Thriving in the Face of Contradiction
We all face tough decisions in life, whether we're juggling the demands of work and family or deciding whether to take a new job. These situations often feel like either/or choices. But psychologist Wendy Smith says this binary way of confronting dilemmas contains a trap. She offers a different way to think about difficult choices, one that opens up unexpected possibilities.
- Duration
- 1h 0m
- Broadcast on
- 17 Oct 2022
- Audio Format
- other
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We all face tough decisions in life, whether we're juggling the demands of work and family or deciding whether to take a new job. These situations often feel like either/or choices. But psychologist Wendy Smith says this binary way of confronting dilemmas contains a trap. She offers a different way to think about difficult choices, one that opens up unexpected possibilities.
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This is Hidden Brain. I'm Shankar Vedanta. Do you want to know what it is? The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. In the hit 1999 sci-fi film The Matrix, the character Morpheus, played by Lawrence Fishburne, tells Keanu Reeves' character Neil about the hidden forces that control the world. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. What truth? That you are a slave, Neil. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch. A prison for your mind. Morpheus offers to let Neil see the truth for himself. But to do so, he first needs to make a choice. Morpheus shows Neil his closed fists. You have to see it for yourself. He opens his palms one by one. In his left hand is a blue pill. In his right, a red pill. He asks Neil to choose. This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill. The story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill. You stay in Wonderland. And I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. All of us confront forks in the road. They might be less permanent and irreversible than the one confronting Neil. But then again, the choices we confront in real life are real. Should we move to another city or stay put? Say yes to a marriage proposal or say no. Reinvent a business or stick to doing what we know best. This week on Hidden Brain, the psychology of dilemmas and how to learn to make better choices. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Liberty Mutual Insurance, making smart decisions includes considering how to protect your car in home and how much you're paying to insure them. Liberty Mutual customizes your car in home insurance to save you money because when you've worked hard for something, choosing insurance should be easy. Start your quote at libertymutual.com 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 a Sommelier 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 Defender. Even the boldest journey starts small, with a single decision to go somewhere new. The Defender 110 is a vehicle built for those moments for drivers capable of great things, whether they're headed toward uncharted territory or just a weekend away.
Transcription truncated.
We all face tough decisions in life, whether we're juggling the demands of work and family or deciding whether to take a new job. These situations often feel like either/or choices. But psychologist Wendy Smith says this binary way of confronting dilemmas contains a trap. She offers a different way to think about difficult choices, one that opens up unexpected possibilities.