Then if you got it, you don't want it, Seems to be the rule of thumb...

Then if you got it, you don't want it, Seems to be the rule of thumb...

I was ruminating recently about choice. Having freedom to choose is without doubt important right? But I wonder whether sometimes a huge variety of choice can be stifling… As a ‘paradox’ the ability to choose empowers us, but an overwhelming number of choices can create stress and even diminish the overall sense of freedom.

When I was growing up, there were only four TV channels, which significantly narrowed our viewing options. We usually ended up watching whatever our parents or other family members were watching, creating a shared experience that revolved around the family TV. Nowadays, with countless streaming platforms at our fingertips, we have the freedom to choose not only what to watch but when and how we consume the content. This abundance – without questioning the quality - seems to me to be reducing the likelihood of shared experiences. Also, based on conversations with friends, I've noticed that deciding what to watch has become a task in itself and even with so much to choose from, many of us find ourselves defaulting to shows or films we've already enjoyed.

So if choice can add to daily stress, perhaps we could aim to limit ourselves to a number of options aligned to our own preferences; reducing the pressure to consider every possible alternative. And perhaps choosing options that are more about shared experiences, we can be more satisfied through finding common ground, as well as taking turns in decision-making - a balance between individual choice and collective enjoyment. Rather than always searching for the perfect option we could embrace the idea of "satisficing"—choosing something that is good enough for our needs and moving forward without dwelling on what else we could have chosen.

"Satisficing", may not always be the answer of course. I also enjoy listening to music and still buy ‘records’. Yip, not vinyl, but records…And while I have quite a few records there never seems to be anything to play…But I know the answer to that paradox…

Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults in Renfrewshire

The next round of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults in Renfrewshire is now open! The fund supports community initiatives supporting mental health and wellbeing and in Renfrewshire over the last three years we have seen over £1.5 million distributed to organisations, community groups and community projects.

Get your applications in now!

https://tinyurl.com/4cerknrj

All the best

Alan