... reversible, keep-your-options-open decisions reliably lead to lower levels of satisfaction than irreversible ones. In other words, we are significantly less happy with our choices when we can back out of them.
Why does keeping our options open make us less happy? Because once we make a final, no-turning-back decision, the psychological immune system kicks in. This is how psychologists like Gilbert refer to the mind's uncanny ability to make us feel good about our decisions. Once we've committed to a course of action, we stop thinking about alternatives. Or, if we do bother to think about them, we think about how lousy they are compared to our clearly superior and awesome choice.
This business article has a direct application, in my mind, to marriage. The grass is greener on the other side of the fence when the life-time commitment is lacking. When we make our choice of mate with the thought that there is no going back, the PIS kicks in and we see all the reasons why we made the right choice. What do you think about this one?