ReThinking
Why aiming for the best isn't always good for you (w/ Barry Schwartz and Coco Krumme)
Nov 7, 2023
Barry Schwartz, a psychologist and author of "The Paradox of Choice," teams up with Coco Krumme, an applied mathematician and author of "Optimal Illusions." Together, they delve into the pitfalls of perfectionism and the downsides of relentless optimization. They discuss how aiming for the best can diminish personal satisfaction and well-being. The conversation provides insights on the importance of balancing high standards with accepting good enough, encouraging listeners to reconsider their approach to choices in life, work, and relationships.
48:14
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Quick takeaways
- Constantly striving for the best can lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety, it's important to embrace the concept of 'good enough' and find success without sacrificing happiness.
- Maximizers, who obsess over finding the best option, often feel worse about their decisions and experience higher levels of stress and depression, while satisficers, who aim for good enough, tend to be more content with their choices.
Deep dives
The Limitations of Maximizing and Optimizing
Barry Schwartz and Coco Crump, experts in psychology and mathematics respectively, challenge the cultural obsession with efficiency and optimization. They argue that constantly striving for the best can lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety. They advocate for embracing the concept of 'good enough' and finding success without sacrificing happiness. Research shows that maximizers, who obsess over finding the best option, often feel worse about their decisions and experience higher levels of stress and depression. Satisficers, on the other hand, who aim for good enough, tend to be more content with their choices.
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