Summary
In the Ted Talk we watched in class titled “The Paradox of Choice” presented by Barry Schwartz, the conclusion is introduced as the presentation of having too many choices in our lives can lead to paralyzed and decreased satisfaction each time we are given one, therefore making happiness obtainable by having a low expectation of things rather than a high one. The premises in this topic are presented by many examples Barry uses in marketing terms or strategies via different industries, however I believe that the main premise to be highlighted is that the vast majority of choices which are given to us Americans on the daily basis in almost all areas of our schedule makes life harder and questionable in trying to choose from what could be a perfect decision for themselves to make or one that could lead with great loss of opportunity and advancements. All of these are possibilities given the hundreds if not thousands of major decisions that are made to impact people's lives whether they appear small or large.
In another similar topic from an article titled, “From the ‘perfect’ salary to keeping up with the Joneses, here’s how money really affects your happiness” by Cory Steig, Cory goes on to write about how money is not always guaranteed to make you happy and to determine this would strictly depend on your own individual way of spending money and making it in order to create a more enjoyable experience and happier lifestyle, thus giving us readers the conclusion of his main message. The premises used in this article demonstrate Cory's proposal of seeking a job you know will treat you right and benefit your mental health rather than slowly corrupt it for the sacrifice of a high paying salary. In the longer run, you will find it much more useful to have a job that you are genuinely satisfied with and will provide you a good amount of money still to cover your expenses/
Needs while also utilizing that money for experiences you can exchange with
Those you love.
Although I do agree with the two authors above and their ideals, I would say for my topic that money does buy experiences that exchange happiness. The way people make and spend their money in the US can be divided and created into thousands of different categories, as nowadays with new technology and industries constantly changing, opportunities seem almost endless. However, most people only believe their money is used or should be used for the purpose of paying their expenses off and surviving with their essential needs to provide for themselves. On the other hand, I believe it’s important to realize that money does not have to just be used as a tool to cover one’s financial stabilities but rather also a tool that can be used to experience things with friends and family members that you might not always get to experience such as concerts, vacations, road trips and etc. I think when people start to view money as a tool to generate joyous experiences, it’ll lead to a much more peaceful life and satisfaction with their living situation and money usage.
