Choice Paradox
No. 48
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Choice and agency are liberating. They're reminders of our daily freedom.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the freedom to choose. In some instances, choice is prohibited by regulation and enforcement. Restriction of clothing and body exposure can spark protests and cause outrage in response to laws governing what women wear or hair discrimination.
These public conversations and debates on choice — particularly related to our appearance — can be opportunities to reexamine the choices you make for yourself, especially those made on autopilot.
Effective decision-making can be liberating and boost your overall clarity as you show up for yourself.
Too much caring is a mask for vanity. Too little consideration can be a lack of self-regard. There's a sweet spot that flows in the middle.
This is simplified; I understand that, as this area has many nuances. But periodically, streamlining can help you comprehend what choices you've been making without even realizing it.
In Barry Schwartz's The Paradox of Choice: Why Less is More, he emphasizes that when we have an abundance of options, it requires more effort, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and experiencing decision overload or fatigue.
"Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard."
But when you're conscious of your choice, you obtain power. It's just a matter of recognizing what you're selecting and how your lack of choice is, in effect, a choice.
Sometimes, it takes you longer than you'd like. But that's expected. The time it takes to implement changes can vary in life. It's topic-specific, too.
Your life is a story you're constantly revising. So when it comes to choosing how you show up for yourself and command an authentic presence, turn this into a constructive exercise in which you're considering what works and what doesn't. Let choice (or a lack thereof) be the ignition to create new possibilities, not one that holds you back.
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3 More Things
🧳 For your next trip… pack this bag.
⚽️ Pitch style: A STL favorite is making more pro-sport apparel stylish. Stop in next time you’re at the new St. Louis CITY SC stadium. You can be game ready and fashionable at the same time.
🛍 March picks: Shop my favorites this month!
“A woman who belongs to several places at once; a woman who is entirely her own. That is the dream of belonging, because it is also the dream of self.”
-HANYA YANAGIHARA