#145: The Paradox of Choice with Dr. Barry Schwartz

Today I am joined by Dr. Barry Schwartz, the best-selling author of The Paradox of Choice whose Ted talks have received over 20mi views to date. He has spent the last 50 years researching and teaching the science of decision making, and so today we`ll talk about why less is more and how to make better choices in life. Max Out Insights: • We can make a good decision and still feel unsatisfied. • The well-being of choices is subjective. • Worrying about how a decision will make us feel is appropriate since most of the time we are making decisions so we will feel better about our lives and ourselves. • The more options there are, the more inclined we are to take responsibility. • In an ideal world, we make our own decisions about what our fish ball looks like and then live by them. • It’s helpful if we focus on what’s good in a decision Instead of what’s disappointing. Max Out Quotes: • “Instead of being liberated by all the options, people are paralyzed.” • “What’s more important: how good the decision we make is objectively or how good we feel about it.” • “The secret to happiness is low expectation.” • “Sometimes the world sets limits on what’s possible and we have to live within those limits.” • “We need something that imposes limits on the possibilities that we face and consider while we make decisions.” • “Good enough is almost always good enough.” Connect with Barry: You can find all about him at www.swarthmore.edu/profile/barry-schwartz and make sure to follow and connect with him on Twitter @BarrySch