Should we continue in our relationship with X, or part from them to see who else we might find?

我們應該繼續與 X 保持關係，還是與他們分手，看看還能找到誰？

But what if we land on no one better?

但如果沒有更好的人選呢？

But what if we stay and the relationship never improves?

但是，如果我們留下來，關係卻一直沒有改善呢？

Should we buy this property that's beautiful but worryingly close to the railway tracks?

我們是否應該買下這處美麗但靠近鐵軌的房產？

Or should we buy the other one that has a bit less charm but might be quieter?

還是應該買另一個魅力稍遜但可能更安靜的？

Should we accept this job that has prestige and the possibility of a stellar future?

我們應該接受這份既有聲望又可能前途無量的工作嗎？

Or should we stay where we are because we love our colleagues and have a high quality of life?

或者，我們應該留在原地，因為我們熱愛我們的同事，擁有高質量的生活？

Part of the agony of choosing at such moments is that we are in the background consumed by the idea that the wrong choice may prove appalling in the extreme and the right choice a route to exceptional fulfilment.

在這樣的時刻做出選擇的痛苦之一在於，我們會被這樣一種想法所吞噬：錯誤的選擇可能會被證明是極端可怕的，而正確的選擇則是通往非凡成就的途徑。

But we are perhaps suffering unnecessarily and might find reassurance in the strategic use of two kinds of thinking, alternately optimistic and pessimistic in tone.

但是，我們也許正在遭受不必要的痛苦，也許可以從兩種思維的戰略運用中找到安慰，這兩種思維交替使用，語氣上既樂觀又悲觀。

To trial the former, we might propose that part of the reason why certain choices feel so hard is that all options on the table have, in truth, something quite good to offer us.

為了試探前者，我們可以提出，某些選擇之所以讓人感覺如此艱難，部分原因在於擺在桌面上的所有選擇其實都能給我們帶來相當好的東西。

The choice is only hard because we are having to pick between substantially decent alternatives.

我們之所以難以做出選擇，是因為我們不得不在其他基本不錯的選擇中做出選擇。

We cannot choose because the choices before us are all pretty good.

我們無法選擇，因為擺在我們面前的選擇都很不錯。

If we stayed with X, there would be much to celebrate and if we went off and found someone else, they would have many charms too.

如果我們和 X 在一起，會有很多值得慶祝的事情；如果我們離開，找到其他人，他們也會有很多魅力。

As for the two homes we are judging between, both are really very pleasant in different ways and the same holds true for our jobs.

至於我們在兩個家之間做出的判斷，這兩個家確實在不同方面都非常令人愉快，我們的工作也是如此。

Whichever option we choose, we will have much to be pleased about.

無論我們選擇哪種方案，都會有很多值得高興的事情。

There is equal comfort to be found by running the argument in an opposite, pessimistic direction.

從相反的、悲觀的方向進行論證，同樣可以找到安慰。

We can get easily obsessed by the idea that a wise choice is going to help us to prevent a nightmare.

我們很容易沉迷於 "明智的選擇可以幫助我們避免噩夢 "的想法。

But considered soberly, there will be something pretty difficult about every route we choose to go down.

但冷靜地考慮一下，我們選擇的每條道路都會有相當困難的地方。

We are finding it hard to choose because all options have their unavoidably disappointing dimensions.

我們很難做出選擇，因為所有的選擇都有其令人失望的一面。

X partner can certainly be annoying, but so will Y partner.

X 伴侶當然會令人討厭，但 Y 伴侶也會。

Pretty much anyone we end up with is going to have their dispiriting sides.

我們最終選擇的任何人都會有令人沮喪的一面。

There is no dodging the inherent difficulty of everyone.

每個人都無法迴避固有的困難。

As for property, no house can ever make life perfect.

至於房產，任何房子都無法讓生活變得完美。

A lot of unhappiness will be ours wherever we happen to sleep.

無論我們睡在哪裡，都會有很多不快樂。

No house can spare us fundamental agonies of existence.

沒有一所房子能讓我們免去生存的基本痛苦。

Similarly, the dissatisfactions we know in our present job will have equivalence whatever job we pick.

同樣，我們對目前工作的不滿，無論我們選擇什麼工作，都是對等的。

In other words, everything is certain to be a bit awful, a truth we are vainly striving to deny in our furious search for what we think of as the right choice.

換句話說，一切都肯定會有點糟糕，我們在狂熱地尋找我們認為正確的選擇時，卻在徒勞地否認這一事實。

What powers the pain of choice is to a large extent an illusion, the idea of a single solution that can either conclusively deliver happiness or skirt unhappiness.

在很大程度上，造成選擇痛苦的是一種幻覺，即認為有一種單一的解決方案可以最終帶來幸福或避免不幸福。

We are thereby exaggerating our agency.

是以，我們誇大了我們的代理權。

Once we recognise that by the will be both pretty fine and simultaneously stubbornly somewhat awful too, we may cease to grow either quite so exercised or so terrified.

一旦我們認識到這一點，我們就不會再那麼激動，也不會再那麼害怕了。

We can afford to rest more easily.

我們可以更輕鬆地休息。

We are never far from pain and we are never far from joy.

我們從未遠離痛苦，也從未遠離歡樂。

We might almost let a roll of the dice decide the rest.

我們幾乎可以用擲骰子的方式來決定剩下的事情。