Is Bigger (or More) “Better”?
One of my last courses in graduate school was a research and data analysis class. As part of the course, the professor required us to review the work of researchers in a newer branch of psychology called “positive psychology”. The basic aim of research in positive psychology is answering the question of, “What makes people happy?” This week I was reminded of the research of one particular researcher named Barry Schwartz “The Paradox of Choice” In his research he has found that more options for choices can seem like a much better chance for happiness, but actually generally leads to less satisfaction with the choices made. This seems to be caused by the nagging feeling that with so many options when you choose one you might be missing out on something else. He calls this, “Doing better and feeling worse.” Although this research seems new to the world, a simple review of the book of Ecclesiastes shows us that “there is nothing new under the sun” and that having more is not necessarily “better”.
Craig gave us a great challenge of longing and thirsting for what is “better” this week. He challenged the idea that is promoted in the world that happiness means having more, or something, newer, or bigger. More or less Craig made an argument that happiness is found in having what is “better”, but “better” does not necessarily mean that which is the newest and most advanced or most endorsed. ”Better” was not in having anything but in being rooted in one thing: connection with God. Over and over in scripture we see the principle that we will be blessed (which means “happy” or “fulfilled”) whenever we “Lean not into our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:1-10) or “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). I think the apostle Paul puts it well in Philippians 4:11-13 when he says that he has “learned to be content in all things…” because he knows that he “can do all things through Christ who strengthens” him. You see, when we know and are connected to the source of happiness, we are blessed and life is “better” regardless of what things we do or do not have.
What are some ways that we can find what is “better”?