In this episode of the 'SuperPsyched' podcast, Dr. Adam Dorsay interviews Dr. Hal Hershfield, a UCLA professor and author of 'Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today.' They discuss the critical importance of building a relationship with your future self, the psychological mechanisms behind procrastination, and practical exercises for better future-oriented decision-making. Through thought experiments and personal anecdotes, the conversation reveals how perspective taking and understanding the future impact of our current decisions can lead to greater life satisfaction and wellbeing. The episode also touches upon the importance of balancing present enjoyment with future planning and includes insights on how these concepts can benefit not just individuals but collective units like families and organizations.
00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched
00:28 Meet Your Future Self
01:13 Interview with Dr. Hal Hershfield
02:47 Defining the Future Self
03:40 Thought Experiments and Their Impact
05:28 Daily Exercises for Future Self Connection
08:43 Balancing Present and Future Investments
10:35 Personal Reflections and Decisions
13:44 Navigating Life's Tough Choices
19:25 The Importance of Quality Questions
20:50 Relating to Our Future Selves
25:31 Understanding Procrastination
29:13 Collective Future Selves
33:00 The Power of Perspective Taking
35:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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