Dísa (Bryndís Jakobsdóttir) is a pop artist from Reykjavík, Iceland.
Read Full Bio ↴Dísa (Bryndís Jakobsdóttir) is a pop artist from Reykjavík, Iceland.

Dísa’s debut album was released during the summer of 2008, receiving top reviews from every newspaper and music magazine in Iceland and two of her singles hitting the top of the charts. The album was developed over the last two years with a number of different collaborators such as Cameron McVie, Mark Ronson and Shelly Poole. The final result, however, is very much her own distinctive writing end performing style, produced by Icelanders such as Ragnhildur Gísladóttir, Barði Jóhannsson and Anglo-American Sam Frank.

Visit her myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/disamusic
To buy:
http://www.icelandicmusic.is

Paradigms
Dísa Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Paradigms' by these artists:

Extol The worship of creation Seeming endless But it will end A…
Indesinence Caught here in these nebulous planes of capsized consciousne…
KITCHEN - Sam Fender Every bully that had maimed you, bled you dry And the…
OOYAH Take me Throw it out Just spare me It's over now, yeah Take …
Sam Fender Every bully that had maimed you, bled you dry And the…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Dísa:

Cure Tell me, can you see it? The flashing like a light…
Reflections I know a place to go and rest a while Up…

Sculpture You'll be part of me now Be part of you You'll be…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jwh0122

3y↑246

2 negative effects of too many choices:

1 8:07 it produces paralysis rather than liberation
2 9:57 we are less satisfied

Reasons for the 2nd effect:

10:13 you could have made a better choice
10:46 opportunity cost
12:27 escalation of expectations
15:39 self-blame

All comments from YouTube:

@karawethan

4y↑5.7K

When someone shows up to a TED talk in faded t-shirt, cargo shorts, and sneakers....listen to them. This is a person who is thinking far beyond petty, worldly concerns.

@Noushaazar

4y↑104

Seriously, stop judging by the dress!

@stevew8873

4y↑99

It's amazing how the sheeple think someone who wears a white lab coat or pin stripe suit is some how more reliable or intelligent over someone with casual wear and scruffy hair!

@massojupiter3436

4y↑87

@@stevew8873

It's called association. Our brains are responsible for that. I wouldn't call someone a sheep for using something that is essential to our survival.

I'm guessing you wouldn't be worried if you were to see a clean man wearing a nice suit and he clearly looks like he takes care of himself, compared to someone who sags their pants and has face tattoos. Sagging of pants is associated with people from the streets who most likely don't have good intentions and face tattoos are a sign of someone who doesn't care about themselves.

The same happens with knowledge. You can talk about the same thing a professional psychologist talks about but since he looks and sounds like a professional and has a piece of paper that tells people he studied, everyone will think you don't know what you are talking about and will listen to him.

@cooltownforcoolmusictown7109

4y↑100

Its not even that he’s thinking beyond “petty worldly concerns” its just thats the way he likes to dress. He presents himself to the audience as himself. This can also be done in a tailored suit or a pink leotard. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing so long as you wear it authentically.

@clairemarieabao3371

4y↑11

bec its his choice to wear those simple dressing. less choice the better

68 More Replies...

@parkjillaaa

2y↑1.1K

The fact that this talk was more than 15 years ago yet his topic is still relevant in today's generation, if not even more, really means that this guy is thinking way ahead of his time.

@lukasmerten7697

2y↑17

So when I talk about nutrition today, I'm thinking ahead of my time, cause I'm pretty sure it's going to be still relevant in 15 years

@chickens-go-moo5079

2y↑11

@@lukasmerten7697 Bruh. Obviously choice has ballooned into a bigger thing now than it was then. The fact that this problem is at the forefront while people laughed shows how forward this guys was. The funny thing is your talk about nutrition today has a really good chance of being irrelevant in 15 years because that is something known to change.

@brokenrecord3523

2y↑7

@@chickens-go-moo5079 Dude, the idea that today is harder than yesterday is what Trump campaigned on. It simply isn't true, but he was elected president because everyone "feels" it is.

@chickens-go-moo5079

2y↑10

@@brokenrecord3523I’m saying there’s a lot more choice today than there was before. Streaming services, smart phones, and pretty much everything else. Choice has obviously become bigger now than then.

@jacobnehman

2y↑2

Of course it's still relevant. The lure of consumerism has only grown as the world of marketing, advertising and business have capitalized on the concept.

10 More Replies...

@FirezAper46

3y↑771

14 years later, the YouTube algorithm made the decision for me.

@mathematics2234

Heeya

@GeneralHeadshot

yup

@Scott-got-caught

3y↑5

You clicked...they didnt click for you. You alone made that choice, sir. Stop trying to by funny. Youre not.

@zender1909

Looks like it’s trying to tell us something

@anapoda2kapela

2y↑2

SAME BROTHER.THIS ALGORITHM 😛

7 More Replies...

@Shlooomth

2y↑190

“I wrote a whole book to try to explain this to myself.”
And that’s why this is one of the best most important books and Ted talks ever written.

@lanskyotieno5593

😅 How do you explain it to yourself .😹😹😹

@Shlooomth

2y↑8

@@lanskyotieno5593 by writing a book, obviously

@shruthirajaram1993

1y↑1

Exactly

@Abaygates

4y↑3.1K

"Is it a bad news, or good news". "And the answer is yes". My man was ahead of time on the meme game 👌

@tejasdeepsingh456

4y↑35

One step Ahead of the game!

@scarmsaniiaggrey1646

4y↑7

Right on! Haha

@bt1867

3y↑19

13 Years! 😮

@BeckaMaecie

3y↑18

When you realize this came out 13 years ago before memes 😂

@dianemoril7612

3y↑14

the best answer of all times is always "yes!"
the first time my husband asked me if I wanted strawberry iced-cream OR vanilla iced-cream, he understood that too...
he never tried to push me into a choice after that... hahaha!

11 More Replies...

@skyylow

4y↑2K

"If you choose not to decide, you have still made a choice" - Neal Peart

@user-qb4id8zn3h

4y↑53

Similar to "no comment is a comment"

@paulmerritt8593

4y↑8

Absolutely and this man is pushing hogwash. Totalitarian right to the core. He targets young people and wears a costume in Ted Talks. This man does not dress this way normally. Look at all the Ted Talks and see what they all wear. Don't be so easily fooled. he targets you because you are young and impressionable. He is a communist and has an agenda.

@letslike15

4y↑60

@@paulmerritt8593 "If someone points out a problem in the perfect and ultimate system of the US he must be a communist. Because capitalism has no flaws."

Typical NA thinking.

Btw. he actually said no choice is even worse than having some choice. I would argue that this was part of the reason why the UDSSR collapsed.

@joeburke2323

4y↑2

skyylow Shakespeare

@mukulsharma7213

4y↑5

It is Bhagwad Geeta shloka....not by neal pearts

14 More Replies...

@AngelTacha87

3y↑351

His simplicity is everything..it's so soothing and his talk just feels like your dad giving you priceless advice about life in the comfort of your living room. I didn't want it to end. I'm about to start searching for 14-year old TED talks 😅

@aaryanpanwar6405

2y↑7

The older the better

@platinum11110

Same

@sadiqtola

27w

Yeah, it's like a Dad giving his child a piece of advice.

@philosopherlogic

3y↑210

Why Choice Makes People Miserable:
1. Regret and anticipated regret.
2. Opportunity costs.
3. Escalation of expectations.
4. Self-blame.

@katyash8881

3y↑6

Lmao thanks for this it’s helping me on my school assignment

@DH-og5yr

TLDR. Old guy scared religion is waning

@yoursubconscious

2y↑4

Can we add social media to the list?

@DoubleOhSilver

2y↑8

@@DH-og5yr You need to get out of your echo chambers and stay away from all media for a month. You sound crazy to have gotten that idea from this video. Just like another comment on this video saying he was promoting less choice to let other "smarter" people think for you - totally missing half the message of the video. You're in so deep that you can't hear what's being said, you only hear what you want to believe.

@HGalea

5y↑1.5K

"I wrote a whole book to try to explain this to myself."

@mrrohitjadhav470

4y↑3

Wanna share ?

@WeAreOutOfWeed13

4y↑16

HAAHAHA you watched the video too? that was sooo funny XxDDD

@starpleb843

4y↑20

@@WeAreOutOfWeed13 are you out of weed

@studyinginthedesert7690

4y↑5

Read the comment right at the same time the guy said it. Always weird.

@abcd12342695

3y↑10

This was the most beautiful moment of the whole talk

4 More Replies...

@MrDavidBFoster

9y↑2.4K

He's absolutely right.. "The secret to happiness is low expectations"... And everybody laughs. They must not have expected much from this talk.

@MrDavidBFoster

9y↑20

*****
No.

@maggiemarl69

9y↑72

The key is to be happy from little things

@Doritos0012

9y↑74

I learned to lower my expectations a few years ago. I felt that if u expect to much u will be disappointed more often.

@GCortesMtz

9y↑71

LOL "I did not expected much from the audience" . . . which reminds me of my childhood and a lesson my mom gave me when I was mad at someone, she said - "Never expect anything from anyone; this does not mean you don't trust them; but having low expectations for others will make your life happier" She was right, but what she did not mentioned is that sometimes is also not that good to have huge expectations on yourself, that also I have found can be quite stressful or unhealthy ;)

@MrDavidBFoster

7y↑23

GCortesMtz
There's another twist on that. I'm the guy who, for having maintained low expectations of others my entire life, ended up doing most of their work for them. There was a time when I actually liked hearing "You're doing a fine job!!". Not so much anymore.

24 More Replies...

@djs9931

3y↑279

When will Ted, himself, come out to talk?

@JamieSmith-fz2mz

3y↑19

Shyness is a real problem.

@mauve9266

3y↑16

I heard he has stage fright

@yeshwant5875

3y↑11

This is the comment I was looking for ever since I began watching Ted talks.

@WorldWideSk8boarding

2y↑1

“TED” is an acronym

@djs9931

2y↑3

@@WorldWideSk8boarding I call bullocks

@BecomeABetterMan

2y↑54

"The way in which we value things depends on what we compare them to"

- Barry Schwartz

@ichbineinephysikerin3540

31w↑1

Kinda reminds me of the social comparison theory, where you can feel so good about your situation if you use downward Comparison, and you can also feel too bad, in the very same situation, just if you use upward comparison.

@spacemanstrikesagain

4y↑1.6K

This was brilliant! I spend so much time finding the best option, wasting valuable minutes, then end up with insufficient time to do other stuff, then procrastinate, then become miserable.

@eddiew2325

4y↑16

No offense but I would rather waste time with you than be productive by myself. I rather be beside you in a storm than safe and warm by myself

@miguelalonsomejiaoblitas7339

4y↑2

Same here

@Reeenald

4y↑8

Story of my life.

@-ColorMehJewish-

3y↑8

His argument is "Some choices can have bad consequences so we should impede freedom". That's not solving a problem.. b/c he's focused on people having choice (not even mentioning that some choices can have medical/dietary needs for existing)

And he's making repeated arguments w/ very basic logical fallacies..
Like his appeal to authority: Blindly trusting someone like a doctor b/c they went to school and repeated the correct info.. as being more knowledgeable than people who can potentially look into their own health.

Some cases the doctor might know best, some cases the patient might. This guy generically stereotypes both parties, then ignores ANY complexity to issues... just to focus on pushing his views on choice. Same situation w/ his jeans example. Just b/c he sucks at shopping, he blames the jeans. Not his crappy ability/lack of proficiency.

Credentials/authority does not measure proficiency, and Mr. Schwartz is completely blind to this fact. That's not very brilliant.

@mrgd7813

That's me too

29 More Replies...

@whitehorse1959

6y↑463

"The secret to happiness is low expectations," - must be true, since my wife still appreciates any little thing I do for her.

@patrickmarr7076

3y↑72

somewhere between the low expectations that lead to mediocrity and the high expectations that lead to disappointment lies a sweet spot of realistic expectations that challenge us without overwhelming us.

@imanafdar

3y↑7

@@patrickmarr7076 thank you for the wisdom kind sir

@saptamiram

3y↑3

@@patrickmarr7076 blowing this up as a poster for my room. Thanks!

@jackiewika6694

3y↑1

@@ambershah5741 Yes. Expectations are premeditated resentments.Still one must have standards.

@sheilakijawani2526

3y↑1

@@ambershah5741 you'll have expectations as you're a human. Do you expect surprises?

1 More Replies...

@jwh0122

3y↑246

@Schokelmei

11w↑6

As someone with a diagnosed depression I greatly appreciate this video. I'm really struggling with choices from the simple to the complex ones and a constant feeling of regret.

@jacksanner2021

5y↑1.6K

The outfit makes me feel like I’m getting a lecture from my dad

@Skyletwings

4y↑11

I have the same impression. But for me, it is rather what he says than what he wears.

@eddiew2325

4y↑1

Skyletwings hehe can I kiss u

@tiktokcurated1549

4y↑9

I wish I got such smart lectures from my dad... Plot twist, he's still deciding which percentage of milk to choose and hasn't come back in 15 years.

@supercomputer0448

4y↑7

Hmm my dad's lectures are just about how masks are used by the democrats to controle people and all the ships in the ocean a making waves that splash on the ice caps causing them to melt. And the sheer amout of ships is making the ocean rise.

@tiktokcurated1549

4y↑1

@@supercomputer0448 Hahahahah

5 More Replies...

@sunatray

5y↑451

Freedom of choice is what you got. Freedom from choice is what you want
— Devo

@kathypiazza4567

4y↑11

Sundeep this explains why our government sucks- incumbents win all to often because they have the job so voters pick them so they don’t really have to choose.

@eddiew2325

Kathy Piazza no offense Kathy but I rather have bad times with you than good times with someone else I rather be beside you in a storm

@Tonisuperfly

4y↑2

Oh boom! I love that you referenced this.

@sunatray

@@Tonisuperfly Thank you. :) First thing that came to my mind while watching this video.

@karenkatd

2y↑134

I've never felt more impacted by the paradox of choice until I went through the college application process. I decided to apply to many schools (having no expectations to be accepted to many, if any at all). But I got my results back and I ended up with WAY more good options than I thought. Instead of being happy about my acceptances, I just feel more overwhelmed and anxious about the the fact that it's in my hands to choose one and miss out on other good choices.

@zoeiiseda246

2y↑6

Be glad you got accepted. I didn't.

@saifalbarwani9800

2y↑3

@@zoeiiseda246 good luck

@farrel_ra

1y↑3

Show off

@farrel_ra

1y↑1

@@zoeiiseda246 sad

@usagiminute

Amazing example!!!

2 More Replies...

@tristanmoller9498

3y↑157

Back when TedTalks were done by people, who actually had something valuable to say.

@farrel_ra

2y↑1

this!

@the_traveller6994

1y↑1

Well said.

@kylesells8579

5y↑511

"everything was better, when everything was worse"

@jessedelossantos7787

5y↑9

Its called paradox😊😁😁

@eddiew2325

4y↑2

jesse delos santos I’ve waited all my life

@gabbo365

4y↑1

Se stava mejo quanno se stava peggio

@andrijaarapovic5654

3y↑7

"in the past even the future was better"

@markpromise375

@@andrijaarapovic5654 🤔

2 More Replies...

@crispappletart

9y↑763

I know everyone laughs when he says, "The secret to happiness is low expectations," but I've definitely found that to be true. As an ex-perfectionist, I can't tell you the relief I feel now at just being good enough or doing something well enough. Don't get me wrong - I still try to perform well, to the best of my abilities, and to challenge myself a bit; but I don't expect everything to go perfectly all the time.

Once I started adapting to living this way, I discovered just what he is talking about: those little delightful surprises when something exceeded my expectations or went better than I had hoped it would. Truly, when you demand or expect less (and are content with merely being), it's like a whole other world opens up. It's such a relief.

@Joylevinstein

6y↑21

How is this going some years later, are yiu able to keep it up? I think I need to make a similar shift in my life and am looking at different angles and experiences.

@WhiteLightning38

6y↑32

Ex perfectionist with impeccable punctuation

@seanpalmer1145

6y↑20

@ whitelightning - you've managed to be both observant and amusing. TED draws a sophisticated audience. :)

@KrzysiuNet

6y↑7

IMO less expectations is a kind of white flag. Let it be, never mind and so on. What I prefer is to learn how to deal with failures. I could make a living, then eat, then sleep, but I except much more. So except jobs I have, I'm working as activist - because I except the world to be much better and I know I can help. Sometimes I fail, but nevermind, that doesn't make me feel bad in the long term - because if it would, I couldn't make another attempts of making my world (i.e. mostly my region) a better place. I excepted my fiance to be with me, same with my three best friends - they aren't here anymore and of course that fucking hurts. Even with this great failure of my expectations, I have to deal with it. What can I do? Say "oh, let's just don't expect that my family that is still alive will live next day, because all these death were sudden"? That would be recipe for constant fear. "Low expectations" are claptrap. And this is frustrating when politician breaks the law and I fail with suing that person, but then I remember all the things I've saved because my expectations and it's clear to me the frustration is a small thing. I walk the street and I see saved buildings, saved forests and clean places **because my expectations were high**. And that's so rewarding. High, low, expectation, wish, failure, success... These words means something else for each of us. So, Joy, don't listen to me. Think about your definitions and make decision. That's up to you, because low expectations can save your life, but they may destroy it.

@Bubblemation

6y↑5

@@KrzysiuNet I completely agree with your point here, and I find the original poster naive and ignorant in their statement. If you get to the point that suicide seems like a good option then low expectations are a laughable suggestion. I live on only with the hope that my life will somehow get better. That's pretty fucking high expectations given my life outlook so I have to do my best with that. I have to force myself to expect that life will be worth living for me, and low expectations would only certainly land me in the grave sooner.

27 More Replies...

@VishnuNambiar1

2y↑15

And 14 years later we have more choices than ever.

@jeraldbaxter3532

1y↑14

The earliest situation that many people first face the "curse of too much choice" is as a child, standing in a candy shop or a toy store, being overwhelmed with all the possible choices. Some are fortunate to have a very patient parent who helps them to handle the confusion of the situation, but many have parents who are so stressed and impatient (for a plethora of reasons) that what should be a rather simple situation becomes the basis for the child's lifetime behavior. A small thing, but very telling.

@mtarik00

9w↑1

I totally agree with you. That's why, in my opinion, we, as adults, should first focus on being patient with our inner child and nurture in a healthy way. Then, the transition to teach critical aspects of life to another human being would become much easier.

@MariusViken

5y↑558

It's 2019 and my phone still don't have a creme brulée torch..

@chrimony

4y↑8

And I'm not complaining that mine does too much, either.

@CloudStrifeCosplay

@dougraddi908

What?!

@Traul1983

4y↑19

Samsung tried to make one but it got misunderstood.

@abc25277

4y↑1

Traul1983 it burnt the crème

10 More Replies...

@Lantanana

5y↑588

yes, humans were not designed to make 5000 quality decisions each day. Life is too stressful nowadays.

@paulmerritt8593

4y↑9

Your life does not need to be that stressful. Stress and fear and anxiety are all tools of oppression and not the way we are made to live. he wants you to think we should leave our thinking to smarter people who are knowledgeable and who we must trust. Do you think this man dresses like this everyday? No he is targeting a young and impressionable audience. Son't be his sheople. Stress and fear are perceptions oppressors have imposed on their societies for thousands of years.

@lorenasdiscoveries

4y↑4

@@paulmerritt8593 I totally agree with you.
I think those symptoms are lack of PURPOSE OF LIFE.

@theoenomelphilosopher8687

4y↑23

@@paulmerritt8593 his point certainly wasn't to let all your important choices be left to be made by a person in power but more like limit your choices(when its excessive that any choice would be made at all)

@formula1340

4y↑5

https://youtu.be/SemHh0n19LA here's another talk about choices. Having a lot of choices is good but they key is being content on what you've chosen not to regret about it being inferior to other options.

@andres550

@@lorenasdiscoveries you nailed it!

3 More Replies...

@crystallynnbyrne5511

2y↑6

I always live by this quote and I find it pertinent with this video.'It is simply this "Expect nothing and NEVER be disappointed"or "Never expect anything from anyone or any situation and you'll never be disappointed" "'To prevent disappointment never expect anything from anyone and everything"

@kallepikku4991

3y↑159

Back when TED talks came without X, and the speakers where actual scientists.

@indrayudhroy9415

3y↑5

Yes since then a mass of X's have overriden it all

@clarkpalace

3y↑23

The X’s mean more choice! Jeezus

@kallepikku4991

3y↑17

@@clarkpalace X means more opinions, less science.

@nietzscheanmiddleman9832

3y↑1

T.E.D. stands for Technology Entertainment Design

@luisalbinati

3y↑6

"everthing was better when it was worse"

@benforrest8590

5y↑1.8K

Dresses in the morning expecting to tidy the yard... ends up giving a TED talk.

@junpeiiori4720

5y↑57

* trophy unlocked *

@gringaexpatriada9805

5y↑10

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@nizammahamood4540

5y↑78

He preached what he practiced. Probably wore the first things he saw in his closet.

@ZedaZ80

5y↑49

It is probably true here, too, but if you go to a math conference, mathematicians will assure you: the sloppiest dressed presenter is going to give the best talk.

@AndyMc1952

5y↑6

Exactly what happens to me based on too many choices. I would have dressed the same way.

36 More Replies...

@justschwab

5y↑483

Ranks as one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard.

@xsuploader

4y↑5

hes brilliant. He gives me a real Richard Feynman vibe.

@Mehwhatevr

3y↑6

This is my favorite TED Talk. He describes me precisely.

@KezDPianist

3y↑1

Any other great recommendations on ted speakers? Thanks

@Mehwhatevr

3y↑3

@@KezDPianist I like the ones by James Veech about spam email.

I like the ones by a couple of math teachers. My favorite is the one by a math teacher (like me) who has decided that teaching middle school and high school math to every student is a waste of time. That instead of forcing everyone to learn algebra (for example) we should teach courses on logic and problem solving. Very few people will actually need to use math in their lives beyond basic fractions, but everyone needs to learn how (not what) to think and problem solve.

These are the ones that immediately come to my mind.

@xsuploader

@Myth Tree what points

6 More Replies...

@gn1

2y↑23

Felt like he explained what's going on in my head more eloquently than I ever could.

@m3iwa419

This!!!!

@MrFunnybone93

3y↑20

Second time watching this some years later, and after having more experiences regarding too many choices this TED talk is truer than ever for me.

@rosiesaikaly1178

4y↑36

people who go with the flow are the happiest. wherever life takes them, they try to enjoy it instead of stressing about what to do.

@buiuh1260

3y↑9

when that flow benefits them, of course. not granted to everyone

@roguebuddha

5y↑271

It's called "Fear of missing out". I am happy I didn't miss this one.

@TNHODA

4y↑11

No what is being discribed in this video is not FOMO. FOMO is something you can have with a single choice, like: should I go to a party? For it could be the best party you ever go to. Or when checking social media AGAIN, because maybe someone just posted something. I do think I get the link that you're seeing: many options with pro's and con's where you fear missing out on the pro's, but that (for me) is different from what the paradox of choice is.

@eddiew2325

TNHODA hehe can I kiss you or do you have some sorta vendetta against me

@7osb

3y↑1

@@TNHODA Whether you should go to a party is two choices

@citizenxxxxx

2y↑79

My first thought into his talk was how the “too many choices conundrum” definitely applies to online dating. It’s like a dinner menu that changes every night at a restaurant that serves seven course meals. A lot of people on dating sites always think they can do better. Even if the person they’re talking to/dating is a connection, and checks off most/all their boxes. I did that whole thing for years after my divorce. My friends have had the same experiences. All of us just got tired of it all, and decided that if we don’t meet our person organically, than we die alone. oh, the horror!

@isaiahayers1550

1y↑3

I completely take your point and I think it's all well stated but...was that sarcasm at the end about dying alone?

I do believe being alone for many years is quite bad. We humans certainly can appreciate answering only to ourselves and all and having things that we like and that we chose. But, we are also social creatures who deeply need someone to share our feelings and experiences with. Perhaps some people can find enough of that with friendship or family but I would expect that for the vast majority of people, they would really benefit from a good romantic relationship.

As someone who is recently divorced myself though, I can attest that relationships are also very much not easy.

I hope you find someone soon, if you haven't already, or that you can find peace, joy and contentment on your own.

@mariabrown5828

1y↑1

yes i agree with you %100 no one specially the males can make a choice to stick to one profile if they have formed a connection because they have to keep looking and searching and messaging whatever profile takes their fancy in the next five minutes, its an endless array of choices that they will never get to the end off. Unfortunately i too only in the last two weeks have deleted my online dating profiles as the disappointment and frustration of starting chat conversations with men only to have them disappear the next day was more trauma than i needed, so like you if it is meant to be for me to meet someone else in my later life it will have to be in the offline world, if not i guess i will have to except the inevitable.

@jeremiasherskovits2947

2y↑9

Incredible how this talk aged incredibly. Life-changing ted talk.

@charlie5thumbs351

7y↑153

He's so right. I remember several years ago when all I had was a DVD player, I'd go down to the local library and choose a few movies that caught my eye, and that was it. But when the woman I was married to at that time purchased Netflix, I was so overwhelmed by the choices that were at my fingertips, I noticed that my pleasure diminished significantly. This was because I was always thinking to myself, damn there are so many movies on here, I want to choose the one that's really gonna wow me. It has to be perfect because there are so many others that I could be watching right now! That's just one example. The choices that are available today for everything are truly mind boggling.

@robertedwards5184

I agree.

@squidproquo2241

@Charlie5thumbs v _ Choice is the product of wisdom and highest level of tamed ego. If, you don't have that wisdom and well tamed ego, what you perceive as choice is the desired driven ego satisfaction tools.

It is like this; If you don't have food, and you are always hungry, you will not pick food and will not be able to hate any food due to overindulgence. If, you have variety of foods easily reachable, if you can not stop overindulging yourself, you will start losing your taste and more picky. Food is a necessity.

In your case, why would you choose to watch a DVD, any DVD in the first place? Watching a DVD is not even a necessity !!!

@gilberttorres8

4y↑1

You need to work on your decision making skills.

@shugyosha7924

3y↑1

There's so much content in every medium now that it's impossible to stay caught up on practically anything. Back in the days watching telly, I'd be following 1 maybe 2 shows at a time max and they came out once a week.

@RestTarRr

2y↑6

He isn't right at all though... Time and time again I see the same sentiment posted and it's always older people saying it. How come the new generation doesn't have an issue with choosing what to watch on netflix or doesn't feel paralyzed by having to choose from 100 jeans instead of 1 kind? Is it really that hard to realize that it's not a problem of too many choices rather than the fact that the older generation weren't exposed to this and had to adapt with the times. Those who didn't adapt are stuck in your shoes. Those who adapted are thriving and living their best life because there's undeniable benefits of choice being given to us.

You are bad at making decisions because you never had to make them until one point where you were bombarded by them. It's not entirely your fault because that's just how it was back in the day but it's important to acknowledge that it indeed isn't a problem of there being "too many options" but you putting unreal expectations and stress on something as trivial as watching a movie. It's a mentality/skill that can be learned. You aren't born with good/bad decision making. The benefits of multiple choices far outweigh the negatives of it and it seems that only people who refuse to adapt are stuck with the negatives.

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@bcptbcpt

4y↑209

I've seen interesting TED talks, fascinating TED talks and inspiring TED talks. This one changed my life.

@shashankkothari8066

3y↑2

How?

@yanocavalcante9362

3y↑4

That TED talk really blow up my mind eventhough it's 14 years old

@ala8649

3y↑1

Yea how bcptbcpt?

@sportsbd8743

How?

@jordiimanuel2888

So how are you lately

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@thespektrov

1y↑4

The way this guy can walk across a stage in a tee and shorts while giving the most riveting presentation: confidence goals.

@ChristianStout

2y↑2

I come back to watch this every couple of years. It has never lost its luster.

@rebekahdeal3494

4y↑212

Amazing that this came out about the time the first iPhone was released. Crazy to see how much time and technology has changed and we wonder why mental health issues are on the rise.

@rahulanand7315

4y↑242

I can relate to this totally, I always feel paralysed when it comes to career choices.

@kulina571

3y↑2

Aaand that's why you're still jobless !

@rahulanand7315

3y↑18

@@kulina571 FYI, I'm data scientist for last 3 years.

@afonsosalbrecht

3y↑4

@@rahulanand7315 puffff, data scientist... you can become a data science on udemy in less than a week, that's a joke profession!

@Scott-got-caught

3y↑7

@@rahulanand7315 I dont understand...are you bragging...or complaining 🤣

@joec9997

2y↑4

@@afonsosalbrecht no need to beat on a guy just trying to defend himself

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@katarinabengner770

39w↑2

I’ve seen this talk quite a few times, every time it strikes me how true it is, how much this applies to my experience of life. Comforting in a way but also frustrating - what do I do with this knowledge? How can I make other people realise the same? It affects everything- from being stressed on vacation from not doing enough or experiencing enough- to being the reason why it’s so difficult to find a partner. I do agree, times were better when the were worse.

@patrickmarr7076

3y↑2

this talk reminded of a line in the Eagles song DESPERADO... "it seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table... but you only want the ones you can't have". The Fear Of Missing Out clearly steals more happiness than the choices could possibly provide.

@alexcook96

7y↑153

"Comparison is the thief of joy. "
-TEDdy Roosevelt

@36trooper

10y↑568

This video was okay, but I expected it would have been better. I wish I made a different choice and picked the one with the cat playing the piano. I feel depressed now. :(

@shruggzdastr8-facedclown

6y↑6

36trooper: So, it looks like your only option is to go to the garage, get in your car, start the engine and let the carbon monoxide fumes put you to sleep forever.

;^}

@TheNemocharlie

6y↑4

Sir/Madam, I salute your comic genius!

@souravdey7174

6y↑1

You got it... You can now watch the cat playing piano..
Or sleep or play video games.. or work...😂😂😂😂

@shiitakestick

6y↑17

.. but remember the cat isnt dead or alive until you open the keyboard.

@MRU2be

6y↑7

Well, I expected worse. So now I'm happy because it exceeded my expectations, but kinda sad, because I was wrong. It's really hard to live indeed.

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@abdallaaref3718

one of the best speeches ever, thank you for sharing these amazing information.

@sherriflemming3218

27w↑2

Barry is impressive. Hes not concerned with the external. Narcissistic ideals. Thats impressive. I admire this.
This definately applies to online dating which marginalizes people and reduces them to commodities.
Success is over valued. And good character is undervalued.

@ajsharma8869

4y↑63

Didn't even know TED was posting 13 years ago

@bobvella7228

9y↑1.2K

magic number of choices is 3! bulbasaur squirtle and charmander

@user-od9pj3vq8y

9y↑78

bob vella This is also the hardest choice a person can ever experience.

@TimesNuRoman

7y↑32

Always choose the charmander choice in whatever decision.

@slapbot

7y↑14

Bulbasaur, squirtle and charmander well that's just 3 what about the other 3 ones? you said magic number of choices is 3! right?

@boris3866

7y↑9

Ujjwal Gupta That's 6

@bubs1533

7y↑5

Pokemon as an analogy. Plaudits.

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@loying1542

3y↑13

I'm glad that I made the decision to watch this Ted talk, I learned so much! Thank you for sharing about this that I've been pondering so much

@jamesbarlow6423

😂

@fig7047

3y↑1

I've picked up similar ideas from other places. The last part about the fish bowl reminded me of an old Twilight zone episode. When Barry talked about being disappointed with our choices, I was reminded of Dr. John Becker's somewhat pessimistic (but also pragmatic) outlook on life: that life is a series of disappointments ending in a really big one! At the end of the day, we have to adapt to a changing world. If we are given more choices in our life, we have to become better at making choices. That's easier said than done, of course, but I think understanding our predicament probably does help.

@jerrycdc8421

5y↑22

This explain the lower satisfaction in modern world dating. The higher expectations and higher standards with too many choices from all those dating app...we are now the product and we all look at our self as such.

@lisbezz4100

4y↑32

"The secret to happiness is...low expectations." Great blend of humor & intelligent info.

@avilialapin2663

2y↑7

Oh my gosh this concept needs to be applied to online dating! There are hundreds of faces you scroll through and you are always thinking there might be something better on the next swipe so no one actually does the dating part always looking for something better. fewer options would revolutionize online dating. Also online dating has killed the idea of dating.

@sunsetguy37

13w↑1

Watched this twelve years later and my investigations confirm most all of what he says. I hang out in a country that offers me less options, but with more satisfaction in the choices I make.

@sosalish441

5y↑242

When I only had 7 tv channels there was always something on.

@anniesue4456

4y↑6

Lol spend more time figuring out what to watch

@donaldduck8474

3y↑1

I once had just 4... that was perfect.

@TraxisOnTheLines

3y↑1

I remember when we went from cable, where I used 3 for video games, 25, 50, and 51 for kids shows, and nothing else, to satellite. Suddenly we had over 900 channels, and then I found the 7 in a row that were the same shows I used to watch (551-557 if I remember), and 300 was the movie channel that my dad watched a lot. 625 was comedy, but I only knew that because of my dad as well.
900 channels and I found a way to only need 7 choices, with a couple extra bonuses once in a while. And even of those 7, 552, 554, and 557 almost always had the best stuff and I swapped between those 3 unless all of them had nothing.

@josephang9927

10y↑470

This explains the popularity of apple's products.

@LattiMonstaaa

10y↑42

funnily enough, youre probably right

@1965ace

10y↑4

I was going to say that.

@lowestyet

7y↑3

That's what I thought as well!

@brunoborma

7y↑11

Yep. And I would add, mainly because they present their products not as some types of PC, but something else, a mac. And inside mac you have not too much options. THey make you believe there is nothing to expect beyond what they produce. And they are probably right hehe

@vojta6734

7y↑8

my mind is completely blown right now. It explains so much omg

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@farhanrafid8584

That last part pierced my heart

@MONICAANICA

2y↑2

This exceptional presentation It takes away my anxiety...Learning that all that is happening now is a well known & accepted failed experiment.... Thank you for bringing relief to the commoners💕

@desertstar7664

9y↑800

In a nutshell : Excess is the root of modern day misery.

@patsybarrett9780

9y↑1

Iqbal Dinho me too.

@BarrySlisk

9y↑3

+Marisa Kirisame
I'm sure that is why danes are considered some of the happiest people on Earth. Because there really is no need for us to be happy. A very mediocre country.

@mycount64

7y↑38

+Giacomo Drago the soft mattress from a rock to sleep on can make a difference to your quality of life. having the choice between 50 mattresses of varied softness does not change your life it is a false freedom.

@gregnathan7063

7y↑1

You look jewish buddy

@YellowJelly13

6y↑10

"In a nutshell : Excess is the root of modern day misery."
Is this how much information fits in your nutshell (brain)?

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@jimbeckert7946

5y↑87

It is absolutely true that the key to happiness is low expectations. However, it's also very true that freedom requires that people take responsibility for their choices. I've never felt paralyzed by too many choices. I have spent more time than I wanted on certain choices. It's important to know which choices are the most critical and focus on those.

@MONICAANICA

How many people are you....a single individual probably..... The more people ate in the equation the choices are exponential

@tomusic8887

Congratulations, still it makes life a barren land containing hours and hours of constant choice making, wonderful 👍👍👍👍👍

@Josh-jl3sd

What are the most critical ones? Who gets to tell me what are the most critical choices oh right I decided that myself which ones do I decide on? How many different critical decisions must I make to get to the end of the rat maze?

@caleb1231

3y↑19

“When the time is right, they’ll choose the appropriate gender”... that was a joke then. How ironic

@LegendOfLefty

2y↑2

I am in Japan. My opinion is the same, He's right. "The secret to happiness is low expectations". Happiness is not having, but being.

@romanarutyunyan8709

6y↑59

"Everything is amazing and nobody's happy"

@jimmorrison5520

7y↑316

Reminds me of Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.
Very true, the paradox of choice. Constantly dissatisfied. Constantly looking for something greater. Constantly having the feeling of anxiety due to all other options, choices.

Barry Schwartz is the man. Don't think I've ever seen anyone at TED Talk having the balls to wear shorts. Awesome.

@Wooda-qu8wj

7y↑1

Jim Morrison I

@RoxyStellar

6y↑3

his choice

@jw5471

6y↑1

People want choice. I have a friend who is a butcher. He says his profit will go down if he doesnt display several large amount of different types of preparation of meat. Instead of just plain meat. Even if it means he has to throw away 20% of his products. He still profits when he gives a large amount of choice and still throws away 20%. The people just wont come to his shop. So now tell me how people feel miserable and still go back. Ofcourse you are doing to make a wrong choice. But he is taking it way to far. Most of the time people are happy with the choices they made. Are you constantly depressed for making choices? Its stupidest thing i ever heard.

@MattHanr

6y↑4

jos People think they want choice because the super market has a dozen types of meat. This is just one anecdotal instance, don’t get so excited

@jw5471

Yea ok but why do we want to think that? You are not adressing the issue herz

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@devraga9612

3y↑5

I am a doctor, and he is spot on. I provide options to patients. 2021.

@kittyonyango348

3y↑1

Yes! I spend so much time in my head considering all my choices and regretting the ones I've made. I'm designing my house and I can't decide on what I want my drive to look like and I'm so worried that I won't get it right.

@lisbezz4100

4y↑14

"One of the effects of too many choices, paradoxically, is that it produces paralysis instead of liberation."

@ihddurmas9871

It's paralysis only if you're not educated about the options you get.. Open market is what has driven for all the choices to exist- they'll without a doubt shrink if there are no real buyers present.

@airbournepickle

9y↑13

I found this to be quite true. The times when I've had the least money in my life, have been the most memorable times... the most satisfying (all be it frustrating at the time)... when I look back now... it's those times that I remember more fondly for some reason. Less choice perhaps, greater struggle, "a feeling of satisfaction" to make it through.

@TonyVee89

3y↑9

One of the best speech I've ever heard, timeless teaching

@ampyjimenez6320

3y↑4

14 years later, and its still relevant <3 thank you for this

@beatcypher3128

3y↑2

always will be.

@michaelstone7514

5y↑25

Brilliant lecture!! THE grass is always greener phenomenon! !

@orlandobrown8190

4y↑23

I've watch this video like a dozen times. I come back to it often. This is like a meditation that I use to reset myself.

@sportsbd8743

3y↑1

What?

@videosofraghav

2y↑2

Watching this in 2022, and the points stated in his talk is way more relatable. The damage has gone to a whole new level.

@JohnKooz

2y↑8

This was a genuinely superb presentation. I was a true student of Barry Schwartz for a little over a quarter of an hour, and I feel I have been bestowed with the invaluable outlooks and insights for increasing well-being and happiness! Thanks, Barry!

@darrenwalker3986

5y↑7

Yeah, I'm over it, too!
Well spoken. As I had low expectations I now find myself pleasantly surprised; intelligent life does exist on Earth.

@johnson8017

4y↑7

I think it is just about ''Material desire'', when you want too much, you will end up being unhappy. People just have to learn how to be satisfied with all they have now, and be thankful for everything!

@nevermistreatarodent

2y↑2

Barry is on the next level, even for a professor. Just brilliant.

@anthonywalker6168

2y↑1

The best way to eliminate choice in consumer purchases is to always buy the cheapest or second cheapest. Manufacturers/brand owners all say they are the “best” . It’s easy to be unique, it’s easy to be the “best” but it’s hard to be the cheapest. You will win 80% of the time while saving money in the process

@clkhealth

5y↑45

TED seems to have been quite a laidback event back in the day

@salonikothari3387

6y↑10

even after 10 years of watching it . this is eternal , and now so more obvious!

@memoiroflife28

14w↑1

This is forever gold

@BostonMarathon255

Still one of the best ted talks I've ever listened to.

@cwalt4483

4y↑37

Thanks for explaining to me why I like the simple life.

@cyrussalahshoor3799

4y↑4

Opens your mind about your choices in life. Don't over think. We only live once, don't waste too much time thinking about the same things every minute of your day. Sometimes its okay to settle with things and just be alive in the moment. This is coming from a person who over thinks every single day.... its a struggle but this video helped open my perspective!

@MrShem123ist

One of the best TED Talks I have watched so far…

@tru_710

3y↑6

"This is so deeply embedded in the water supply that it wouldnt occur to anyone to question it"

Facts.

@e.rivera4251

4y↑6

" Have higher expectations if you want improvement, and lower expectations if you want contentment. " Jeremy E. Sherman Ph.D.

... and that is why i treat my friends like dirt....i know for a fact they;re going to fail me any given time.......

@winonadaphne6445

5y↑161

oh my god i just remembered that this video was uploaded in 2007, but 5:13 where he talks about people choosing their own gender identity is more relevant today than ever

@22bootsy

5y↑5

I had to go back and check the date of this talk given by Ted's Tupac

@yourinternetfriend6778

5y↑14

Just shows how little this guy understands reality beyond his own world view. You don't chose your gender identity. A gender identity is something that you act out through appearance and behavior. You're female if society perceives you as such, not by choosing to be female in the morning.

@slantdwave

5y↑7

What is galling is that
It was satire back then

@willhaynes3505

5y↑8

@@yourinternetfriend6778 Could society be wrong?

@yourinternetfriend6778

@@willhaynes3505
Who cares.

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@aghorhythm

Absolutely fantastic talk !

@elianeluty2065

Thank you so much

@blakesmith8765

4y↑3

Right on with the low expectations, I know it was said as a joke but I’ve been living like that for years and I’ve never felt better! Live life as it comes to you & you shall be content.

@kerplunk9434

4y↑3

Hes actually right. In spirituality one is told to have NO expectations in order to be happy. This opens you up to seeing everything as a blessing and a miracle.

@0000song0000

I love the whole "having so many options makes you paralize" OR "feel miserable" or "having too high expectations"
(ask channels like which have a thousand videos about variations of the same product, e. g. Troglys guitar show, which shows different models of the Gibson Les Paul guitar)

@paragbharadia2895

3y↑1

In this 2021, sayings of yours are still obeyful and will be..!! thanks for the one and only one beautiful present🎁

@browniekingmuffin3590

7y↑60

"Man is condemned to be free" - Jean-Paul Sartre

@TeaParty1776

4y↑5

“I am freeing men from...the demands of a freedom and personal independence which only a very few can bear.”
-Hitler

@maixck

4y↑12

This is great, from 2007 he's telling us empirically what we are starting to understand now. when you're stucked with something and cant change it you like that thing better. And that change is deep in the brain.

@jamesbarlow6423

2y↑1

😂learn spelling

@TheSkullConfernece

3y↑1

I think many of us are aware of the paradox of choice subconsciously. Whenever an electronic of mine breaks down, I usually just buy the same or next generation of the same kind. Whenever I shop for something I've never had, I try as much as possible to minimize the amount of products to actually research about by utilizing a combination of ratings, reviews, price, reputation, etc. I'm pretty sure most people do those things as well because it just makes sense if you don't want to stress yourself out with decision anxiety.