Why trying to make the “best” choice can make you less happy

Would you rather feel happy with your decision or make a slightly better “objective” choice? It’s an interesting question, and in this episode, we unpack it through the lens of maximizing vs. satisficing. What does it mean to make a “good enough” choice versus the “best” choice? And what makes a choice the best one, anyway? Is it really the best choice if it leaves you filled with regret or constantly comparing yourself to others? We’ll explore research from Barry Schwartz’s book The Paradox of Choice, alongside some of my own theories about how maximizing and satisficing might interact with different personality traits and individual characteristics. In the second half of the episode, we turn to practical ways to become more comfortable with “good enough.” From CBT-informed strategies to shifting our expectations and perspectives, we’ll explore how we can make choices with greater confidence and less regret - and how our consumer culture, with its seemingly endless options, encourages us to keep maximizing in the first place. Timestamps: 00:00 Would You Rather Make the Best Choice or Be Happy With Your Choice? 02:21 What Is Satisficing? Introducing Herbert Simon 03:12 Maximizing and Barry Schwartz 03:45 Quiz: Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer? 04:54 Maximizing and Satisficing Can Vary by Area of Life 06:15 The Downsides of Maximizing 07:59 Personality, Past Experiences, and Maximizing 09:24 The Problem With Too Many Options 12:30 Fear of Regret and the Vicious Cycle of Maximizing 13:38 Social Comparison and Maximizing 16:30 How to Satisfice More Often Resources mentioned: The Paradox of Choice - Book by Barry Schwartz Subscribe to this channel here:    / @immersion_podcast   You can leave a voice message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/pamelacarey Email Newsletter: https://www.pamcarey.com/subscribers Podcast version of the show can be found at these links: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318937/fo... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NMMtC7... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... #decisionmaking #maximizersvssatisficers #paradoxofchoice