Okay, so that title probably doesn’t tell you much, but bear with me. First of all, if you aren’t familiar with Malcolm Gladwell and Barry Schwartz, you should watch these two videos. They are featured on TED talks and seemingly portray the dichotomy of choice. I recommend watching Gladwell’s talk on spaghetti sauce first (each take a little less than 20 minutes)…
Then watch Schwartz’s talk on the Paradox of Choice.
When watched independently of each other, it appears that these two talks are in direct opposition to one another. Gladwell highlights the fact that choice has led to greater satisfaction. We see this very dramatically when we go to the supermarket and see a myriad of food choices. With all of these choices, we have created the opportunity to be happier with our consumable decisions. Schwartz, on the other hand, highlights these same choices and identifies them as a key cause of buyer’s remorse. He believes that we are actually worse off by having too much choice and are less happy individually, as well as communally, due to this paradox of choice.
I believe Schwartz is accurate for identifying the remorse of purchasing a product in the developed world. We worry a lot about being able to do better by another choice and we are quick to establish blame with ourselves for making the wrong choice. I also believe that Gladwell is right to identify that there are some people that prefer extra chunky spaghetti sauce. I am very pleased that this sauce is available today as it is in fact my favorite. It took me a little while to let these two ideas sink in, but I think we can take them and build a society that is full of both choices and satisfaction.
The answer is to take joy in knowing that the world is full of perfect pickles. The world is full of “right” choices. Yes, there are different ways to accomplish the many different goals we have as a developed society. But no, there is not one “right” way or even one “best” way to get the job done.
Take housing for an example. There are a multitude of options available in today’s modern world to fulfill this basic function. There are apartments, houses, dormitories, mobile homes, motor homes, rooms, tents, travel trailers, etc. We can buy, rent, sublet, etc. these styles of shelter. We can live by ourselves, with a roommate or several roommates. Which one is the “right” way to find shelter? Answer: all of them. According to Gladwell, they are all perfect pickles. They are all great ways to live and do a great job of getting the job done. As Schwartz points out, we can be stressed by worrying about those other perfect pickles, i.e. those other perfect homes, so why do it? You are living in a perfect pickle.
This is a great way of thinking to help you feel acceptable with your current state in life. Instead of worrying about the grass being greener on the other side, you can help yourself take solace in knowing that the grass is actually pretty green right here and now. Likewise, I’d like to point out that this philosophy should equally support the idea of change. If you find yourself really wanting to try that other spaghetti sauce, that other location to live, or riding a bike to work, etc., then do it. It too is a perfect pickle. You will not be giving up anything.
We are often paralyzed by choice for fear of doing worse. If, on the other hand, you see choice as an opportunity to experience the greatness that variety has to offer in life, then it can be liberating. Life is full of perfect pickles. Life is full of satisfaction, if we’ll only allow ourselves the freedom to enjoy it.
Can you imagine a world that didn’t fight for each other’s resources? Can you imagine a world that didn’t claim that there is only one way to worship a god? Can you imagine a world that didn’t favor one race over another? Can you imagine a world that not only allows but actually encourages different cultures?
Plants know that there isn’t only one way to distribute seeds. Some use wind and some use animals. Some use hard shells for protection and some use delicious soft fruit to attract transportation and fertilization. Some methods work well in the desert and some methods work well in a deciduous forest. Which is the best way to live as a plant? Which is the best way to live as humans?
Instead of believing that “we” are the only perfect society out there, perhaps we should embrace an attitude that the world is in fact full of perfect ways to live. Perhaps the world is full of perfect pickles. The world has a lot to offer and we have an awesome opportunity to experience the greatness. Let’s stop worrying about what we could have and embrace what we do have. Also, let’s not worry about what we may lose if we try something new and embrace the opportunity to experience an awesome pickle.
An obvious disclaimer… If a society believes in discriminating against other “pickles”, then perhaps that isn’t an example of a perfect pickle as it goes against this philosophy by definition.
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