In 1982, The Clash released the lil’ ditty ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go?' forever capturing the agony of indecision. The song has amused and informed generations; its longevity points to the truth that making choices, large or small, costs us something.
In the early days of burgeoning romance, do I declare my interest, or wait and see? If it works for both of us, do I commit? Pop the question? Their place or mine? Do we rent, or take on a mortgage? Are kids in the grand scheme? Do I pursue other career paths, or stick to what I know in the job market?
Later (much, much later) do we buy a puppy to replace our dearly departed dog? It is, after all, getting on four years now since our much-mourned hound wagged his last goodbye.
Do we teach our teenagers to drive in our manual cars, lurching away, grinding gears and mastering the bunny hop, or buy an ‘auto auto’ to minimise mayhem?I don’t know how you are travelling, but I find I’m increasingly being clobbered with dilemmas. Considering I am one of 7.5 billion human beings toddling around the planet I suspect that it’s not just me.
We are flooded with choices, and even more so we are faced with the choice of how to choose — rationally, subconsciously or emotionally. I think the latter rings true for all of us. The New Scientist turned a catchy turn of phrase, suggesting ‘emotions are actually evolution’s satnav, directing us towards choices that have survival benefits’. So when we are cut off on the freeway, or someone does us wrong, or we need to make a change in our lives, we do well to choose our response wisely. Our choices and their consequences have changed as we have changed as a species.
'Making choices can be torturous, for us and for our loved ones. Students of the psyche call it "analysis paralysis"; over-analysing options and stewing in our own metaphysical juices.'
Making choices can be torturous, for us and for our loved ones. Students of the psyche call it ‘analysis paralysis’; over-analysing options and stewing in our own metaphysical juices. You’d think it would be easier these days, with the technological resources we have available. Choosing directions seems passé these days, with GPS satnav. Search engines connect us instantly with a plethora of possibilities. But that’s often the problem. Too many options or no options,