Opinion | The Nobel-Winning Psychologist Who Believed He Found the Secret to Happiness

1. 1. Searching for "the best" in decision-making, known as maximizing, is a flawed strategy that often leads to unhappiness and regret.
2. 2. Nobel laureate Herbert Simon coined "satisficing," advocating that people should choose an option that is "good enough" rather than endlessly seeking the absolute best.
3. 3. Herbert Simon exemplified satisficing in his personal life, simplifying daily choices like wearing one brand of socks or eating the same breakfast.
4. 4. Psychological research confirms that maximizers tend to be less happy, more prone to regret, and less satisfied with their lives compared to satisficers.
5. 5. Modern society's information abundance, consumer options, social media, and AI tools intensify the problem of chronic maximizing.
6. 6. Haruki Murakami's short story illustrates the tragic outcome of maximizing, where a perfectly matched couple separates to test their fate and never reunites.
7. 7. Achieving greater happiness and effective decision-making involves setting a "good-enough" standard and committing to it once met, thereby stopping the search.