I'm finishing up The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz. Schwartz makes the point that as the number of choices keeps growing, negative consequences begin to appear, leading to overload, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. I've already commented on this in the blog article titled Less Is More.
The solution to this crisis of having too many choices? Schwartz suggest that we "practice an attitude of gratitude." Listen to what he has to say.
"Our evaluation of our choices is profoundly affected by what we compare them with, including comparisons with alternatives that exist only in our imaginations. The same experience can have both delightful and disappointing aspects. Which of these we focus on may determine whether we judge the experience to be satisfactory or not. We can vastly improve our subjective experience by consciously striving to be grateful more often for what is good about a choice or an experience, and to be disappointed less by what is bad about it."
And how do we do this in a practical way? Schwartz suggests the following discipline:
- Keep a notepad at your bedside.
- Every morning, when you wake up, or every night, when you go to bed, use the notepad to list five things that happened the day before that you're grateful for.
- Keep the discipline up. You will find that it gets easier and easier, more and more natural. You may find yourself feeling better and better about your life as it is, and less and less driven to find the "new and improved" products and activities that will enhance it.
Not a bad practice. Pretty good advice coming out of a business book! Which reminds me of the timelessness and relevance of God's Word. God knows that having a grateful and thankful heart is the key to happiness. Not much has changed through the years. This Thanksgiving, may you and your family discover the secret of an attitude of gratitude.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
No comments:
Post a Comment