, chocolate and vanilla, small packages or big packages, one brand or another. I have no doubt whatsoever that the yoghurt I eat today was by FAR superior to those we had before, but ultimately I am always left feeling less satisfied because I always wondered if I had made the right choice. Once again, choice leads to dissatisfaction.

It is human nature to want more, and to always want the best. But this idea was never taken into account by those who advocated for change and improvement to choices. On paper, yes it looks good, every-body’s lives are improved, but inherent human characteristics were left out of the equation in this theory. What is interesting, and ultimately hypocritical for economists and capitalists, is that most of them openly criticise communism as being defective because of their inability to take into the account human factors such as lacking incentive to work were the pays for doctors same as toilet cleaners, but yet they ignore the same ideas that, while a lot more subtle, still perpetrates strongly within their own ideas and theories. Of course, the best way around that problem is to know that it is a problem at all. To know that we ARE being stunted by choice, paralysed and regretting, allows us to take a better approach, to mitigate the effects. If we know that we are being controlled by negative characteristics, such as greed, then we can attempt to alleviate consequences. That is what this article is written for. To show the negative side of things, and so hopefully minimize its effects. 

While next to her, he slept

Despite knowing of the pain

He caused to her each day

She loves him yet she hates

Can’t stand when he berates

She prays it ends, and soon

With hopes he’ll change his ways

She knows he cannot change

It’s just how life’s arranged

She knows she’ll have to leave him

The choice is hers to make

He’ll force her then to stay

If she leaves him in the day

So night time’s when she’ll leave

To insure she gets away

She goes

Not wanting to look back

But knows

She’s wary of attack

She hopes

That one day it will cease

She prays

That she will find some peace

Her morning starts with sunshine

Though clouds aren’t far behind

She lives in fear, but moves ahead

To secure a life of hope

Her work and life progressing

Though fears are hers, repressing

She does what she must do

Just so that she can cope

She goes

Not wanting to look back

But knows

She’s wary of attack

She hopes

That one day it will cease

She prays

That she will find some peace

Amongst the many considerations and problems of our day- wars are caused and waged by choice; homosexuality is a choice; homelessness is a choice, ignorance and poverty is a choice, even what we term religion has become a choice. And while representatives of faulty decisions they are indicative of the rights of choice nonetheless.  Many may disagree wondering why one would choose the negative when we supposedly are inclined to make positive decisions for ourselves. And yet understand the inherent offspring of choice is -consequence. Disagree if you must but the issue remains the “bad” things we experience are as much a part of choice as the “good” things we experience. They are both parts of the gift of choice, and partially why humanities greatest dilemma is choice. What do we do with it? How do we deal with it?

From a spiritual perspective one would say this is an easy answer and yet it requires us to utilize what we don’t yet understand, our freedom of choice, Free Will.  In the eyes of some the perception of choice is black and white; a clearly defined right or wrong pick, however for others choice is more systematic; it is based upon smaller choices on more grey matters comprising our ultimate decision and beliefs. The most pressing question we pose… In the end who ultimately will, and how much will someone else control our life? This is the question that every man inherently seeks to answer; thereby making the choice…

What’s more, in the process of deciding a matter there are various tools men use to accomplish the task. The most predominant being religion but this word in itself contradicts choice, which is why I included it amongst the faulty choices men make. The foremost characteristic of choice is its individual/ personal nature. I.e. you can not choose for me nor can I choose for you, but we both are individually accountable to choose. Religion stipulates otherwise

As I said the problem is choice. But so too is the answer.

And it invariably is… whose voice will I obey? To some this may seem overly religious and others it appears horrendously harsh until one realizes the stakes at wager… i.e. you can only receive the reward or consequence of your choice. As I stated, the “good” and the “bad” are both accessories to the gift of choice. See it in this perspective… famine as a choice- the choice to starve or the decision to eat: its offspring hopelessness is a choice- the choice to fight and labor to eat or surrender and cry because no one has given me to eat. Simple logic would say labor to eat and be filled but again this is a choice.

In the same pattern many understand that smoking and some foods among other things are addictive, and one must spend many dollars to control or stop the behavior, in effect cease the addiction. Yet knowing this many are claimed to have fallen victim to these things and excused of accountability without considering the contradiction. I know from evidence these things do not profit my body or my life and I gain nothing from them worth having. Instead I lose what is of some value. Knowing this why would I subject myself to these things unless I decide to exercise my choice? I have created the problem which I seek solution.

Understand the circumstances we encounter happen to us only because of choice. More specifically, the lack of choosing correctly. Again every moment is an opportunity to choose. If I gauge every aspect of my decisions (choices) would I so readily choose certain things? If knowing the prospect of loosing all my material matters would I choose to be a gambler? Ponder this for a moment with its applications toward life. In the same opportunity ponder this; even as I have offended some to this point, the primary cause of the problem i.e. failing choices is not necessarily you it also includes faulty information. You are not totally the blame. In military terms it’s called unreliable intelligence or as some say bad surveillance. Sometimes situations appear one way as to mislead one into unpromising choices thereby creating and furthering the problem. But this doesn’t excuse poor choice

As you further consider weigh this thought. While choice in itself is the perfect gift it carries with it a responsibility. This responsibility holds the answer to the problem I address and many others. One must know the consequence of choice. With this knowledge one can make truly intelligent decisions and increase the probability of “good” things occurring on most occasions. As I said again the problem and answer are both choice. You decide be willing to accept. After all it is your choice

From my personal aspect of the issue the choice is simple source reliance. I didn’t make the world it’s not mine to control I should just enjoy the view I’m given… as many understand there is a well of wisdom in God alone, and an abundance of life’s necessities at His throne but first one must choose to serve Him.

As I said the problem and solution is choice and its answer rests with you.

The first thing that you need to think about is how far you’re willing to move. Some people cross the world to go to university, while some are not willing to go anywhere that they need to move out of their home for. You should consider things such as how you’d get to university from home, how much things are going to cost where you’re planning to live, and what you would do if you were not able to go to your first choice university. 

The second thing that you should think about is which subject you’re going to want to do. Different institutions are better at different subjects, and this means that you should always look into this rather than just thinking about which university is best overall. You can find information about this on a lot of websites. You need to make sure that the subject of your choice is something that you really enjoy, as you’re going to be dedicating a lot of time and effort to it over the course of the next few years should you get onto the course of your choice.

The other thing that you need to consider is whether you’re going to get the grades that you need. You should know how good you are at your chosen A Level subjects and will therefore have some kind of idea about which places will be in your ability and which just will not. There is not all that much point in applying to places where you’re just not going to be able to get the grades, because this means that you will have much less chance of getting an offer to somewhere that it is possible for you to achieve.

When you have considered all of these things, then you should have a decent shortlist of some universities that you think you could be able to attend. Once this is the case, you can start booking yourself onto open days at the universities that you like the look of. You will not know whether you truly want to attend anywhere until you have been there. You will then be able to see what the local areas are like, what the buildings are like, what the tutors are like, and what the halls of residence are like. All of these things are important when you’re making your choices, because at the end of the day you have to live there for several years of your life, so you want it to be somewhere that you’re going to be able to be happy.

Overall, just remember that this is going to be one of the most imporatant decisions that you might ever take for yourself. This is not just about your education, but it is also about the rest of your life, and this means that you really need to think hard about which university you eventually choose. For me, university was one of the best times of my life, and I know that this could be the case for you as well if you make a well informed decision for yourself. 

We are fighting a battle that doesn’t need to be won.

Our hearts are burning hotter than our Earth’s sun.

We need to face our fears with love, not hide and run,

Because there is no need for anger and regret,

So just learn to let yourself forgive and forget,

Don’t fill those eyes with hurtful neglect.

All this hate will do, is make the world upset.

Rainbows weren’t made for gold, they were made to reflect.

Now transform those souls into a greenhouse affect,

And forgive all those who showed you respect.

Give your peace out to the world, and let God do the rest.

 i dont know if i can, til i became a man, ill show u how good i am,

when you sitdown i’ll stand, i just got a cramp, we’re in a line your last, ouch i stepped on glass, it hurt, i just blew my nose in my shirt, no fun, im done, dont stare into the sun, it always won, i got crunk and the whole world sunk, good thing ur drunk, ….im wasted lets go face it, not mace it! theres a squirrel, go chase it! next time get one more case of it, thats how i take it, lets see who will make it, i broke my knee, i never heard a worse scream, why u gotta be so mean, at least im clean, im a mean riding machine, i got no dreams, u got half a dream.

‘Parents will never understand what their kids want,

until they become open minded and help them with life instead of controlling it.’

They hide their hate with love and a front,

They don’t know how to find it, because life is a cloud and they can’t stop rolling it.

We’d find peace if we all smoked a blunt,

But judgement crowds inside it, and their bodies become so cold to it,

This is a race, yet we are the runts,

Surrounded in a world that is too old for this,

We are too bold for this. But just hold for this,

If we wait we can mold to this, meaningful purpose,

You know all they wanna do is diss us,

Dismiss us, piss, and sit on us,

And its only because they can’t find away to resist us,

One day we will all be gone, and all they can do is miss us.

Sometimes, you have to take it as it is, and move on,

Put the headphones in as you listen closer to the song,

Exhale the inhale, and tell yourself nothing can go wrong,

This fight may be a struggle, but it won’t last long, 

and if it lasts long, tell yourself it’s simple, and it will be easy,

There is nothing wrong with you! You are just lost and need direction.

Train your mind to fly and your life will be breezy,

We all fall and stumble sometimes, and land in the helpless section,

We just need guidance and people who care to see the connection, 

But when we don’t try to care, or care to try, we often need a resurrection,

Let it be born again so we can live a better life,

Put to work the first good thing that comes to mind,

Let optimism become our future, as our vision meets our eyes,

Learn the things not taught and experience those lies,

If you are lost, maybe its the good you must find.

You can’t credit yourself as a failure if you never tried. 

We gotta fight for a better world,

What would happen if we stood idly, and did nothing?

No more money, no more diamonds, no more pearls.

This is a race, but no one ever stops running.

Stopping is not an option, We gotta push through.

Just ask for help, if you reach a wall,

and you don’t know what to do.

You might: collapse, feel weak, trip, or fall;

Just don’t you quit on me, This mission needs us all.

This life has no choice but to do something new,

This world won’t get better on it’s own,

so if you are ready, all you have to do, is tell me too.

Let’s begin NOW, everything else will follow through.

Just MAKE A CHOICE! It is simple, let us continue.

We gotta fight for a better world,

We got some work to do.