Why not strive for the ideal
Productivity / / December 23, 2019
It may seem strange that the pursuit of excellence difficult for many to achieve their financial goals, but often the way it happens. J.. D. Mouth (J. D. Roth), an expert on personal finance, explains why the best - the enemy of the good. Layfhaker publishes a translation of his article.
J.. D. Mouth
Expert on personal finance, the founder of the blog Money Boss and Get Rich Slowly, author of Your Money: The Missing Manual.
Maximizer and moderate
Barry Schwartz in his book "The paradox of choice"Explores how contemporary culture of abundance in fact deprives us of a sense of satisfaction. We think that we will be happier, with more options, but the effect is often to get feedback. Especially for perfectionists.
Schwartz distinguishes two types of people: maximizers and temperate. Here is how he describes the differences between them.
Barry SchwartzThe ability to choose wisely starts with a clear understanding of their goals. And the first choice that we have to do - it's a choice between the aim to choose the best and aim to choose what is good enough. If you are looking for only the best and anything else do not agree, then you are a maximizer.
In other words, Maximizer - a perfectionist.
"Maximizing the alternative - to be moderate. Moderate exercise behavior - then stop the choice on that well enough, and not worry about the possibility of the existence of something better, "- Schwartz writes in his book.
This does not mean that there is no moderate their right to choose. They are very clear. Just know how to be content with a good mild and maximizers are always in search of the ideal.
Interestingly, all this pursuit of the ideal leads to the fact that the maximizer feel less joy of your choice. They always think that there is something even better.
How to overcome a maximizer
Faced with the need to take any action maximizer starts to search for information, to compare and analyze. But you know what? No matter how much time you may have spent trying to find the ideal, your expectations will likely not materialize. Because of the ideal choice does not exist.
Instead, try to stick to a simple plan, if you, for example, are considering some kind of purchase:
- Decide how much you're willing to spend.
- Stay at any one store and choose only represented in it range.
- Collect a few brands, the quality of which you trust.
- Limit yourself in time. Instead of a few days to think about all the options, scroll to it a couple of hours.
Ideal and procrastination
In perfectionism has its drawbacks. studies have confirmedThe Cost of Perfection.That perfectionists are more vulnerable both physically and mentally, than those who are not chasing an ideal.
Furthermore, searches ideal often lead to procrastination. No matter what you want to do: to accumulate capital reserves, get out of debt, to open your own retirement account - you can always find plenty of reasons to postpone it. Although in all these cases, the best option - to start right now.
It's okay that you can not find the perfect contribution to the interest rate or the best mutual fund, no. You've found a few good? So choose one. You just need to start. This is one of the main rules of success. And to improve something can always and then.
Trying to make the best choice, as a result of you are not doing anything and may undermine their own future. That is why the best - the enemy of the good.
conclusions
- Teach yourself to be moderate. Making a decision, ask yourself what would happen if you agree to the good instead of the ideal.
- Start with the good, and then gradually move in the direction desired. Suppose that the ideal would be to have a long term project.
- Do not focus on the past. If you make a mistake, try to learn from it and move on.
Search for perfection - this is normal. It is only natural to wish for yourself and your family the very best. You just need to remember that often the pursuit of the ideal can become an obstacle to the kind of life to which we aspire.