Limit Your Choices
We’re taught to believe that the more choices we have, the more freedom we have. Plenty of studies have demonstrated that too many choices are actually problematic, paralyzing. Still we imagine that we’re better off if we don’t foreclose on any option and keep our choices open. The problem is, each day we’re presented with roughly 35,000 choices—several hundred alone on food.
- What do I wear?
- What should I eat?
- Should I take the elevator or the stairs?
- What should I watch on TV?
- What books or magazines or podcasts?
- What do I say and how do I say it?
- What do I believe?
- How much should I spend?
It’s no wonder “decision fatigue” is so common.
When our two daughters entered junior high they attended an all-girls Catholic school. For the next six years they wore the same uniform. Every day. At first they chafed at their loss of choice and self-expression, but in short order the complaints stopped. The uniform foreclosed on hours and hours of fretting and fussing over what to wear today. (In fact, many highly productive people wear the same thing every day—think Steve Jobs, Adele, Elon Musk—in order to save countless hours of choosing, and free up brain power for better things.)
Advent is a bulwark against the ten thousand “holiday” choices we have between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. It’s a conscious limiting of our choices. When we make one big decision—that the four weeks of Advent will prioritize time for quietness, relationship and simple joys—a thousand other siren choices are automatically ruled out. That is the wisdom of any daily spiritual practice: a commitment to this one thing today means I don’t have to think about a million other possibilities. And that, we now know, enlarges our freedom and increases our personal effectiveness, creativity and power.
Reminds me of 70×7=1 from “Losing Your Faith, Finding Your Soul” by a guy named David Anderson
Hey, Matt. Thanks for that reminder. Went looking and found the quote from that guy–
“This is the wisdom of Jesus’s equation. “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.” It’s a koan. I believe the equation is 70 x 7 = 1. There is only one act of forgiveness. It’s reserved for grownups.”
Nice! I am a part-time grownup!!
You know, it’s odd. Just yesterday I was thinking how laying out my gym clothes the night before (like school children do) is both a relaxing pattern and also a little nudge, a reminder of my commitment to my health. It’s my adult, awake mind talking to my little kid, sleepy mind. I’ve been doing it for years. It works.
It reminds me of the odd piece of advice: when you come to a fork in the road, take it. Choose a path and don’t worry so much about what the one left behind offered…
David, what a wonderful post! And so right on in this option-crazy world we live in. Maybe because I grew up in Nahanni with so few choices, and because I grew up with a father who had his meditation and devotions every single morning, I have been spared some of that. When a friend recently told me of a new face cream that does a,b,c,d better than any other, I immediately discounted it. If Este Lauder was good enough for mom, it’s good enough for me!
I think there should be a LAW against too many versions and options for the same product on a CVS shelf!! I usually get around that by going to me previous Amazon orders and in 1 click I order the same thing again!
You are so right on. Too many choices negatively impact freedom!
Speaking of the uniforms that Jobs, Musk and Adele wear, I thought of monks and nuns. And the Chicago Cubs. And the lion. And the curve-billed thrasher.
This is a wonderful email David. Everyday I go out in my walking clothes, same outfit everyday. Unless I go out to something special it’s my daily uniform. Makes life so much easier. It does empty space for other thoughts. Great post.
To many decisions make me crazy!The more choices the longer & more difficult the choice! My saving grace is my daughter Samantha. She is highly organized, sees things clearly, cuts to the chase & gets the job done!!Thank Heaven for little girls!!With out her I would still be in the forest trying to pick out last years tree!!! I am so grateful that there is only one God!!
Reminds me of one of my favorite stories about Jesus in Luke. Martha was busy serving Jesus & Mary was only sitting at his feet listening to him. Jesus rebuked Martha, “ONE THING is important & Mary is doing it.