The Nature of Hard Choices Hard choices arise when alternatives are better in some ways and worse in others, with no clear overall winner. They aren't necessarily big decisions; even small ones like choosing breakfast can be hard if values conflict. The difficulty lies not in ignorance but because there is no objectively best option.
Misconceptions About Decision-Making People often believe that more information or less fear would make hard choices easier, but this isn't true since the options themselves lack a definitive ranking. Values cannot always be quantified like scientific measurements, making comparisons between them inherently complex.
Alternatives on a Par: A New Perspective In many cases of decision-making, alternatives exist 'on a par,' meaning they hold comparable value without being identical or ranked hierarchically. This opens up space for personal agency to create reasons rather than relying solely on external criteria to dictate what should be chosen.
'Becoming' Through Hard Choices 'On-a-par' situations allow individuals to define who they want to become by putting their identity behind an option instead of drifting passively through life’s rewards and punishments. These moments empower people as authors of their lives—transforming difficult decisions into opportunities for self-creation and growth.