The allure of infinite options encourages people to "slide" into major commitments like relationships without making a clear decision. This ambiguity, done in the name of preserving optionality, is far more likely to lead to failure than making a firm, early choice to commit.

When faced with a difficult, well-researched decision where options seem equal, economist Steve Levitt advises choosing the path that represents the largest deviation from the status quo. His own research suggests that people who make bigger life changes in these situations report being happier later on.

In relationships and careers, passively escalating commitment to preserve optionality (e.g., moving in because a lease is up) leads to lower satisfaction and higher failure rates. Deliberately making a conscious choice—"I'm in or I'm out"—results in stronger, more successful commitments.

Contrary to the economic theory that more choice is always better, people sometimes prefer fewer options. Removing a tempting choice, like a bowl of cashews before dinner, can lead to better outcomes by acting as a pre-commitment device, which helps overcome a lack of self-control.

The modern desire to maximize optionality is fundamentally at odds with achieving deep commitment. True commitment, whether in relationships or business strategy, is defined by the deliberate elimination of alternatives. To gain the significant rewards of dedication, one must consciously choose and forego other possibilities.

A psychology experiment revealed that people forced to commit to a choice became happier with it over time because the brain rationalizes the decision, effectively manufacturing happiness. In contrast, keeping options open leads to second-guessing and dissatisfaction. Decisiveness is a key to happiness.

Instead of trying to evaluate every option to find the absolute best ("maximizing"), set clear "good enough" criteria. Once an option meets them, choose it and move on. This practice, called satisficing, leads to greater happiness and less regret.

Modern culture defines freedom as autonomy and keeping options open. A more powerful form is the "freedom to do hard things," which is only achieved through commitment. By closing off options—like committing to a person or a craft—we gain the capacity and skill to achieve meaningful goals.

Continually seeking the optimal choice ("maximizing") leads to dissatisfaction, regret, and unhappiness. Instead, practice "satisficing" by setting "good enough" criteria for decisions. Once a choice meets these criteria, commit to it and move on, saving cognitive bandwidth for what truly matters.