Freedom of choice is a by-product of modern life, and with more choice comes misery, claims a new study. Having to make choices like what foods we eat, which movies we rent, or where we vacation cripples middle-class Americans with indecision and makes us unhappy, according to this study conducted by Stanford University. The depressed feelings can grow out of uncertainty or regret for the choices we’ve made. Basically, too much variety is a bad thing because we become obsessed about what our decisions say about us. Then, we worry whether we’ve made the right choice. And it gets worse. We’re not only miserably dissatisfied, but we’re also selfish and lack empathy because we’re so darn focused on ourselves. Hmm, maybe it’s time to go back to hunting and gathering. Have you been crippled by your abundance of choices? [Impact Lab]
