Very rarely do decisions leave only a momentary impact. The vast majority of choices that we make involve some sort of cost that leaves a trail long after the decision is made. This can come in many forms: opportunity cost, sunk cost, assumption of liability, etc.
When we boil things down to what is truly essential, we find that there really aren’t that many critical decisions in life – at least not ones that will affect us in some transformational, lasting way. It is also sometimes the simplest choices that are the most impactful because of the other choices that they predetermine.
To illustrate the principle of decision elimination, consider the basic example (technicalities aside) of renting versus owning a home. If we look at ongoing maintenance and repairs, it can be a very different situation, even though the day-to-day experience could look nearly identical from the outside.
For the renter, something breaking is just a small inconvenience – a call is made and someone comes to fix it in short time, with minimal angst or discomfort. For the owner, that same phone call can be agonizing, especially if it’s a call they’ve had to make multiple times. The same task, calling someone to fix something, presents two completely different situations, and in most cases, two completely different reactions to each time something breaks. The renter, having chosen the path of less decision fatigue and volatility, is less likely to worry about what could go wrong in the future. For what the owner may gain in equity and wealth, they pay for in mental energy consumption.
This principle can also be applied to many other areas of life, where a closer examination can often lead to discovery of a simpler, if not necessarily easier, path. When we present ourselves with all the options at our disposal instead of simply opting for the route most travelled, our choices become much simpler, effectively morphing into a basic cost-benefit analysis based on our tolerance for anxiety and our willingness to earn and spend money.
Considering the long road ahead, look within yourself and ask what it is that means the most to you: peace, simplicity, security, or otherwise, and choose the pathway that leads to that, even if it doesn’t make the most sense on paper today.
In forecasting our vision of life, we come to better prepare ourselves for tomorrow, while setting an intention today for the life we want to live.
Life is easy, life is delightful. It’s only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? From having identified with all kinds of labels!
~ Anthony de Mello