I used to have a habit that I thought was useful for a long time but actually held me back. I always wanted to make the best decision in everything. On the surface, this seems good, but I'll explain why it complicated my life and probably affects yours too. The solution is simple.

I love reading. When I want to read a book, I think, "I want the most useful one."

What is the most useful?

The one that is beneficial in the long term.

Okay, then I need a book on a topic I will stick with long-term.

But what will I be doing long-term?

Here’s where a thousand factors come into play.

1. I can't predict what I'll be doing in the future.
2. I don't know if I'll still enjoy what I start later on.
3. I don't know myself well enough to foresee the future.

Even figuring out what to read comes with these complications.

I began weighing all the options. What do I like? What are the possibilities? What haven't I tried yet but might enjoy?

If I make a decision now and end up disliking it later, that's not good. And it's possible there's something I would love, but I didn't choose it because I never tried it.

Analysis Paralysis

The Impact of Too Many Choices on Decision Making:

"When we have too many options, our brain often becomes overwhelmed, making it harder to decide. This is called 'choice paralysis' or 'decision paralysis.' Our brain is designed to handle a few simple options more easily; however, when faced with dozens of alternatives, stress and procrastination take over."

More options mean more factors to consider, which is incredibly challenging for the brain. Plus, many of these factors are unknown.

An example that has happened to me often:

"When you have 20-30 movies or TV shows to choose from, you end up spending a lot of time just deciding, only to make a bad choice or not choose anything at all. Often, by the time you've finished deciding, there's no time left, and you end up not watching anything."

I want to maximize my experience, my benefit. I want the best decision, the best movie. Many times, I started watching a movie, got bored halfway, and thought, maybe there's something better.

I couldn't immerse myself in it because I kept thinking I was wasting my time. I spent an hour searching for a good movie, started one, got bored, and gave up on watching anything for a while.

The Explosion of Choices

Not long ago, there weren't nearly as many entertainment options as there are now.

"As of 2024, Netflix offers approximately 4,017 movies and 2,495 TV shows, totaling over 6,500 titles."

I remember when Milka chocolate, and many other chocolates, had only one version. It was easy to decide which one I wanted.

Now there are so many flavors and variations, all customized for everyone.

"Current Variants: Milka offers a vast selection of flavors, including classic Alpine milk, hazelnut, Oreo, caramel, and seasonal flavors like Easter-themed mini eggs and Christmas pralines. Currently, Milka has around 50+ unique chocolate variants worldwide."

On YouTube, there are endless videos, and the growth rate is staggering. I had to give up looking for the "best" video because I could never decide.

"Daily Upload Volume: Over 500 hours of video content is uploaded to YouTube every minute, equaling roughly 720,000 hours per day. This rapid upload rate means about 3.9 billion videos are available on YouTube, with this number continuously rising."

Relationship Options

The problem of too many choices doesn't just manifest in simple matters.

"With dating apps offering an abundance of potential partners, we can often reach a point where we don't take anyone seriously, always feeling like 'maybe there's someone better.'"

You start a relationship, a few small issues arise, nothing major. But why put up with it? Why suffer through changing them or accepting it? There are so many people out there, maybe another partner will have fewer issues—there are always more options.

This is especially present for women due to the nature of the dating market, but men can have similar challenges in other areas.

"Women typically receive up to ten times more likes than men. Female users get around 100 likes daily, while men receive far fewer—a man usually gets a match after about 40 likes, whereas a woman gets a match for every second like. This means women receive, on average, 50% more matches, while men often need multiple attempts to achieve a match."

"Roughly 75-76% of Tinder users are men, with women making up only 24-25%."

Too many options lead to paralysis. It's astonishing how difficult it is to decide when you always have that feeling in the back of your mind that something better might be out there.

I got tired of this feeling, so I researched how to change this and overcome this limitation.

Practical Solutions for Analysis Paralysis

To implement the following solution, you'll need a notebook. You can even use Excel or a simple list where you can check off, cross out, or color-code the items.

Using Filters to Narrow Down Choices

Too many options require the use of filters. Filters are useful for eliminating the worst choices based on certain criteria. The goal is to have as few choices as possible, and those should be the best.

• Set Criteria: Establish clear filters based on your goals, needs, and values.
• Limit Options: Restrict yourself to the top 3–5 choices after filtering.
• Create Non-negotiables: Identify "must-have" qualities that your choice must include.

Filtering Your Career Options

You could write this: I want a position where…

• I can engage in creative problem-solving, have opportunities for growth, and that aligns with my ethical values.
• A minimum starting salary of $65,000, flexible working hours, and remote work options.
• No weekend or night shifts.
• A workplace where performance evaluations are regular and positive.
• Positive feedback from current employees.
• During the interview, I feel comfortable and valued.

And the list could go on.

Let’s look at an example of choosing a passion.

How to Identify and Choose Your True Passion

Many people struggle with choosing their passion, but when we apply filters, I believe the decision becomes quite clear.

If it’s not, you haven't applied enough filters.

Examples:

• You are naturally good at it.
• You enjoy doing it for an extended period without getting bored.
• You are able to grow and learn in it continuously.
• You enjoy talking about it with others.
• You feel it’s valuable for others and the world.
• You have the opportunity to dive deeper and develop yourself in it.
• You receive positive feedback that motivates and inspires you.
• You seek opportunities to engage with it.

Similarly, when choosing a partner, you can list the minimum qualities you desire. The more options you have, the more you narrow down.

You can also use GPT to help! Here's a prompt for you:

"Help me filter and clarify my options for a given area. Here’s my situation:

I need a list of practical filters to apply to different options I’m considering [Write here your area: career paths, hobbies, relationships, or personal development activities, etc.] to make the best choice. Specifically, I want filters based on factors like alignment with my skills, potential impact, personal enjoyment, and long-term feasibility. Please provide a clear, step-by-step list of these filters that will guide me in deciding what aligns best with my values, goals, and strengths."

Reflect on Your Past

You can only make more confident decisions about things you’ve already tried in the past.

If you have time and aren’t in a rush, try as many new things as possible to see how they make you feel.

If you don't have time and need to decide quickly, now is the time to reflect on your past.

• Think about past decisions that led to success or happiness.
• Look for patterns in what has or hasn’t worked in past decisions.
• Identify recurring elements in past successful choices.

What did you enjoy spending your time on? Don’t just think of paid jobs. Think of things you did in your free time, things others praised you for. Perhaps you can make money from these as an entrepreneur, or maybe there's a related field of work.

For me, most things didn't work out. I tried various physical jobs, hated them all. I didn't like commuting to work or being around people for a longer time. I didn't want anyone else to tell me what to do, or judge my work. I wanted real leadership, guidence, but mainly I wanted to explore and experiment things on my way.

I'm creative and love managing my time freely. I love to be alone, listening to a synthwave chill beat and do stuff on my pc that affects many people - and I love solving hard problems.

It was funny for me when it all clicked about how I could fit into society.

At the age of 11 (!), I was making animations, building websites, designing, making videos, writing news about a game, and reading a tons of psychology.

Without knowing it, I was using early SEO strategies, back when you spammed keywords on a page. I just did it because I saw other popular sites doing it.

I was doing competitor analysis, market research, and applying their strategy, without knowing what I actually do in the big picture.

I only realized later that this was an actual field—marketing. Marketing encompassed everything I used to do and loved. They fit perfectly.

I foolishly searched for what was in front of me all along. I didn’t have a degree, but I still managed to find a job where passion and real-world experience mattered.

So, perhaps the same is true for you—something that doesn’t initially seem like a career possibility might actually be one.

Put Your Choices to the Test

Once you’ve filtered the options and looked into your past, you’ll get the result. You can even ask GPT or Reddit for opinions on what job might suit you.

I watched many "day in the life of a [career]" videos, seeing how I felt and if I would want that lifestyle.

The key is to try working in those fields as soon as possible if you can't decide.

See how you feel about them and how others perceive you. Do it for free if you have the time, build your portfolio, and gain experience.

Well, by now, you’ve got a methodology to find your passion and to start with the best chances in this chaotic society.

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