Analysis, Assessment And Choice Paralysis

Is it worth it? Just how often do so many of us ask ourselves this question on a variety of issues. And usually we try to tell ourselves that end of the day, all things considered, what we are assessing is worth it. I am beginning to think that this happens only because we want what we are assessing and are just trying to get our rational mind to give the great “OK”. Its how the trained logical mind buys itself peace.

Life isn’t perfect – in fact far from it. Usually, what we want comes attached with a lot of things we don’t want. Sometimes, it comes attached with insufficient amount of some things we want and extra amounts of what we didn’t ask for. And that’s where the whole worth assessment begins.

You like your job but don’t love it. You like your boss but he is often a pain. The current project is horrendous and you are stuck on it for a year. End of the day is it worth it? This question uncannily props up when an increment, promotion or bonus has not gone your way – or if what you believed was yours went to someone else. 

You love your spouse but marriage is hard work. He takes care of you but not in all the ways you want him to. He can be insensitive, naive and aloof. He can also be thoughtful, considerate and caring in ways you never thought of. Makes you wonder if the package of ups and downs is worth it.

The new job offer you got is great, if only they gave you that little bit more. That higher designation, that higher increment – are all the changes worth it?

Ever wondered how come we never assess if dealing with our family, siblings and friends is worth it? Why exiting from a family business and what’s your “own” is rarely a question that crops up. Those relations also have ups and downs – but why don’t we consider turning those down.  Those are always worth it aren’t they?

Then is it that we assess the worth of things we believe we have options for? Are we starting to give ourselves options for too many things? Maybe anchoring down, taking what comes our way and making the most of it is a better way to be at peace. I'm not saying don’t seek more, but creating choices in situations where there is no need for assessment is a mighty big waste of time. Perhaps taking a deep breath, rubbing your hands for energy and just getting up and dealing with what’s on the plate is what automatically makes things “worth it”. Worth after all is relative – just like beauty. You have to assess the whole package in the context of your whole life.

Hum of the Day

I read somewhere that ours is a generation that has too many choices. Not only do I agree, but I now feel that we assess and reassess when there are no real choices. Something is a choice when you can say no or if something else belongs to you. In all other situations, it’s not a choice and therefore not worth assessing. Accepting is a word we all need to slowly learn. And have faith in ourselves that when the time to really say no comes, we will know and there will be no assessment.