"Which one should I choose?"
Haru murmured in front of a pile of career materials. University, vocational school, employment. Too many options.
"I thought being able to choose was happiness."
Simon sat next to her. "The paradox of choice."
"Paradox?"
"Research by psychologist Barry Schwartz. Too many options actually make you unhappy."
Haru was surprised. "Why?"
"Three reasons," Simon began explaining. "First, decision paralysis. Too many options make it impossible to decide."
"That's me right now."
"Second, regret. You worry about the choices you didn't make."
Ren joined them. "The concept of opportunity cost. Subtract the value of what you didn't choose from what you chose."
"Complicated," Haru held her head.
"Third, rising expectations," Simon continued. "With many options, you expect to make the perfect choice. But it's actually impossible."
"So fewer options are better?"
"Too simplified," Ren pointed out. "Too few options is also problematic."
"Balance?"
"Yes. Moderate options bring the highest happiness."
Haru asked. "How moderate?"
"According to research, three to five is ideal," Simon answered.
"When there are this many," Haru pointed at the materials.
"That's why filtering is necessary," Ren said. "Examining all options equally is inefficient."
"How do I filter?"
"Based on values," Ren explained. "Clarify criteria important to you."
Simon added. "For example, what do you value?"
Haru thought. "...Creativity and connecting with people."
"Using that as your axis, options decrease."
Haru reviewed the materials. "True, these are different from these."
Ren added a philosophical perspective. "Sartre said humans are condemned to be free."
"Freedom is condemnation?"
"Choice carries responsibility. The result of your choice is your responsibility."
Haru said anxiously. "Heavy."
"That's why we want to escape choice," Simon showed understanding.
"Is escaping okay?"
"Escaping is also a choice," Ren said. "But the responsibility for choosing not to choose remains."
Haru was confused. "What should I do?"
Simon organized. "Don't aim for perfect choice. Aim for satisfactory choice."
"Satisfactory?"
"In psychology, there are concepts of maximizers and satisficers."
Ren explained. "Maximizers pursue the best. Satisficers choose what's good enough."
"Which is better?"
"Satisficers have higher happiness," Simon answered. "Pursuing perfection has no end."
Haru understood. "It doesn't have to be perfect?"
"Rather, giving up perfection is wise."
"But," Haru voiced anxiety. "What if I make the wrong choice?"
Ren said quietly. "Wrong choices don't exist."
"Huh?"
"Any choice is the best at that moment. Results are visible afterward."
Simon supplemented. "And choices aren't one-time. They can be corrected."
"Life can be redone?"
"Complete redo is impossible, but course correction is possible."
Haru felt hopeful. "So I don't need to worry so much about current choices?"
"Worrying is important," Ren said. "But worrying too much and becoming immobile defeats the purpose."
Simon stood up. "Decisions require courage. Courage to accept uncertainty."
Haru narrowed it down to three materials. "I'll decide from these."
"Good judgment," Ren acknowledged.
"But I'm still hesitating."
"That's fine," Simon smiled. "Complete certainty is an illusion."
Haru took a deep breath. "Having choices isn't necessarily happiness. But it's proof of freedom."
Ren nodded. "Freedom accompanies anxiety. That's the human condition."
Simon looked out the window. "What matters is after choosing. The effort to make your choice the right one."
"Make the choice right?"
"Any choice changes value depending on subsequent actions."
Haru wrote in her notebook. "Choice is a beginning. Not an ending."
"Exactly," Ren said. "More important than choosing is nurturing what you chose."
Haru stared at the three materials. Whichever she chose, it would be okay.
She had come to think so.
"Having choices is responsibility. But also possibility."
Simon said quietly. "You already understand the meaning of choice."
The three quietly began thinking about their next step. Beyond choice, the future awaits.