Freedom isn't about having infinite choices—it’s about having the right ones. Today, John Sampson explores the "Paradox of Choice" through the lens of ancient wisdom and modern psychology. We dive into why modern life feels like a constant bombardment of decisions and how this "choice overload" triggers anxiety and regret.

Featuring insights from Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics, we discuss the power of the "Golden Mean" and how simplicity leads to Ataraxia (tranquility). We also look at the neuroscience of dopamine-driven novelty-seeking and how it traps us in a cycle of dissatisfaction. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the clutter of modern life, this episode offers a roadmap for "Life Curation." Learn practical tools to automate your daily decisions, boost your willpower, and find peace in a world of infinite options.

Key Takeaways

• The Brain’s Battery: Decision-making is a finite resource powered by the Prefrontal Cortex. When this "battery" runs low, we become impulsive and avoidant.
• Maximizers vs. Satisficers: Why aiming for the "best" often leads to misery, while aiming for "good enough" leads to happiness.
• The Ancient Filter: How Epicurus’ taxonomy of desires and the Stoic "Inner Citadel" can help us filter out modern noise.
• Life Curation: Practical ways to design your environment to save mental bandwidth for the decisions that actually matter.