Ted Talks Daily – You don’t actually know what your future self wants | TED Business

Intro

In this episode of Ted Talks Daily, the speaker explores the idea that our future selves may not be the same as our current selves. He discusses the illusion of continuity and the impact it can have on our decision-making. Through thought-provoking examples and insights, he encourages listeners to be proactive in shaping their future selves and to embrace the possibility of change.

Main Takeaways

Assuming Continuity

• We tend to assume that our future selves will share the same views, perspectives, and hopes as our current selves.
• We often imagine that we will be the same people in the future, even though we can see how much we have changed in the past.
• The illusion of continuity can prevent us from fully considering the impact of our future selves on our present decisions.

Unpredictability of the Future

• It’s hard to know what the future will hold, and our lives can turn out very differently than we expect.
• Our experiences and circumstances can shape and change us in ways we can’t predict.
• Our future emotions can also be unpredictable, and we should be open to the possibility of change.

Consequences of the Illusion

• This illusion of continuity can have profound consequences, especially in matters involving life and death.
• The story of John and Stephanie Rinker illustrates this point: Stephanie had always said she would not want to be kept alive by machines if she had a terminal illness, but when the time came, she asked to be put on a ventilator.
• Advanced directives can help in legal situations, but not necessarily ethical ones.

Crafting Our Future Selves

• We can be more proactive in crafting the people we want to become by setting goals and taking actions to achieve them.
• Be the curator and architect of your future self by expanding your horizons and spending time on new advocations and pursuits.
• Our future selves will have capacities and strengths that we do not possess today, so be brave and don’t limit yourself.

Poor Emotional Forecasting

• We are ineffective at predicting our emotions, often overestimating their intensity and long-term impact.
• We can misforecast our future emotional reactions based on poor recall of past events.
• We adjust our thoughts and feelings in response to big events, both consciously and unconsciously.

Summary

The Illusion of Continuity

Our tendency to assume that our future selves will be the same as our current selves can lead to poor decision-making and a lack of consideration for the impact of our future selves. This illusion of continuity can have profound consequences, as seen in the story of John and Stephanie Rinker. Stephanie’s change of heart regarding life support highlights the unpredictability of our future emotions and perspectives. To overcome this illusion, we should be proactive in shaping our future selves and be open to the possibility of change.

Crafting Our Future Selves

By setting goals and taking actions to achieve them, we can actively shape the people we want to become. Being the curator and architect of our future selves involves expanding our horizons, exploring new advocations, and not limiting ourselves based on our current capacities. Embracing change and being brave in pursuing new paths can lead to a future self that we can be proud of.

Poor Emotional Forecasting

We are often ineffective at predicting our future emotional reactions. Our tendency to overestimate the intensity and long-term impact of emotions can lead to misforecasting. Our thoughts and feelings can also be influenced by big events, causing us to adjust our emotional responses. To overcome this, we should be curious about who we are now and show humility about our poor forecasting abilities. Taking the initial step to discover what our present selves find enjoyable could lead to something bigger and better in the future.

Conclusion

Our future selves may not be the same as our current selves, and it’s important to acknowledge and embrace this fact. By being proactive in shaping our future selves, considering the impact of our future selves on our present decisions, and practicing humility in our views and emotions, we can create a future self that aligns with our aspirations and values. Stay curious, practice humility, and be brave in shaping a future self you’ll be proud of.