The Paradox of Choice
Posted by Lola on June 18, 2007
One of the beautiful things about being educated and having virtually unlimited access to information is that our generation, today’s 20-somethings, have more choice than ever before….
Unlike our parents we probably won’t have a ‘job for life’ and many of us will have a number of ‘careers’ in our lifetime… But can this choice be paralysing? If you can do so many things, how do you choose which to do? The number of options open to us can be scary… How do you make the ‘best’ decision? Which is the right path?
Through our conditioning too often, particularly in school, we’re not taught to do what we really love or are passionate about, but what is the most prestigious, will earn you the most money, or what you ’should’ do… which isn’t necessarily the best recipe for long-lasting satisfaction or fulfillment. I believe that the best path to choose is the one that you’re passionate about and that will ultimately provide you with longer term satisfaction.
Look at people that you respect, admire, and look up to (e.g. mine are Oprah, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Deepak Chopra) and you will see people who are hugely successful doing what they are best at and what they are truly passionate about.
That now is my yardstick when it comes to making any choices in life, work related or not.. I ask “Do I want to do this?”, “Do I care about doing this?”, “Am I passionate about this?” and if not, I bin it. I know there are those of you will say that you don’t have the luxury to make such choices; that you need to pay the bills and put food on the table. Yes you must take care of your responsibilities, but remember that pursuing your passion and creating a meaningful life is a choice – and you are the only one who can actively take the steps to get there. When in your life will you ever not have responsibilities and financial commitments? If you don’t take the steps while you’re still young and relatively care-free, when will you?
Furthermore…surely, apart from the availability of choices, the great thing about being educated is having the luxury to do what you actually want?
