You 2.0: Your Future Is Now
Have you ever set a goal and had a really difficult time sticking to it? Maybe you decide you want to save more money, or go to the gym more often. This week on the show, psychologist Hal Hershfield explains why it can be difficult to set our "future selves" up for success. Plus, he shares tools to help us make commitments that will benefit us in the years to come.
- Duration
- 57m
- Broadcast on
- 14 Aug 2023
- Audio Format
- other
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Have you ever set a goal and had a really difficult time sticking to it? Maybe you decide you want to save more money, or go to the gym more often. This week on the show, psychologist Hal Hershfield explains why it can be difficult to set our "future selves" up for success. Plus, he shares tools to help us make commitments that will benefit us in the years to come.
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This is Hidden Brain. I'm Shankar Vedanta. In Greek mythology, the sirens were alluring sea creatures who sang beautiful and beguiling songs. Sailors lured by these sirens found themselves running aground on rocks and capsizing. It's the origin of the phrase "siren song" to describe a temptation that conceals danger. According to Greek mythology, the warrior Ulysses wanted to hear the song of the sirens, but feared he would lose control of his faculties and run his ship aground. So he had his men bind him to the mast of his own ship. When he heard the song of the sirens, the ropes constrained him from giving in to temptation. In modern times, social scientists and lawyers design what are sometimes known as Ulysses packs or Ulysses contracts. Exactly as in the myth, these are ways you can limit what you yourself can do in the future, if you feel you are likely to make mistakes. If you fear you are at risk for dementia, for example, you can sign over power of attorney to a relative to keep yourself from making poor decisions in the years to come. States and nations sometimes pass laws to constrain themselves from overspending future budgets. When you skip buying chips and soda at the grocery store, because you worry you will give in to temptation if you keep junk food at home, you are crafting a soft version of a Ulysses packed with yourself. You are constraining what you will do in the future. Today, in the next installment of our U2.0 series, we will explore new research into how to become a better designer of your future self. How to craft choices that will make for better tomorrow's, this week on Hidden Brain. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Air France. Air France business cabin offers comfort throughout the journey with priority check-in, boarding and lounge access. On board, enjoy menus from renowned French chefs, wines, and champagne selected by Assamelier and free high-speed Wi-Fi. When it's time to rest, settle into a fully adjustable, life-flat bed with added mattress comfort. The art of travel, elevated, because Air France business cabin goes further in every detail to make your journey exceptional. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Land Rover. Even the boldest journey starts small with a single decision to go somewhere new. Purpose-built and courage-driven, the Defender 110 combines on-road presence with off-road capability. It looks tough because it is with a raised hood and an exterior engineered for durability. Inside, capability meets comfort with seating for five and the option for seven, plus refined finishes and thoughtful design. The Defender event is on now. Explore enhanced offers at Land RoverUSA.com. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Progressive. Whoever says saving money is hard doesn't know that new customers who bundle and save with Progressive save hundreds. Because switching your home and auto insurance is better than cutting down on those iced lattes you love. Switch to Progressive and see if you could save.
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Have you ever set a goal and had a really difficult time sticking to it? Maybe you decide you want to save more money, or go to the gym more often. This week on the show, psychologist Hal Hershfield explains why it can be difficult to set our "future selves" up for success. Plus, he shares tools to help us make commitments that will benefit us in the years to come.