Making a choice can be hard. When we choose to do one thing, we give up the opportunity of doing a myriad of other things. There is always a cost when we make a choice. That cost, whether we realize it or not, is the opportunity cost. An opportunity cost is whatever we gave up to do what we are doing, specifically the best alternative.
A classic example of opportunity cost is the notion of a free lunch. In economics, it is said there is no such thing as a free lunch. This is because if we are invited to eat for free at lunchtime, the reality is we gave up some other opportunity to do that. Maybe it was eating with our family or friends and enjoying their fellowship. Maybe it was going to the gym and exercising. The point is that any decision, any choice – even one that appears to be free – comes at a cost. That cost is the forgone alternative.
It is this opportunity cost – not often acknowledged on a conscious level – that can cause individuals to be reluctant in making choices. Many people would rather revel in the ability to do “whatever they want” rather than commit to doing one specific thing. It is this misguided notion of complete freedom which, ironically, creates a state of enslavement.
How can we become enslaved by freedom?
Confronted by seemingly limitless choices we often become trapped spending our lives considering what we might do. We become frozen by possibility rather than liberated by it. You see, possibilities are only as good as our ability to act on them.
How can we impel ourselves to make choices when we are trapped by many possibilities to choose from? First, we should consider what our passions are. Second, we should take a look at the practical implications of where our passions might lead us. Third, having considered both passion and what direction it takes us in, we should make a plan and get to work.
Spending our lives simply considering what to do, instead of doing something, leaves us trapped by possibility rather than liberated by it.
Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
*Authors note: You might see this column pop up online in a newspaper, under the name Both Sides. I am publishing this column here first at CYInterview.com. For a bunch of years, I have been writing newspaper columns. Since my columns have received a good response on CYInterview, I thought I would share it with you. Hope you enjoy.
You can reach me with your questions and comments at Jay@CYinterview.com Like today’s column? Check back frequently.
Kufanya uchaguzi kunaweza kuwa vigumu. Tunapochagua kufanya jambo moja, tunaacha fursa ya kufanya mambo mengine mengi. Sikuzote kuna gharama tunapofanya uchaguzi. Gharama hiyo, iwe tunatambua au la, ni gharama ya fursa. Gharama ya fursa ni kile tunachokitoa kufanya kile tunachofanya, haswa mbadala bora. Mfano wa kawaida wa gharama ya fursa ni dhana ya chakula cha mchana bure. Katika uchumi, inasemekana kwamba hakuna chakula cha mchana cha bure. Hii ni kwa sababu ikiwa tunaalikwa kula bure wakati wa chakula cha mchana, ukweli ni kwamba tumeacha fursa nyingine ya kufanya hivyo. Labda ni kula na familia au marafiki na kufurahia ushirika wao. Labda ni kwa sababu ya kwenda kwenye mazoezi na kufanya mazoezi. Jambo ni kwamba uamuzi wowote, uchaguzi wowote - hata ule unaoonekana kuwa wa bure - unakuja kwa gharama. Hiyo ndiyo gharama ya mbadala iliyopotea. Ni gharama hii ya fursa - ambayo mara nyingi haijulikani katika ngazi ya ufahamu - ambayo inaweza kusababisha watu kuwa na hamu ya kufanya uchaguzi. Watu wengi wangependa kufurahia uwezo wa kufanya "chochote wanachotaka" badala ya kujitolea kufanya jambo moja hususa. Ni wazo hili lisilofaa la uhuru kamili ambalo, kwa kushangaza, huunda hali ya utumwa. Tunawezaje kuwa watumwa wa uhuru? Tunapokabiliwa na chaguzi zisizo na kikomo, mara nyingi tunashikwa na maisha yetu yote tukifikiria kile tunachoweza kufanya. Tunakuwa na uwezekano wa kufungia badala ya kuachiliwa na uwezekano huo. Unaona, uwezekano ni mzuri tu kama uwezo wetu wa kutenda juu yao. Tunawezaje kujisukuma kufanya uchaguzi wakati tunapokamatwa na uwezekano mwingi wa kuchagua? Kwanza, tunapaswa kufikiria mambo tunayofurahia. Pili, tunapaswa kuchunguza matokeo ya vitendo ya mambo ambayo tamaa zetu za kimapenzi zaweza kutuongoza. Tatu, baada ya kufikiria shauku na mwelekeo unaotupeleka, tunapaswa kufanya mpango na kuanza kufanya kazi. Kutumia maisha yetu tu kuzingatia nini cha kufanya, badala ya kufanya kitu, hutuacha tukikamatwa na uwezekano badala ya kuachiliwa na huo. Picha ya Stuart Miles, FreeDigitalPhotos.net: Unaweza kuona safu hii pop up online katika gazeti, chini ya jina Pande zote mbili. Nitaandika makala hii kwa kutumia ukurasa wa CY-Interview.com. Kwa miaka mingi, nimekuwa nikiandika makala za magazeti. Kwa kuwa makala zangu zimepokea majibu mazuri kwenye CYInterview, nilifikiri ningeweza kuzishiriki nanyi. Natumaini utafurahia. Unaweza kunipata na maswali yako na maoni kwenye Jay@CYinterview.com Kama safu ya leo? Angalia tena mara kwa mara.