There was an experiment where two groups of people performed mental tasks while some really distracting noise was running…
The participants in one of the groups had a switch to turn off the noise.
In the other group, there was no switch.
It turns out that even though most of the participants in the first group did not actually use the switch to turn off the noise, they got more work done.
The second group struggled.
Being aware of choice is powerful – powerful enough for us to stand strong in the face of difficult situations.
In a time where it can feel like we’ve lost some choice, perhaps it’s helpful to take stock.
What choices do you have today?
What could you do if you really wanted to?
Do you have more choice avaible than you initially thought?
How much choice do you take for granted?
Being aware of the choice that we do have is powerful. In a time where a lot of us want to freeze, this awareness can help us continue to do the work that we love.