Standing in the A&P staring down at the selection of stirred yogort for the 11th straight minute I realize that it's not my indecisiveness that's making me stand there that long, it's that there are too many choices. I ran into the same problem while trying to pick out a shampoo - I think I went back about 2 times to change what I'd picked up. Then in the dairy aisle when trying to select the most health-conscious margarine. But when I finally picked up all my purchases and made it to the check-out counters, I was able to use this idea in a more deeper context. Maybe the reason why we find it harder to be happier and more satisfied these days is because we've got so many more choices to follow and mold our life from.

It's obvious that having some alternatives to a choice is good. But when we're faced with too many options we're either too wrapped up in what we should choose or whether we've made the wrong choice or even how we can do better. Choices we make from a restaurant menu or even in the shampoor aisle (I went with the no nonsense Pert Plus in the end) won't play any major role in how my life turns out, yet with all the different routes I can take it's no wonder why I find myself indecisive all the time. So you can only imagine the extent of my anxiety attacks when I'm faced with a major decision. Fear stricken and dazed I try to do the old pros vs cons bit but usually end up with an equal number of points. Sadly it's the lawyer in me that ends up debating each side and making a good case for both (I'm still trying to figure out if that's good or bad..)!

When narrowed down to more relevant things choices turn out to be more conflicting. If you're searching for a prospective husband or wife, you have many people to choose from - and thanks to online meeting places the choices keep growing. It's sad to say that people have turned into option A, B or C's but it seems that's what it's boiled down to. You compare notes on each person and choose the one you're most compatible with and go with them. If the cons out-number the pros then you move on. But it could be that the very idea of having different alternatives makes us not want to settle down as fast. We keep hoping for someone better or more of our ideal and know in the back of our mind that if one thing doesn't work out, another will.

Choices also seem to make us unsatisfied with what we already have. It's not enough that we have a large screen tv, but now you need a large screen, plasma, slim model t.v. because the boxy screen one just won't cut it anymore. I thought I was doing well enough with my simple mp3 player but now that iPod's are out and "in", I was told that I had to have one and a regular mp3 player wasnt as good. That's just our problem! We're rarely ever satisfied...we always want the next upgrade to our computers, we need to supe up our cars, and get the latest trend in whatever. Once we get that coveted item, we're off gazing at the next. Maybe if we didnt have the endless amount of choice, then we'd be fixated on what we do have and not feel unsatisfied and be more happy. I know that if there weren't a million different shampoo types out there, I wouldnt have the urge to buy 3 different products just to reassure myself that my original choice was the best (I only did that one time...and I figured out which one I like so it was sort of worth it in the end, dont you think? I am not obsessed with shampoo...really). Now I know it's seems silly to apply this rule to things because regardless people will always go after what they dont have. The bigger problem comes in when this rule is applied to people.

No matter how much I realize this, I still can't make a decision to save my life. Ironically, I think if I ever had to actually make a decision to save my life, i.e. if someone held me at gunpoint screaming "your money or your life" I may actually weigh out my options! I mean say his gun wasnt even loaded, or didnt go off...or someone arrived in time to save me and my money or I fought back and he ran away? Then I'd be alive and still with my money...right?

God help me...