Meeting the Dragon Pt.2

A few years ago, I posted about Meeting the Dragon, where I was coming up to a situation that I didn’t want to confront. My primary emotion then was fear, and even fear of my fear. (Because really, who likes to be afraid?) So here we are, three years later, and I’m facing a really similar situation. This time, though, I’m not afraid. I’m not dreading it. And I’m wondering, what’s the difference? Have I changed so much in three years?

Admittedly, the situation is a bit different. Here are some ways it’s not the same:

• Last time, I was still upset. I felt a personal betrayal that went beyond other circumstances. I’d advise not meeting the dragon until your own emotions have calmed down.
• Last time, the situation didn’t evolve, it exploded. This time, I’ve seen warning signs for months, and I’ve done my best to influence events in the right direction. I don’t feel like there’s anything left on my part that hasn’t been tried.
• Finally, I’ve learned that sometimes I have to be the one to make the tough decisions, and I have to be able to live with them. So I’d better be pretty sure of what I’m doing going in. If I have questions about the wisdom of what I’m contemplating, I’d better think about it until those questions have been resolved.

I’m the kind of person who likes to put things behind me. If there’s something unpleasant coming up, I’d just as soon deal with it and rip the bandage off quickly. But sometimes, the bandage isn’t ready to come off, and tearing it off too soon just makes the healing take longer. I’m still working on how to figure out what’s going on under there while the bandage is still on. 

Book Review: The Paradox of Choice

Author: Barry Schwartz

Title: The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less

Description: Schwartz wondered why, when we have more choices than ever before, are we so conflicted when making choices? Shouldn’t we all be much happier than in the past, when our choices were so limited?  Note: the book is not necessarily about how to make decisions, but about what happens psychologically when people are faced with multiple options.

Source: Penguin

Writing style: Schwartz takes a load of research and puts it into language a layperson can understand. Very readable.

Audience: Pretty much anyone who wonders about this question.

Major ideas: There are tons of good ideas in this book. Mainly, though, Schwartz advises that instead of taking lots of time on decisions and agonizing over all the possibilities in order to make the BEST choice, that people limit their time making decisions and settle for “good enough.” He does recognize that some choices are more important than others, and therefore merit more time, but for deciding potato chip brand or which fast food restaurant to patronize, limit your options, make the choice, and move on.

Wrap-up: I found this book interesting, thought-provoking, and helpful from cover to cover. I highly recommend it. 4/5*