keeping options open seems to extract a psychological price. When we can change our minds, apparently we do less psychological work to justify the decision we've made, reinforcing the chosen alternative and disparaging the rejected ones.
In "The Paradox of Choice," Barry Schwartz discusses how having many choices can paradoxically lead to dissatisfaction. Keeping our options open may give us a sense of freedom, but it also appears to impose a psychological burden. When we feel free to change our decisions, we often exert less effort in justifying our final choices. This lack of commitment can diminish the emotional investment in our decisions.
As people navigate their options, they tend to enhance the value of what they choose while simultaneously devaluing what they didn't select. This mindset can lead to a constant feeling of doubt and regret, as individuals may linger on what they might have missed out on, despite having made a choice. Ultimately, Schwartz suggests that having too many options can be more detrimental than beneficial, impacting our overall satisfaction and mental well-being.
