Consider these three factors:
- The cost of making one choice over the other
- The length of time until we can choose again
- How different our perceived experience will be with choice A vs choice B
The existence (or abundance) of choices is less likely to lead to stress when the cost to choose one over the other is well within our means and/or when we know that we can always make another choice soon enough. And when we perceive to have varying but comparable experiences with either choices.
Example: Ice cream flavor. It cost me the same if I choose Chocolate or Vanilla, Rocky Road or Jamocha. And if I choose Pina Colada today, I know that next week I can choose the Pistachio. And even though I may like Tres Leches better than Peanut Butter, it's not as though I will stress over any of them.
Choices can lead to stress when the cost is such that we have to forsake the other if we choose one, and/or when we know that it will be a long while (if ever) that we can take another shot at it. And when we perceive that we'll experience something different depending on what we chose.
Example: Do I choose the Pelikan M1000 or I do choose the Nakaya? I can't afford both. If I choose one, my pen fund will be depleted for a long... long time. And what am I missing if I go with either one?
Sounds familiar?
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