The paradox of choice by Barry Schwartz is the most exciting video I have ever watched. The main reason is the premises he used to support his conclusion. One of the conclusions he had was paralysis is a consequence of having too many choices. To support his conclusion, the premises he used were that people find it very difficult to choose at all with many options to choose. The example he used was with the mutual fund. The more mutual funds the employer offered, the lower the participation coming because of many choices. It becomes tough to choose from, and they get tired of it and sometimes don’t even decide. Sometimes, if there were fewer options, or even only one option, everyone would have just taken that and be happy with it and nothing to complain about. Another conclusion he had was the secret to happiness is low expectations. The premise is that the more expectations you have, the more disappointed you will be. The reason is that, no matter what the people do for you, your expectations are always higher, and you expect more. At the same time, if there were no expectations, you would be happier because you didn’t even expect that. The article from CNBC concludes that you can buy happiness with money. The premise is that if you contribute to the community or help others, it can bring joy. That is not all about materialistic.I agree with both of the speakers. I agree that the less option you have, the better and happier decision you will make. For example, when we go to buy donuts, we get lost by looking at the donut case and getting lost with finding out what I want and what I am craving and what will taste better, and as a result, we can’t make a decision. I also agree that money can help us survive, but money can never buy happiness, but it can lead to it. Happiness has to come from the inner part but not in a materialistic way. For me, happiness is when I can support my family by sending money to help them survive, but I would have been happier if I could have stayed with them instead of being far away. Both situations carry two different kinds of happiness, but which one do you prefer more?
4 thoughts on “Sunjida khanam DB -5”
Hi Sunjida,
You explained here very clearly. You said the premise is that if you contribute to the community or help others, it can bring joy. It’s 100% true and I agree with you. Doing something for community and the people always bring happy. Also, you said about options. Yes, it’s true that when you have less options you are able to choose best one.
Hi Sunjida, I agree partially with you when you said that money can never buy happiness, money does contribute to happiness. Some people find happiness and satisfaction in helping others and helping others sometimes implies giving out money or goods, also giving funds for charity for example. Therefore I cannot assert that money never makes us happy, it could or not it depends on our personal definition of happiness.
You definitely read Schwartz and Steig’s perspective on choices as I did in my discussion board post. Like in the example of investing with your company, I too have had that same dilemma with my own 401K plan, for example. That’s why I just leave it up to them, and hope for the best. I just contribute a percentage and hope for the best. I can only hope they make good choices and my contribution builds. Because, as far as investments, there are thousands of choices out there, and not being well versed in that field, I found it better to not make those choice, like subjects mentioned in Schwartz’s example.
Well, there’s a saying that goes, “do what makes you happiest”. But doing what makes you “the happiest” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice, though the most desirable. I’d “prefer” the happiness of providing health and well being to my family in sacrifice of my togetherness with them. If it means bettering the lives of the loved ones I miss, then sure. I’ll take the hero roll 🙂
Hi Sunjida,
I agree with you when you stated money can not buy happiness. There are plenty of famous people and or wealthy people who are prime examples of that conclusion Schwartz had. Money overall can not cure ones suffering or fulfill your life with constant happiness. We all as humans are going to have our ups and downs in life no matter how much money we have in our bank accounts.