These are the words I want you to read.

Now read them again.

Are these all the words in the English language?

Of course not, they’re just the words I want you to read.

Why am I being repetitive?

Because I’m attempting to make a very important point.

I asked that you read the first sentence which contained only nine words. According to Merriam-Webster, there are roughly 1 million words in the English language, yet I presented you with only nine to read.

This little exercise is to illustrate the concept of Choice Architecture.

Here’s the definition of Choice Architecture -Choice architecture is the design of different ways in which choices can be presented to consumers, and the impact of that presentation on consumer decision-making.

This will probably be one of the most important things you will learn in life.

Why is it so important?

Because you should know that all the choices you’re presented with, are not all the choices that exist.

Let that last statement sink in for a moment.

The majority of the choices in life that you’re presented with are limited for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s almost impossible to know all the possible combinations of choices that exist. Second, the person or organization presenting the choices to you has their and not your best interest in mind, so they present you with limited choices, essentially the ones that benefit them. And lastly, probably the hardest to come to terms with is your personal demographic i.e., your age, race, sex and income level will all determine the choices you’re presented with.

I really can’t emphasize enough how important it is that you really grasp the concept of Choice Architecture. After all, when you’re young, many of the choices in life are made for you, but once you pass your teenage years, then the rest of your life depends on the choices you’re presented with and the choices you make.

I hope you remember that for every choice you’re presented with, there’s an entire universe of choices you don’t see. And of course, some choices will be much more important than others. My hope is that after learning about Choice Architecture, you’re able to apply your personal filters to make better choices for yourself and ultimately for your life.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it please share it with one person you love.