There’s an inverse relationship between the number of opinions we hold & the number of options we have.
By default, our choices are limitless. But when we start to consider practicalities like what we want, when we want, how we want to do something, and what we’re willing to give up in exchange for something else, the range of paths before us starts to narrow.
The fewer preferences we bring to the table, the more options we have.
The more options we have, the more ways we have to attain our goal.
If we take this line of thought to its natural conclusion, we might assume that preferences are a bad thing. That we should eschew our desires and instead focus on analysing each route on its own merits, giving no weight to our personal feelings on them.
That might work in certain contexts. But it’s not a realistic way to live our lives.
Far from being an asset, boundless choice is a liability. Because the more options we have, the more mental bandwidth it takes to consider them, compare them, and eventually commit to one above all others.
Just as there’s an inverse relationship between our opinions and our options, there’s a direct connection between our commitment and our progress.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
In complex situations, there may be no “right” answer.
(And even if there is, who’s to say we’re capable of identifying it?)
The perfect solution for one person, at one moment in time might be worthless in the next.
Times change. So do we.
If there’s no universally correct approach we can settle on – no needle in the haystack, no matter how hard we search – then we can’t rely on a “one & done” philosophy where the quest for a better way is all we need to concern ourselves with.
Instead, we’re left to do the hard work of making our choice right.
If the path we’re on is good enough, then good enough is good enough.
Rather than continually seeking a different way of doing things, our focus needs to shift from finding better to making better. Doing better. Being better with whatever we have at our disposal.
Yes, there might be a better way out there. Something that would hypotethically get you to the goal faster & easier than your current approach.
But that’s not the best way.
The best way is the one you’ll commit to & see through to completion.