Water Skis and Jam
For those of you who have ever water skied, you were likely to struggle to figure out how to get up over the skis.
My first experience wasn’t great. I instinctively tried to power up by resisting the water. That was a mistake – just forced the water to blow my face right off and my arms to pull off my shoulders – well, not completely. After some humiliation and pain, I eventually figured it out.
Years ago, I heard a speaker tell a story about how he learned to water ski.
It didn’t start well either. He had 4 or 5 friends in the boat who were all “experts”. Here are a few of their recommendations:
"Just muscle it up!" Tried that.
"Keep your arms straight and locked the whole time." That too.
"Lean way back from the start." Yep.
After a few horrific attempts. He yelled at all the options and said, “Who knows the most and give me one option!” He did. And it worked.
This is about the Paradox of Choice. Too many choices cause confusion, frustration, and difficult decision-making.
Here’s a specific study by Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper in their now classic "When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing?" study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2000.
This study famously involved a field experiment at a grocery store where they offered shoppers either a limited selection (6) or an extensive selection (24) of different jams.
Key Findings:
While the larger display attracted more initial interest, shoppers at the limited-choice booth were significantly more likely to actually make a purchase (30%) compared to those at the extensive-choice booth (only 3%).
This research provided compelling early evidence for the idea that while people appreciate having options, an overwhelming number of choices can lead to:
Decision paralysis: Difficulty in making a choice at all.
Lower satisfaction: Even after making a choice, individuals may feel less satisfied with their decision, wondering if they could have made a better one among the many options.
Think about it: jeans, coffee, carriers, colleges, doctors, cars. Seemingly endless choices, right? As Americans, we equate more options with better results, more happiness.
But hold on. Too much choice can be a trap. It breeds doubt before you even decide. It inflates expectations sky-high. And when things don't go perfectly? You blame yourself.
This overload can freeze you, fuel anxiety, and keep you stressed. In a world screaming "limitless options equals no excuses for failure," too much choice can even lead down a dark path.
More isn't always better. Recognize the choice trap and simplify where you can. A little less choice might just lead to a lot more peace.