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Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today
Set your future self up for success with the “fascinating, profound, and immediately practical guide to shaping your life to come, while living more richly in the moment."―Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks
We've all had the desire to travel through time and see what our lives will be like later in life. But while we want the best possible future for ourselves, we often fail to make decisions that would truly make that version of the future a Based on over a decade of groundbreaking research, Your Future Self is the “entertaining and powerful book” (Carol Dweck, author of Mindset ) that explains that in our minds, our future selves often look like strangers. Many of us view the future as incredibly distant, making us more likely to opt for immediate gratification that disregards our health and well-being in the years to come. People who are able to connect with their future selves, however, are better able to balance living for today and planning for tomorrow. “Mind-boggling and soul-stirring” (Daniel H. Pink, author of The Power of Regret ), Your Future Self describes the mental mistakes we make in thinking about the future and gives us practical advice for imagining our best future so we can make that vision a reality.
We've all had the desire to travel through time and see what our lives will be like later in life. But while we want the best possible future for ourselves, we often fail to make decisions that would truly make that version of the future a Based on over a decade of groundbreaking research, Your Future Self is the “entertaining and powerful book” (Carol Dweck, author of Mindset ) that explains that in our minds, our future selves often look like strangers. Many of us view the future as incredibly distant, making us more likely to opt for immediate gratification that disregards our health and well-being in the years to come. People who are able to connect with their future selves, however, are better able to balance living for today and planning for tomorrow. “Mind-boggling and soul-stirring” (Daniel H. Pink, author of The Power of Regret ), Your Future Self describes the mental mistakes we make in thinking about the future and gives us practical advice for imagining our best future so we can make that vision a reality.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published June 6, 2023
241 people are currently reading
3824 people want to read
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July 6, 2023
I read a good review about this book but to me, it was disappointing.
I like (and support) the concept of thinking about the future self I want to create in order to better define and motivate the actions I take today.
However, the book was quite repetitive and it seemed to concentrate on a future self that would not be too fat, too poor or too lonely: like how to think about the future you in order to avoid the worst case scenarios that eating too much, smoking, not exercising and not saving might lead to...
But what about dreams, goals and constructive projects ?
I hate to think of a future me that would be so limited in reach. I want a future self whose purpose in not only avoiding bad outcomes but also creating anew and growing, and I feel this book fails to address that side of the future self.
I like (and support) the concept of thinking about the future self I want to create in order to better define and motivate the actions I take today.
However, the book was quite repetitive and it seemed to concentrate on a future self that would not be too fat, too poor or too lonely: like how to think about the future you in order to avoid the worst case scenarios that eating too much, smoking, not exercising and not saving might lead to...
But what about dreams, goals and constructive projects ?
I hate to think of a future me that would be so limited in reach. I want a future self whose purpose in not only avoiding bad outcomes but also creating anew and growing, and I feel this book fails to address that side of the future self.
August 4, 2023
Gave me lots to ponder on and also some concrete practical advice. When you are younger you can blow off future you a lot more easily. There are fewer repercussions. Now that I'm in my mid fifties, it's dawning on me that choices I make now are going to dramatically impact the final third of my life(assuming I'm not hit by a bus tomorrow).
I want to stay healthy and independent as long as possible. I don't want to lose all my teeth. I don't want to get dementia. I don't want to be trapped alone in a small apartment with no friends or family or money. Therefore, I need to exercise and eat right. I need to keep learning new things. I need to floss daily. I need to save money. I need to keep my relationships with others strong.
The million dolla r question is how? People know what they want their futures to look like. They know a lot of the steps that need to be taken to get there. So why is it so hard? Why do we sabotage ourselves? That's what this book explores.
All the Quotes!
In the span of a few seconds, our thoughts can careen back and forth from the present into the near or far future, back to the present, then to the past, and back to the distant future, in what's known as mental time travel. Our skill at such time travel may be "the defining property of human intelligence."
The 3 common time-travel "mistakes" we make - we "miss our flights," or get overly anchored on present-day concerns, failing to consider the future at all. We engage in "poor trip planning,' thinking ahead in some surface-level way, without deeply considering what the future will look like. And finally, we "pack the wrong clothes," relying too much on our present self's feelings and circumstances and projecting them onto a future self who might not feel the same way.
instead of there being a central self at our core, we are instead an aggregation of separate, distinct selves. You are actually a we.
How many parts of us need to change before we become someone else? ARE YOU THE SAME NOW AS WHEN YOU WERE EIGHT? Most of us, I'd bet, believe that we are who we are; surface-level characteristics may get altered, but not our "core" selves.
Most people change in terms of how conscientious and how emotionally stable they are as they grow older. But there are significant differences across people: some change a great deal, some not very much, if at all.
We have five core personality traits-openness to new experiences, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism-and most people show significant change in one of them across ten years.
If you feel a strong connection between your present and future selves-even though your present self is different from your past self, and your future self will be different from who you are today- you are much more likely to perform the hard work of self-improvement.
What matters is your memory. So, if you're thirty-five years old, you contain the "you" of today and the version of you when you were fifteen. Those two versions share an identity because the later
person can remember the earlier person's thoughts and actions.
What makes us stay who we are-or become different people altogether- is our sense of a "moral self." Whether a person is kind or biting, empathetic or callous, polite or brusque...When these moral traits are fundamentally altered, our relationships seem to be altered, too. When core moral traits remain intact, even if many other things change, we can see a thread of continuity in people. It's why we see some people as maintaining a sense of sameness over time, but recognize complete change in others.
we can never really know our future selves. Even with the very best time-travel efforts, it may be impossible to know what these distant versions of us will feel and think. It's not just that we can't know what our day-to-day lives will be like. Rather, we can't know what we will think and feel, since those thoughts and feelings may change drastically once we turn into our future selves.
Rather than a single constant self- a stable identity - maybe we are really more of a collection of separate selves. What matters is the sense of connection that each separate self has with the others. Each successive self has a lot in common with the one before it and the one after it. But with enough distance between selves-that is, with enough distance over time-we start to lose some of those connections. And at some point, with a lot of distance-a large expanse of time-long-ago past selves or faraway future selves may seem like strangers to us. They may seem like different people altogether.
It's understandable to not diet, save, or exercise for those temporally distant strangers, especially when we have this very vivid present self who is hungry and lazy and really wants that new iPhone.
We treat strangers differently than we treat ourselves, often failing to consider their interests. If our future selves seem like strangers, it's no wonder we so often do things today that we then regret tomorrow.
Patients are asked to write about both what matters most to them now and what they think will matter at the end of their lives, as well as how they want to be remembered by their families. Doing so has allowed patients to more completely express their preferences to their doctors.
We pay a great deal of attention to the present. The here and now tends to consume our mental bandwidth, blocking out thoughts of the future
Procrastination isn't just about putting something off until tomorrow that you could just as easily take care of today. It's also about knowing that even as you delay, you're harming yourself. When we decide not to do something, we prioritize our present self's desire to avoid negative emotions. We're failing to consider how much our future self will want to avoid the same negative emotions that we're trying to avoid right now. Those who feel more of a sense of similarity and emotional connection with their future selves are also the least likely to needlessly delay tasks they set out to do.
recognize procrastination for what it is: a desire to have our future selves do the things our present selves want to avoid...When I have empathy for my future self -he's going to be under enormous amounts of stress -I think let's just do this thing now.
procrastination is a battle between our past, current, and future selves.
There are a lot of negative emotions associated with your procrastination. You probably feel bad that you have yet again failed to take care of the mess, and maybe that makes you think of other times you've failed to follow through on a promise either to yourself or to someone else. You're possibly also feeling a growing sense of sham e in front of others and, irrational as it may be, some resentment toward them. A great way to avoid those negative emotions is just to avoid the thing altogether!
forgiving a past version of yourself for procrastinating may make it more likely that you'll approach-rather than avoid-your bills, the doctor's appointment you need to schedule, those unanswered emails, and yes, that pile of paper...if you forgive yourself for procrastinating but don't genuinely accept blame, then you're robbing yourself of an opportunity to address the causes of your procrastination head-on and it most likely won't result in any change in future behavior. If you want your future self's life to improve, then Current You needs to genuinely accept responsibility for your past self's mistakes
When you're not in an emotional state, it can be difficult to appreciate how you'll feel or behave when you are in one. But when you are in the grip of powerful emotions it's hard to imagine not being in their throes - it may feel as though you always have and always will be in that state.
we use the emotional states of our current selves to make decisions for future selves who will no longer feel the same way. And second, when we are anchored on less emotional states, we fail to appreciate the strong emotions that our future selves might experience
They coined the term "projection bias" to refer to our tendency to make decisions for the future based on our current emotions and drives rather than on the emotions and drives we will predictably be experiencing when those decisions go into effect.
If you feel like you've changed more from the past to the present than you anticipate changing from the present to the future, you're not alone.
Greg, like Dr. Miller's wisest patients, saw that the younger version of himself was just one patch in his quilt of selves. Just as he's changed from who he was to who he is, he'll certainly continue to change as the years unfold.
when we take a pre-commitment approach, we must engage in perspective taking and figure out what exactly will tempt future versions of ourselves. Before we set out to constrain our future courses of action, in other words, we must first appreciate that there are things in our environment that tempt us and then identify what those things are..mitment devices where tempting options are removed from your environment (like a you program) More extreme still are commitment devices where punishments are enacted if you veer off track. If possible, make the punishments automatic so that you leave no room for negotiations with yourself.
from the perspective of your present self, optimizing for your future is mostly downside: Current You makes the sacrifice but Future You reaps the (uncertain) benefits...The tension inherent in these trade-offs was perfectly captured in a quote attributed to Groucho Marx: "Why should I care about future generations-what have they ever done for me?"
When we face stressors, one option is to wallow in the negative, spending our time beating ourselves up for the things both in and out of our control. Or we can act like ostriches, burying our heads in the ground, attempting to avoid any unpleasant feelings altogether. There's a third way to respond, though, do our best to experience joy alongside the things that bring us discomfort.
by adding a measure of positive emotion to the negative, we make it easier to cope with life's stressors and push through difficult times in the present to better times in the future.
I want to stay healthy and independent as long as possible. I don't want to lose all my teeth. I don't want to get dementia. I don't want to be trapped alone in a small apartment with no friends or family or money. Therefore, I need to exercise and eat right. I need to keep learning new things. I need to floss daily. I need to save money. I need to keep my relationships with others strong.
The million dolla r question is how? People know what they want their futures to look like. They know a lot of the steps that need to be taken to get there. So why is it so hard? Why do we sabotage ourselves? That's what this book explores.
All the Quotes!
In the span of a few seconds, our thoughts can careen back and forth from the present into the near or far future, back to the present, then to the past, and back to the distant future, in what's known as mental time travel. Our skill at such time travel may be "the defining property of human intelligence."
The 3 common time-travel "mistakes" we make - we "miss our flights," or get overly anchored on present-day concerns, failing to consider the future at all. We engage in "poor trip planning,' thinking ahead in some surface-level way, without deeply considering what the future will look like. And finally, we "pack the wrong clothes," relying too much on our present self's feelings and circumstances and projecting them onto a future self who might not feel the same way.
instead of there being a central self at our core, we are instead an aggregation of separate, distinct selves. You are actually a we.
How many parts of us need to change before we become someone else? ARE YOU THE SAME NOW AS WHEN YOU WERE EIGHT? Most of us, I'd bet, believe that we are who we are; surface-level characteristics may get altered, but not our "core" selves.
Most people change in terms of how conscientious and how emotionally stable they are as they grow older. But there are significant differences across people: some change a great deal, some not very much, if at all.
We have five core personality traits-openness to new experiences, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism-and most people show significant change in one of them across ten years.
If you feel a strong connection between your present and future selves-even though your present self is different from your past self, and your future self will be different from who you are today- you are much more likely to perform the hard work of self-improvement.
What matters is your memory. So, if you're thirty-five years old, you contain the "you" of today and the version of you when you were fifteen. Those two versions share an identity because the later
person can remember the earlier person's thoughts and actions.
What makes us stay who we are-or become different people altogether- is our sense of a "moral self." Whether a person is kind or biting, empathetic or callous, polite or brusque...When these moral traits are fundamentally altered, our relationships seem to be altered, too. When core moral traits remain intact, even if many other things change, we can see a thread of continuity in people. It's why we see some people as maintaining a sense of sameness over time, but recognize complete change in others.
we can never really know our future selves. Even with the very best time-travel efforts, it may be impossible to know what these distant versions of us will feel and think. It's not just that we can't know what our day-to-day lives will be like. Rather, we can't know what we will think and feel, since those thoughts and feelings may change drastically once we turn into our future selves.
Rather than a single constant self- a stable identity - maybe we are really more of a collection of separate selves. What matters is the sense of connection that each separate self has with the others. Each successive self has a lot in common with the one before it and the one after it. But with enough distance between selves-that is, with enough distance over time-we start to lose some of those connections. And at some point, with a lot of distance-a large expanse of time-long-ago past selves or faraway future selves may seem like strangers to us. They may seem like different people altogether.
It's understandable to not diet, save, or exercise for those temporally distant strangers, especially when we have this very vivid present self who is hungry and lazy and really wants that new iPhone.
We treat strangers differently than we treat ourselves, often failing to consider their interests. If our future selves seem like strangers, it's no wonder we so often do things today that we then regret tomorrow.
Patients are asked to write about both what matters most to them now and what they think will matter at the end of their lives, as well as how they want to be remembered by their families. Doing so has allowed patients to more completely express their preferences to their doctors.
We pay a great deal of attention to the present. The here and now tends to consume our mental bandwidth, blocking out thoughts of the future
Procrastination isn't just about putting something off until tomorrow that you could just as easily take care of today. It's also about knowing that even as you delay, you're harming yourself. When we decide not to do something, we prioritize our present self's desire to avoid negative emotions. We're failing to consider how much our future self will want to avoid the same negative emotions that we're trying to avoid right now. Those who feel more of a sense of similarity and emotional connection with their future selves are also the least likely to needlessly delay tasks they set out to do.
recognize procrastination for what it is: a desire to have our future selves do the things our present selves want to avoid...When I have empathy for my future self -he's going to be under enormous amounts of stress -I think let's just do this thing now.
procrastination is a battle between our past, current, and future selves.
There are a lot of negative emotions associated with your procrastination. You probably feel bad that you have yet again failed to take care of the mess, and maybe that makes you think of other times you've failed to follow through on a promise either to yourself or to someone else. You're possibly also feeling a growing sense of sham e in front of others and, irrational as it may be, some resentment toward them. A great way to avoid those negative emotions is just to avoid the thing altogether!
forgiving a past version of yourself for procrastinating may make it more likely that you'll approach-rather than avoid-your bills, the doctor's appointment you need to schedule, those unanswered emails, and yes, that pile of paper...if you forgive yourself for procrastinating but don't genuinely accept blame, then you're robbing yourself of an opportunity to address the causes of your procrastination head-on and it most likely won't result in any change in future behavior. If you want your future self's life to improve, then Current You needs to genuinely accept responsibility for your past self's mistakes
When you're not in an emotional state, it can be difficult to appreciate how you'll feel or behave when you are in one. But when you are in the grip of powerful emotions it's hard to imagine not being in their throes - it may feel as though you always have and always will be in that state.
we use the emotional states of our current selves to make decisions for future selves who will no longer feel the same way. And second, when we are anchored on less emotional states, we fail to appreciate the strong emotions that our future selves might experience
They coined the term "projection bias" to refer to our tendency to make decisions for the future based on our current emotions and drives rather than on the emotions and drives we will predictably be experiencing when those decisions go into effect.
If you feel like you've changed more from the past to the present than you anticipate changing from the present to the future, you're not alone.
Greg, like Dr. Miller's wisest patients, saw that the younger version of himself was just one patch in his quilt of selves. Just as he's changed from who he was to who he is, he'll certainly continue to change as the years unfold.
when we take a pre-commitment approach, we must engage in perspective taking and figure out what exactly will tempt future versions of ourselves. Before we set out to constrain our future courses of action, in other words, we must first appreciate that there are things in our environment that tempt us and then identify what those things are..mitment devices where tempting options are removed from your environment (like a you program) More extreme still are commitment devices where punishments are enacted if you veer off track. If possible, make the punishments automatic so that you leave no room for negotiations with yourself.
from the perspective of your present self, optimizing for your future is mostly downside: Current You makes the sacrifice but Future You reaps the (uncertain) benefits...The tension inherent in these trade-offs was perfectly captured in a quote attributed to Groucho Marx: "Why should I care about future generations-what have they ever done for me?"
When we face stressors, one option is to wallow in the negative, spending our time beating ourselves up for the things both in and out of our control. Or we can act like ostriches, burying our heads in the ground, attempting to avoid any unpleasant feelings altogether. There's a third way to respond, though, do our best to experience joy alongside the things that bring us discomfort.
by adding a measure of positive emotion to the negative, we make it easier to cope with life's stressors and push through difficult times in the present to better times in the future.
October 16, 2023
It's mostly just annoying descriptions of pop-psychology studies, but it had a few nice tidbits throughout, that might turn into real actions I take to improve my life: tips to help delay gratification, plan for the future, and generally make things better for "future me".
A few take-aways: (really just private notes, but you are welcome to read them!)
We don't really know our future selves, because when we become them, our thoughts and feelings will have changed in ways we couldn't anticipate. Past-"Will' thinking about becoming a dad couldn't possibly know what it would be like to be me.
Strengthening your connection to your future self can boost your willingness to take more actions on your future self's behalf, in the same way we are more willing to take such actions for close friends and family members, but maybe not mere acquaintances.
Hyperbolic time discounting is irrational. When asked both "Would you prefer a dollar today or three dollars tomorrow?" or "Would you prefer a dollar in one year or three dollars in one year and one day?" It has been claimed that a significant fraction of subjects will take the lesser amount today, but will gladly wait one extra day in a year in order to receive the higher amount instead. Yet if you simply wait the year, and you were asked again, scenario 2 becomes the same as scenario 1.
When we procrastinate, we are assuming that our future self won't be as annoyed, as resistant, to do the task as our current self. But experience should show us that that future self won't want to do the task any more than the present-self! ("Yes / Damn" effect of making future commitments, throwing our future selves under the bus)
-when avoiding a bad habit, find ways to simply make 1 single decision. 1 decision to not buy a case of beer is a lot better than having the case of beer, and having to make 15 different small decisions over the course of an evening to not crack a beer (every time it comes to mind). These are "commitment devices". another example: brush your teeth right after dinner so you aren't tempted to have late night snacks. Example of the KSafe to "raise the activation energy" of the bad habit.
-"Temptation bundling" (only allowing yourself to listen to the audio book if you do it while exercising".
A few take-aways: (really just private notes, but you are welcome to read them!)
We don't really know our future selves, because when we become them, our thoughts and feelings will have changed in ways we couldn't anticipate. Past-"Will' thinking about becoming a dad couldn't possibly know what it would be like to be me.
Strengthening your connection to your future self can boost your willingness to take more actions on your future self's behalf, in the same way we are more willing to take such actions for close friends and family members, but maybe not mere acquaintances.
Hyperbolic time discounting is irrational. When asked both "Would you prefer a dollar today or three dollars tomorrow?" or "Would you prefer a dollar in one year or three dollars in one year and one day?" It has been claimed that a significant fraction of subjects will take the lesser amount today, but will gladly wait one extra day in a year in order to receive the higher amount instead. Yet if you simply wait the year, and you were asked again, scenario 2 becomes the same as scenario 1.
When we procrastinate, we are assuming that our future self won't be as annoyed, as resistant, to do the task as our current self. But experience should show us that that future self won't want to do the task any more than the present-self! ("Yes / Damn" effect of making future commitments, throwing our future selves under the bus)
-when avoiding a bad habit, find ways to simply make 1 single decision. 1 decision to not buy a case of beer is a lot better than having the case of beer, and having to make 15 different small decisions over the course of an evening to not crack a beer (every time it comes to mind). These are "commitment devices". another example: brush your teeth right after dinner so you aren't tempted to have late night snacks. Example of the KSafe to "raise the activation energy" of the bad habit.
-"Temptation bundling" (only allowing yourself to listen to the audio book if you do it while exercising".
June 6, 2023
This is a phenomenal and important book that explains so many of the strange things people do when they privilege right now over the rest of their lives. I loved the blend of science and narrative--a great read all round. Highly recommended.
August 23, 2023
Unlock the key to better decision-making, heightened motivation, and a healthier relationship with the person you'll become.
Picture this: You're having coffee with a stranger. This individual knows everything about you – all your little habits, every decision you've ever made, the paths you've taken, and even your deepest secrets. You, however, know nothing about this stranger. Who is this person? Well, it’s you – just ten years in the future.
Now, how would this meeting affect your actions today? Would you think twice before downing that extra piece of cake, knowing the impact it might have on your future health? Would you reconsider that impulse buy, understanding the financial strain it may put on your future self?
Our lives are a ceaseless evolution, each day propelling us into the future – a future inhabited by a version of us that can feel alien and detached from our present selves. This divergence often results in decisions that may gratify our current selves, but leave our future selves reeling. Yet, we persist, driven by an innate focus on immediate satisfaction, largely ignoring the looming shadows of the future.
But what if we could bridge this temporal chasm? What if we could cultivate an empathetic bond with our future selves, shaping our decisions today to ensure a more prosperous tomorrow? In this book you will embark on a riveting exploration into the depths of self-perception, identity, and the fascinating interplay between our present and future selves. This journey will offer insights into the human psyche, while empowering you to harness the connection with your future self – thereby fostering decisions that favor not only the you of today, but also the you of tomorrow.
-
Can we transform our core selves?
Take a moment to reflect on the tale of Pedro Rodrigues Filho, a man born into brutality, bearing a dented skull from his father's beatings. Rodrigues Filho, who died in 2023, was a serial killer who had murdered 71 people by 1985. Yet his story didn't end in a prison cell. He started working out, learned to read and write, and in 2007, thanks to a legal loophole, walked out of prison a free man. He began waking up at 4 a.m. daily, abstained from drugs and alcohol, shared inspirational stories on YouTube, and counseled young criminals, swearing that he was repulsed by his former self and considering himself reborn. It compels us to ask: Can we fundamentally change who we are?
Think about your sense of self. Imagine that every cell in your body was replaced over time, but you retained your memories. Would you still be you? What if your mind and memories were replaced by someone else's? How many parts of you need to change before you're considered a new entity?
Reflect on your own life. Surely, certain traits have persisted since you were a child. However, your experiences have also shaped you, your body has transformed, and even your memories have evolved.
Philosophy alone can't solve this riddle. The everyday world, as seen in a study by Professor Nina Strohminger, provides a different lens. She asked caregivers of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and ALS whether the people they were caring for still felt the same to them. Interestingly, despite their failing bodies, the ALS patients, with their intact minds, were seen as more “themselves” than the Alzheimer's patients, whose memories were fading. But the real twist came when Strohminger spoke to caregivers of people with frontotemporal dementia, a condition that leaves the body and memories intact but impairs the ability to act morally or ethically. These patients were perceived as the most alien, suggesting that our moral selves could indeed define our true identity.
So, reflecting on Pedro Rodrigues Filho, did he indeed become a new person? If we consider the concept of an essential moral self, then perhaps he did. But now, let's redirect that spotlight onto ourselves. How do we view our future selves? Will we remain the same or transform into someone new? As we delve further, we'll explore this fascinating aspect of our human existence.
-
Befriending your future self
Imagine immortality – forever young and unfettered, like a vampire basking in the moonlight. Intriguing, isn't it? Yet it throws up an existential quandary. How could we be sure of who we'd be in the face of such endless existence? Just like bringing a new life into the world, every moment births a new version of "us." Our future selves, then, will forever remain enigmatic, shadowy figures in the hazy landscape of tomorrow.
Our perception of our future selves profoundly influences our current decisions. Imagine two personas – an extension of your present self and a brand-new individual. How you perceive your future self in this dichotomy will invariably color the way you act today.
Consider this – we typically act in our own self-interest. However, if we perceive our future selves as strangers, we might be less inclined to commit to healthy, helpful habits. Why say no to an extra slice of chocolate cake if it's not your waistline that'll bear the brunt, but rather that of a stranger? This detachment might also lead to indulgent spending or an inclination toward long-term debt.
When reflecting on the near future – say, your next birthday – most people are likely to use first-person pronouns, maintaining a sense of personal continuity. But when the event is 30 years away, the language shifts to the third person. One might attribute this to perception. Think of seeing two birds at a distance. Telling them apart might be challenging. Similarly, whether it's “you” a decade from now or “you” in two decades, these future selves might seem to coalesce into one nebulous figure.
Our future self is blurry, almost ghostlike, while our present self is solid, tangible. Although our future self is not literally a different person, thinking in this manner can provide insights. Sacrifices for a stranger may seem illogical, but what if you began to see your future self as a friend or loved one?
Perhaps it's time to shift perspectives. Instead of treating your future self as a distant figure, bring them closer. Consider them an ally, a friend, someone worth making sacrifices for. Maybe then, the “you” of tomorrow would seem less like a stranger and more like a loved one for whom you'd readily forgo that extra slice of cake, or reconsider rash financial decisions. After all, even if you could live forever, like a vampire in the twilight, wouldn't you want the best for all your future selves?
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Navigating choices for your future self
Imagine the metaphor of a ship, anchored steadfastly to a specific spot. Despite the beckoning horizon and the call of the open sea, it remains tethered to its mooring. In a way, we are all like that ship. We're bound by the concept of “anchoring” to our current selves and values, even when we know we should loosen the chains and sail into the future.
This metaphorical anchoring often leads us to make choices that are detrimental to our future selves. Presented with a choice between receiving $1000 in six months or $990 right now, most people would choose the immediate payout. But where is the tipping point? What amount of money would make waiting worth it?
This tendency to prioritize immediate rewards over future benefits can lead to problematic decisions, like sudden millionaires squandering their fortune. However, this picture changes when we remove the immediacy of the present. When asked to choose between $900 in a year or $1000 in eighteen months, most people display more patience and choose the larger sum.
This phenomenon is not limited to financial decisions. If asked to choose between a chocolate bar and a handful of healthy nuts to be received in a week's time, many would opt for the healthier option. The allure of instant gratification wanes when the reward isn't immediate. Is this because we find the future uncertain, sticking to the old adage of a bird in the hand being worth two in the bush?
The pull of the present is powerful because we are familiar with it. It's magnified in our perception, and time seems to compress as we look farther into the future. A day in the present feels longer than the anticipation of a day spent on a task six months from now.
Just as a caterpillar slowly morphs into a butterfly, we often overlook how the individual moments of our present accumulate to create our future. If we don't actively focus on our future selves, we risk making decisions in the present that could lead to future regret. So perhaps it's time to weigh anchor and let our future selves guide us as we navigate the sea of choices that life presents.
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Procrastination, decisions, and the journey to no regrets
Have you ever found yourself rushing to meet a deadline – like Mozart, who supposedly completed Don Giovanni at the last moment? Maybe you've crammed the night before a big exam. Procrastination is a common habit we all share. But what we often don't realize is that we're hurting our future selves by leaving tasks until the last minute. The root cause of this issue? We struggle to imagine our future selves vividly. Our inability to foresee the future clearly results in a lack of understanding about the burdens we're leaving for our future selves to bear.
But there's hope! A little forgiveness can go a long way. Forgive your past self for leaving tasks undone, and work on developing a better understanding of your future self to avoid procrastination. In doing so, you'll not only lessen the burden on your future self, but also foster a stronger connection among your past, present, and future selves.
Similarly, have you ever agreed to something scheduled for a future time, only to regret it when that time came? That's the yes/damn effect. Perhaps you've experienced this when you've RSVP'd to a party that you later dreaded attending. The yes/damn effect is a reflection of our difficulty in predicting our future emotional states – a phenomenon that's also at play when we make decisions that lead to regret.
The same goes for regret over getting a tattoo. The significance behind a tattoo may fade over time. Or a hasty decision made while one is impaired may lead to a permanent mark that's later regretted. This could be likened to packing the wrong clothes for a vacation. You know your destination is hot, but because it's cold now, you fail to pack appropriate clothing. This, once again, reveals our struggle to connect with our future selves.
This struggle can be traced back to two primary biases. First is the projection bias – our tendency to assume our future selves will feel the way we currently do. Second is the end-of-history-illusion – our belief that our personality and preferences won't change much in the future. Both of these biases cloud our judgment, leading to decisions we might regret, whether that's a tattoo we come to dislike, or a romantic relationship that ends poorly.
By understanding these biases and their impact, we can strive to make better decisions for our future selves. In the end, bridging the gap between our present and future selves will help us make choices that we won't come to regret later. Remember, the key to good decision-making is a clear and empathetic understanding of your future self.
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Strategies for balancing the present and future
Imagine running into your future self, only to discover you are dissatisfied, trapped in a failing marriage, and in failing health. The question then becomes, how can you prevent such a future? How can you shape yourself into the best version of you possible? This journey begins by making your future self feel nearer, more tangible, and more real.
Scientific studies suggest that we're more likely to assist a needy family if told the family has already been selected, as they seem more identifiable, more real. This approach can also be adopted for self-improvement. By composing a letter to your future self or crafting a time capsule, you make your future persona tangible, compelling you to make decisions beneficial for them.
You can also try a mental exercise: visualize your future, and then mentally travel back to the present. When contemplating the future, use days instead of years as your unit of time – a perspective that's easier to comprehend and operationalize. However, merely visualizing the future isn't sufficient. Afterwards, taking concrete steps and making firm commitments are necessary as well. For example, procuring a 30-session gym membership signals your commitment to fitness.
Yet relying solely on willpower isn't always effective. Sometimes it's better to completely eliminate distractions for your future self. For instance, you could lock your phone in a timed safe to help ensure a period of undistracted work, thereby working in your future self's favor.
Adding instant punishments for unwanted behaviors is also a powerful motivator – like imposing a fine on yourself if you miss a workout. The sting of an immediate loss will then prompt you to act in your future self's best interest.
But shaping a better future doesn't just involve hard choices and sacrifices; it also means making your present more enjoyable. If a task is difficult or unappealing, pair it with something enjoyable. Why not listen to an engaging audiobook while working out, or watch an intriguing YouTube video while brushing your teeth? These are simple modifications that can make mundane or challenging tasks more bearable.
When facing an overwhelming task, like a hefty debt, break it down into smaller, manageable payments. It’s a more approachable strategy and easier on your current self, while still benefiting your future self.
Learning to balance the needs of the present with those of the future is key in this journey. By using some of these strategies, you can construct a bridge to a future where the best version of yourself awaits. It's a careful balancing act, but one that can lead to a fulfilling future.
-
Understanding and fostering a relationship with your future self can profoundly affect your present decisions, prompting you to act in ways that align with the best interests of your future self.
Despite the innate capacity for transformation, recognizing and embracing your future self can prove challenging due to perceived distance and lack of tangible connection. This often leads to an emphasis on immediate needs, sometimes at the expense of future well-being.
However, strategies such as visualization, time framing, tangible commitments, immediate consequences for unwanted behaviors, and enhancing the enjoyment of tasks can bridge the gap, nurturing a healthier relationship with your future self. In doing so, you can encourage decisions that promote a more fulfilling future.
Picture this: You're having coffee with a stranger. This individual knows everything about you – all your little habits, every decision you've ever made, the paths you've taken, and even your deepest secrets. You, however, know nothing about this stranger. Who is this person? Well, it’s you – just ten years in the future.
Now, how would this meeting affect your actions today? Would you think twice before downing that extra piece of cake, knowing the impact it might have on your future health? Would you reconsider that impulse buy, understanding the financial strain it may put on your future self?
Our lives are a ceaseless evolution, each day propelling us into the future – a future inhabited by a version of us that can feel alien and detached from our present selves. This divergence often results in decisions that may gratify our current selves, but leave our future selves reeling. Yet, we persist, driven by an innate focus on immediate satisfaction, largely ignoring the looming shadows of the future.
But what if we could bridge this temporal chasm? What if we could cultivate an empathetic bond with our future selves, shaping our decisions today to ensure a more prosperous tomorrow? In this book you will embark on a riveting exploration into the depths of self-perception, identity, and the fascinating interplay between our present and future selves. This journey will offer insights into the human psyche, while empowering you to harness the connection with your future self – thereby fostering decisions that favor not only the you of today, but also the you of tomorrow.
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Can we transform our core selves?
Take a moment to reflect on the tale of Pedro Rodrigues Filho, a man born into brutality, bearing a dented skull from his father's beatings. Rodrigues Filho, who died in 2023, was a serial killer who had murdered 71 people by 1985. Yet his story didn't end in a prison cell. He started working out, learned to read and write, and in 2007, thanks to a legal loophole, walked out of prison a free man. He began waking up at 4 a.m. daily, abstained from drugs and alcohol, shared inspirational stories on YouTube, and counseled young criminals, swearing that he was repulsed by his former self and considering himself reborn. It compels us to ask: Can we fundamentally change who we are?
Think about your sense of self. Imagine that every cell in your body was replaced over time, but you retained your memories. Would you still be you? What if your mind and memories were replaced by someone else's? How many parts of you need to change before you're considered a new entity?
Reflect on your own life. Surely, certain traits have persisted since you were a child. However, your experiences have also shaped you, your body has transformed, and even your memories have evolved.
Philosophy alone can't solve this riddle. The everyday world, as seen in a study by Professor Nina Strohminger, provides a different lens. She asked caregivers of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and ALS whether the people they were caring for still felt the same to them. Interestingly, despite their failing bodies, the ALS patients, with their intact minds, were seen as more “themselves” than the Alzheimer's patients, whose memories were fading. But the real twist came when Strohminger spoke to caregivers of people with frontotemporal dementia, a condition that leaves the body and memories intact but impairs the ability to act morally or ethically. These patients were perceived as the most alien, suggesting that our moral selves could indeed define our true identity.
So, reflecting on Pedro Rodrigues Filho, did he indeed become a new person? If we consider the concept of an essential moral self, then perhaps he did. But now, let's redirect that spotlight onto ourselves. How do we view our future selves? Will we remain the same or transform into someone new? As we delve further, we'll explore this fascinating aspect of our human existence.
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Befriending your future self
Imagine immortality – forever young and unfettered, like a vampire basking in the moonlight. Intriguing, isn't it? Yet it throws up an existential quandary. How could we be sure of who we'd be in the face of such endless existence? Just like bringing a new life into the world, every moment births a new version of "us." Our future selves, then, will forever remain enigmatic, shadowy figures in the hazy landscape of tomorrow.
Our perception of our future selves profoundly influences our current decisions. Imagine two personas – an extension of your present self and a brand-new individual. How you perceive your future self in this dichotomy will invariably color the way you act today.
Consider this – we typically act in our own self-interest. However, if we perceive our future selves as strangers, we might be less inclined to commit to healthy, helpful habits. Why say no to an extra slice of chocolate cake if it's not your waistline that'll bear the brunt, but rather that of a stranger? This detachment might also lead to indulgent spending or an inclination toward long-term debt.
When reflecting on the near future – say, your next birthday – most people are likely to use first-person pronouns, maintaining a sense of personal continuity. But when the event is 30 years away, the language shifts to the third person. One might attribute this to perception. Think of seeing two birds at a distance. Telling them apart might be challenging. Similarly, whether it's “you” a decade from now or “you” in two decades, these future selves might seem to coalesce into one nebulous figure.
Our future self is blurry, almost ghostlike, while our present self is solid, tangible. Although our future self is not literally a different person, thinking in this manner can provide insights. Sacrifices for a stranger may seem illogical, but what if you began to see your future self as a friend or loved one?
Perhaps it's time to shift perspectives. Instead of treating your future self as a distant figure, bring them closer. Consider them an ally, a friend, someone worth making sacrifices for. Maybe then, the “you” of tomorrow would seem less like a stranger and more like a loved one for whom you'd readily forgo that extra slice of cake, or reconsider rash financial decisions. After all, even if you could live forever, like a vampire in the twilight, wouldn't you want the best for all your future selves?
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Navigating choices for your future self
Imagine the metaphor of a ship, anchored steadfastly to a specific spot. Despite the beckoning horizon and the call of the open sea, it remains tethered to its mooring. In a way, we are all like that ship. We're bound by the concept of “anchoring” to our current selves and values, even when we know we should loosen the chains and sail into the future.
This metaphorical anchoring often leads us to make choices that are detrimental to our future selves. Presented with a choice between receiving $1000 in six months or $990 right now, most people would choose the immediate payout. But where is the tipping point? What amount of money would make waiting worth it?
This tendency to prioritize immediate rewards over future benefits can lead to problematic decisions, like sudden millionaires squandering their fortune. However, this picture changes when we remove the immediacy of the present. When asked to choose between $900 in a year or $1000 in eighteen months, most people display more patience and choose the larger sum.
This phenomenon is not limited to financial decisions. If asked to choose between a chocolate bar and a handful of healthy nuts to be received in a week's time, many would opt for the healthier option. The allure of instant gratification wanes when the reward isn't immediate. Is this because we find the future uncertain, sticking to the old adage of a bird in the hand being worth two in the bush?
The pull of the present is powerful because we are familiar with it. It's magnified in our perception, and time seems to compress as we look farther into the future. A day in the present feels longer than the anticipation of a day spent on a task six months from now.
Just as a caterpillar slowly morphs into a butterfly, we often overlook how the individual moments of our present accumulate to create our future. If we don't actively focus on our future selves, we risk making decisions in the present that could lead to future regret. So perhaps it's time to weigh anchor and let our future selves guide us as we navigate the sea of choices that life presents.
-
Procrastination, decisions, and the journey to no regrets
Have you ever found yourself rushing to meet a deadline – like Mozart, who supposedly completed Don Giovanni at the last moment? Maybe you've crammed the night before a big exam. Procrastination is a common habit we all share. But what we often don't realize is that we're hurting our future selves by leaving tasks until the last minute. The root cause of this issue? We struggle to imagine our future selves vividly. Our inability to foresee the future clearly results in a lack of understanding about the burdens we're leaving for our future selves to bear.
But there's hope! A little forgiveness can go a long way. Forgive your past self for leaving tasks undone, and work on developing a better understanding of your future self to avoid procrastination. In doing so, you'll not only lessen the burden on your future self, but also foster a stronger connection among your past, present, and future selves.
Similarly, have you ever agreed to something scheduled for a future time, only to regret it when that time came? That's the yes/damn effect. Perhaps you've experienced this when you've RSVP'd to a party that you later dreaded attending. The yes/damn effect is a reflection of our difficulty in predicting our future emotional states – a phenomenon that's also at play when we make decisions that lead to regret.
The same goes for regret over getting a tattoo. The significance behind a tattoo may fade over time. Or a hasty decision made while one is impaired may lead to a permanent mark that's later regretted. This could be likened to packing the wrong clothes for a vacation. You know your destination is hot, but because it's cold now, you fail to pack appropriate clothing. This, once again, reveals our struggle to connect with our future selves.
This struggle can be traced back to two primary biases. First is the projection bias – our tendency to assume our future selves will feel the way we currently do. Second is the end-of-history-illusion – our belief that our personality and preferences won't change much in the future. Both of these biases cloud our judgment, leading to decisions we might regret, whether that's a tattoo we come to dislike, or a romantic relationship that ends poorly.
By understanding these biases and their impact, we can strive to make better decisions for our future selves. In the end, bridging the gap between our present and future selves will help us make choices that we won't come to regret later. Remember, the key to good decision-making is a clear and empathetic understanding of your future self.
-
Strategies for balancing the present and future
Imagine running into your future self, only to discover you are dissatisfied, trapped in a failing marriage, and in failing health. The question then becomes, how can you prevent such a future? How can you shape yourself into the best version of you possible? This journey begins by making your future self feel nearer, more tangible, and more real.
Scientific studies suggest that we're more likely to assist a needy family if told the family has already been selected, as they seem more identifiable, more real. This approach can also be adopted for self-improvement. By composing a letter to your future self or crafting a time capsule, you make your future persona tangible, compelling you to make decisions beneficial for them.
You can also try a mental exercise: visualize your future, and then mentally travel back to the present. When contemplating the future, use days instead of years as your unit of time – a perspective that's easier to comprehend and operationalize. However, merely visualizing the future isn't sufficient. Afterwards, taking concrete steps and making firm commitments are necessary as well. For example, procuring a 30-session gym membership signals your commitment to fitness.
Yet relying solely on willpower isn't always effective. Sometimes it's better to completely eliminate distractions for your future self. For instance, you could lock your phone in a timed safe to help ensure a period of undistracted work, thereby working in your future self's favor.
Adding instant punishments for unwanted behaviors is also a powerful motivator – like imposing a fine on yourself if you miss a workout. The sting of an immediate loss will then prompt you to act in your future self's best interest.
But shaping a better future doesn't just involve hard choices and sacrifices; it also means making your present more enjoyable. If a task is difficult or unappealing, pair it with something enjoyable. Why not listen to an engaging audiobook while working out, or watch an intriguing YouTube video while brushing your teeth? These are simple modifications that can make mundane or challenging tasks more bearable.
When facing an overwhelming task, like a hefty debt, break it down into smaller, manageable payments. It’s a more approachable strategy and easier on your current self, while still benefiting your future self.
Learning to balance the needs of the present with those of the future is key in this journey. By using some of these strategies, you can construct a bridge to a future where the best version of yourself awaits. It's a careful balancing act, but one that can lead to a fulfilling future.
-
Understanding and fostering a relationship with your future self can profoundly affect your present decisions, prompting you to act in ways that align with the best interests of your future self.
Despite the innate capacity for transformation, recognizing and embracing your future self can prove challenging due to perceived distance and lack of tangible connection. This often leads to an emphasis on immediate needs, sometimes at the expense of future well-being.
However, strategies such as visualization, time framing, tangible commitments, immediate consequences for unwanted behaviors, and enhancing the enjoyment of tasks can bridge the gap, nurturing a healthier relationship with your future self. In doing so, you can encourage decisions that promote a more fulfilling future.
August 5, 2023
The book," Your Future Self", is an interesting concept of how we can better our lives in the now. Everyone seems to want a better life, but there are not easty to achieve this goal without examining life from the outside. " Your Future Self", is a book that addresses the communities misconceptions that most people often miss, the change shifter and power of now. Like everyone else who percieves the Self as a complex being, fully knowing that it is capable of change, working towards a betof ter Self is a great goal. Psychology we are made up actions, behaviors, and our ego. To manipulate the state of our Self we can reach self discovery and a better attitude in no time.Well reccommended to all readers
August 23, 2023
I bought the book as it had been mentioned by a few scientists I liked, including Dr Laurie Santos (Yale's Happiness guru) and David Robson (New Scientist).
I liked the book. It was an easy read and gave me many things to consider and discuss. I made about fifty notes on my Kindle edition.
I particularly liked the parts on procrastination.
There are some repetitive areas, and I found the book's overall structure lacking, so I gave it a three-star review. That said, the key highlights at the end of each chapter were helpful reminders on the way.
Be kind to your future self, and don't dump today's problems onto them. They will hate them as much as you do.
I liked the book. It was an easy read and gave me many things to consider and discuss. I made about fifty notes on my Kindle edition.
I particularly liked the parts on procrastination.
There are some repetitive areas, and I found the book's overall structure lacking, so I gave it a three-star review. That said, the key highlights at the end of each chapter were helpful reminders on the way.
Be kind to your future self, and don't dump today's problems onto them. They will hate them as much as you do.
October 24, 2023
Tons of interesting stuff in this book! But... It was roughly 80% about how/why we feel the ways we do about our future selves (basically, as entirely different people from our current selves). But, very little about what we can do today to make tomorrow better, as the subtitle boasts.
There are things you can infer from all the interesting science the author shares, but overall, I felt there was a lack of truly actionable advice.
There are things you can infer from all the interesting science the author shares, but overall, I felt there was a lack of truly actionable advice.
August 11, 2023
Behavioral psychology for motivation towards future goals in an easy to read style with entertaining examples.
August 23, 2023
This book really liked cake analogies. We could be focusing on habit stacking or finding our true identities, and the author is worried about people knowing if they eat cake; they should question if their future hips will thank them for it. Also, was the character case study on a serial killer turned free man who changed who he was (apparently) really a good choice on the topic of our core selves?
Takeaways:
- Pretend you're having conversations with your future self in 10 years; they know everything about you, you know nothing about them
- If you no longer see your future self as a stranger
- Our tendency to prioritise immediate rewards over future benefits
- Projection bias: assuming our future selves will feel the way we currently do
- End-of-history-illusion: our belief that our personality and preferences won't change much in the future
- Would you still be you if every cell in your body was replaced over time, but you retained your memories? How many parts of you need to change before you're considered a new entity?
- It is suggested that our moral selves could indeed define our true identity
- Loved the vampire reference - how can we be sure of who we'd be in an endless existence
- Our lives are a ceaseless evolution
Takeaways:
- Pretend you're having conversations with your future self in 10 years; they know everything about you, you know nothing about them
- If you no longer see your future self as a stranger
- Our tendency to prioritise immediate rewards over future benefits
- Projection bias: assuming our future selves will feel the way we currently do
- End-of-history-illusion: our belief that our personality and preferences won't change much in the future
- Would you still be you if every cell in your body was replaced over time, but you retained your memories? How many parts of you need to change before you're considered a new entity?
- It is suggested that our moral selves could indeed define our true identity
- Loved the vampire reference - how can we be sure of who we'd be in an endless existence
- Our lives are a ceaseless evolution
June 18, 2023
Perhaps the greatest super power of our brains is to predict using concepts. This is on full display as Hal Hershfield provides a cogent, entertaining, and accessible argument for the implications those concepts of our past, present, and oh-so-many flavors of future selves have on our behaviors. From philosophical to practical, he draws on decades of his own and others' scientific work in this area while showing a knack for anticipating and addressing the next logical follow-up question you might have!
March 8, 2025
Great research but as always the book version gets a bit too long.
December 17, 2025
3.5/5 very interesting thought experiment research but not many answers on what to do with this information. Basically just insight into theories about human behavior
August 14, 2023
3.5 starts
August 3, 2023
The maim idea behind the author's research and the content of the book is that the connection between our current and the future life should be made strongly so that we feel the urge to bear with moment's difficulties for expected future gains. That's we avoid delicious yet unhealthy food to protect our body, save money and invest in long term gains. The 9 chapters of the books explain the reasons making it hard to connect to our future self, tactics to deal with those obstacles and the science behind all those.
August 21, 2023
"The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future."
Herbert Spencer
When I look back at my past, I can see several versions of me that are radically different from the me that exists today. Almost every cell of my body has been replaced by new ones, old ideas have been replaced by bigger and better ones, and in general I'm a wiser and smarter person than I was. So was that Dan Connors of the past really me? Will the Dan Connors of 20 years from now still be me? And when I finally die and move on, what parts of my spirit will follow me into whatever comes next? These are some fascinating questions that are brought up by author Hal Hershfield in his new book, Your Future Self- How to Make Tomorrow Better Today.
Hal Hershfield is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA's Anderson School of Management, and this is his first book. His book tackles the important question of what determines consciousness as we grow and change, and why we have a hard time dealing with the future that we are constantly setting in motion for ourselves.
Humans have a unique ability to reflect on their life experiences and develop a distinct identity around them. We use that identity to build models of the world and plan future behavior. But for some reason we fall victim to a crippling fallacy that blinds us. There's something called the end of history illusion, in which we look backwards and recognize how far we've come, but then everything stops there. As we look into the future, we assume that not much will change and our history is pretty much complete. The unpleasant truth is that the future is uncertain, and we all crave certainty and security. So we ignore all of the things that could or would change, preferring to cling onto the things we know right now, even if we secretly think they could be a lot better.
When we look into the future, there's that person known as "future me", that we almost treat as a total stranger. And we generally don't treat strangers all that well. Why should we make painful sacrifices in the present for a person who is basically a stranger to us? This is at the heart of a lot of bad behavior and future misery for people who choose the easy path now over the more difficult path our future self needs. Why should we save money for retirement when we can spend it now? A lot of nihilistic behavior today excuses this behavior, as a significant portion of society now believes there is no future for them- either society will collapse, or God will rapture them up into the sky. In either case our future selves are being neglected at the hand of instant gratification.
Hershfield points to a wealth of behavioral economic experiments that show how people discount future rewards for current ones. Which is better $100 now or $1000 in ten years? A lot of people would grab the hundred bucks, which is part of the problem. It spills into all sorts of societal problems like crime, healthcare, education, or the environment, where simple, easy solutions are seen as better, while the harder long-term solutions are put off for a later time. He sees three major flaws in our thinking that keep us from helping out our future selves (and those of our children).
1- The time traveling error, where too much focus is put on the current self. We focus most of our attention (a scarce commodity in the age of 24/7 content and interruptions) on our current to-do list and precious little on five- or ten- year plans.
2- Poor trip planning. We somehow assume that things will be easier and better in the future, over-planning and not taking into account inevitable problems. Some people over-commit, thinking that they will have more time in the future, and many procrastinate, hoping that certain problems will just magically disappear or get fixed easily.
3- Packing the wrong clothes. We assume that conditions in the future will be roughly the same as they are now. Going on a long trip, we might pack clothes that are too hot or too cold for the climate we are headed to. We tend to avoid strong emotions, and fail to account for emotional traumas that our future selves might encounter. We see the future always through the blinders of what we feel in the present.
4- I would just add that we are really bad at predicting the future. All of the cognitive biases and information bubbles that limit us add up to unpleasant surprises for our future selves. Consider the Covid epidemic, which was entirely predictable and poorly handled.
Hirschfield ends the book with some suggestions on how to overcome these mental blocks and biases to make the future clearer so that we can treat our future selves better. There is now some age progression software that can show each of us what we will look like 20, 30, or 40 years into the future. Seeing yourself as an older person suddenly makes it more real. Artificial intelligence will make it possible to carry on a conversation with ourselves in the future and learn from them. That person in 20 years will be a direct reflection of many of the decisions and actions that we take now. The future me projects have already had success in spurring people to contribute more to retirement accounts.
He also points to a website, Futureme.org, where people can write a letter to their future selves. They can write about goals, struggles, hopes or dreams, and then read them again at an appointed time in the future. Writing about one's self and future goals forces the brain to come out of its present-focused fog and truly contemplate how the future could evolve. There are also video apps like seeyafuture.me, that allows people to record messages for their future selves. Anything that can connect present me with future me can result in better decisions and more focus on goals.
The final tool that Hirshfield mentions is commitment devices, which are strong incentives to stay the course in a journey into the future. Commitment devices include things like bets, accountability partners, or even chemicals that make deviations more painful and successes more rewarding. There's a drug called antabuse that people can take right before drinking that makes alcohol lose its power over the body. And there's a popular website, stikk.com, that allows people to use the power of loss aversion to keep them on target for future goals. (You bet $100 that you will lose 10 pounds in a summer or they donate it to a political cause that you disagree with if you fail.)
Nowhere is the problem of present bias more dangerous than in the field of climate change. Getting rid of fossil fuels will be hard, and finding alternatives will be expensive, but the alternative is to continue to heat the atmosphere beyond the limits of human endurance by the end of the century (Also about the time most oil and gas reserves will be used up). There's been much progress on addressing climate change, but much more needs to be done, and a strong denial instinct keeps humanity from changing fast enough to prevent unprecedented warming. Books like this are helpful in seeing why humans are so present-focused, (evolved for survival in a dangerous world,) and why they are one of the only creatures on earth capable of looking into the future. (increasing complexity has made many of our most potent dangers and opportunities long-term projects)
Herbert Spencer
When I look back at my past, I can see several versions of me that are radically different from the me that exists today. Almost every cell of my body has been replaced by new ones, old ideas have been replaced by bigger and better ones, and in general I'm a wiser and smarter person than I was. So was that Dan Connors of the past really me? Will the Dan Connors of 20 years from now still be me? And when I finally die and move on, what parts of my spirit will follow me into whatever comes next? These are some fascinating questions that are brought up by author Hal Hershfield in his new book, Your Future Self- How to Make Tomorrow Better Today.
Hal Hershfield is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA's Anderson School of Management, and this is his first book. His book tackles the important question of what determines consciousness as we grow and change, and why we have a hard time dealing with the future that we are constantly setting in motion for ourselves.
Humans have a unique ability to reflect on their life experiences and develop a distinct identity around them. We use that identity to build models of the world and plan future behavior. But for some reason we fall victim to a crippling fallacy that blinds us. There's something called the end of history illusion, in which we look backwards and recognize how far we've come, but then everything stops there. As we look into the future, we assume that not much will change and our history is pretty much complete. The unpleasant truth is that the future is uncertain, and we all crave certainty and security. So we ignore all of the things that could or would change, preferring to cling onto the things we know right now, even if we secretly think they could be a lot better.
When we look into the future, there's that person known as "future me", that we almost treat as a total stranger. And we generally don't treat strangers all that well. Why should we make painful sacrifices in the present for a person who is basically a stranger to us? This is at the heart of a lot of bad behavior and future misery for people who choose the easy path now over the more difficult path our future self needs. Why should we save money for retirement when we can spend it now? A lot of nihilistic behavior today excuses this behavior, as a significant portion of society now believes there is no future for them- either society will collapse, or God will rapture them up into the sky. In either case our future selves are being neglected at the hand of instant gratification.
Hershfield points to a wealth of behavioral economic experiments that show how people discount future rewards for current ones. Which is better $100 now or $1000 in ten years? A lot of people would grab the hundred bucks, which is part of the problem. It spills into all sorts of societal problems like crime, healthcare, education, or the environment, where simple, easy solutions are seen as better, while the harder long-term solutions are put off for a later time. He sees three major flaws in our thinking that keep us from helping out our future selves (and those of our children).
1- The time traveling error, where too much focus is put on the current self. We focus most of our attention (a scarce commodity in the age of 24/7 content and interruptions) on our current to-do list and precious little on five- or ten- year plans.
2- Poor trip planning. We somehow assume that things will be easier and better in the future, over-planning and not taking into account inevitable problems. Some people over-commit, thinking that they will have more time in the future, and many procrastinate, hoping that certain problems will just magically disappear or get fixed easily.
3- Packing the wrong clothes. We assume that conditions in the future will be roughly the same as they are now. Going on a long trip, we might pack clothes that are too hot or too cold for the climate we are headed to. We tend to avoid strong emotions, and fail to account for emotional traumas that our future selves might encounter. We see the future always through the blinders of what we feel in the present.
4- I would just add that we are really bad at predicting the future. All of the cognitive biases and information bubbles that limit us add up to unpleasant surprises for our future selves. Consider the Covid epidemic, which was entirely predictable and poorly handled.
Hirschfield ends the book with some suggestions on how to overcome these mental blocks and biases to make the future clearer so that we can treat our future selves better. There is now some age progression software that can show each of us what we will look like 20, 30, or 40 years into the future. Seeing yourself as an older person suddenly makes it more real. Artificial intelligence will make it possible to carry on a conversation with ourselves in the future and learn from them. That person in 20 years will be a direct reflection of many of the decisions and actions that we take now. The future me projects have already had success in spurring people to contribute more to retirement accounts.
He also points to a website, Futureme.org, where people can write a letter to their future selves. They can write about goals, struggles, hopes or dreams, and then read them again at an appointed time in the future. Writing about one's self and future goals forces the brain to come out of its present-focused fog and truly contemplate how the future could evolve. There are also video apps like seeyafuture.me, that allows people to record messages for their future selves. Anything that can connect present me with future me can result in better decisions and more focus on goals.
The final tool that Hirshfield mentions is commitment devices, which are strong incentives to stay the course in a journey into the future. Commitment devices include things like bets, accountability partners, or even chemicals that make deviations more painful and successes more rewarding. There's a drug called antabuse that people can take right before drinking that makes alcohol lose its power over the body. And there's a popular website, stikk.com, that allows people to use the power of loss aversion to keep them on target for future goals. (You bet $100 that you will lose 10 pounds in a summer or they donate it to a political cause that you disagree with if you fail.)
Nowhere is the problem of present bias more dangerous than in the field of climate change. Getting rid of fossil fuels will be hard, and finding alternatives will be expensive, but the alternative is to continue to heat the atmosphere beyond the limits of human endurance by the end of the century (Also about the time most oil and gas reserves will be used up). There's been much progress on addressing climate change, but much more needs to be done, and a strong denial instinct keeps humanity from changing fast enough to prevent unprecedented warming. Books like this are helpful in seeing why humans are so present-focused, (evolved for survival in a dangerous world,) and why they are one of the only creatures on earth capable of looking into the future. (increasing complexity has made many of our most potent dangers and opportunities long-term projects)
May 1, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! Hershfield provides insights and stories from his extensive research as a social psychologist to help readers understand how their perceptions of their future selves affect their behavior today. The book is well-written, easy to read, and packed with actionable insights that anyone can implement. I've read a number of books trying to get at the heart of how to manage motivation and make better decisions for our future, and this book is truly a fresh approach to personal development that uses short stories with engaging tropes to illustrate the author's points. I found this book immensely helpful and an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their short-term decision-making skills to achieve longer-term goals.
July 31, 2023
This is a really good book, and I’m so glad I came across it. For years, I’ve heard of research showing that there are ways we can form better habits by considering our future selves. Hal Hershield is one of the leaders in this research, and this book has a ton of awesome studies. The issue we run into is that we make bad decisions today (like eating unhealthy foods, recklessly spending, etc), which harms us in the future. This book explains the psychological reasons as to why that happens as well as proven ways we can develop a better relationship with our future selves so we can make better decisions today.
December 1, 2023
Good read if perhaps a little long. One of those books that you think might fit into a shorter format (more than magazine but less than book?) Nonetheless, the perspective of looking at the "future" self as a separate entity is great, and especially as it relates to the many selves we may have. It's a thoughtful book that'd generate different perspectives.
Update (1 Dec 2023): I suspect this book has had a larger impact than I'd first expected. I found/find myself using the phrase "your future self will thank you" quite a bit in my conversation. That's the mark of a book that's left a mark!
Update (1 Dec 2023): I suspect this book has had a larger impact than I'd first expected. I found/find myself using the phrase "your future self will thank you" quite a bit in my conversation. That's the mark of a book that's left a mark!
July 5, 2023
This would be a good introductory book to a lot of the cognitive biases that are explained at length in other behavioral economics/psychology books. However, as someone familiar with the other mainstream books on similar topics, I found this book to be needlessly repetitive at times and, admittedly, a bit underwhelming and obvious at other parts! In any case, I did appreciate the first few chapters on empathy, moral consistency, and the irrational desire for permanence (which are the most novel parts of this book).
July 24, 2023
I'd probably best categorize Your Future Self as pop psychology -- and probably one of the better psychology books I'd recommend to general audiences. The ideas aren't particularly novel to me, a long-time reader of this genre (the thesis of the book is that the closer we align our current selves with our future selves, the better long-term choices we make), but the writing is accessible, engaging, and full of plenty of examples and life hacks. This book is likely to resonate well with anyone looking for motivation for long-term goals.
March 23, 2023
I struggled to get through this. I guess I didn't really embrace the future self idea. The concepts were explained in a lot of detail that didn't capture my interest. This might work for others but I found myself reading the chapter highlights to avoid reading all the details.
September 12, 2023
A bit of economics (in terms of human decision making), bias', and relatable examples to tie it altogether. I liked this part as an intro to the book...
Imagine running into your future self, only to discover you are dissatisfied, trapped in a failing marriage, and in failing health. The question then becomes, how can you prevent such a future? How can you shape yourself into the best version of you possible?
Despite the innate capacity for transformation, recognizing and embracing your future self can prove challenging due to perceived distance and lack of tangible connection. This often leads to an emphasis on immediate needs, sometimes at the expense of future well-being.
However, strategies such as visualization, time framing, tangible commitments, immediate consequences for unwanted behaviors, and enhancing the enjoyment of tasks can bridge the gap, nurturing a healthier relationship with your future self. In doing so, you can encourage decisions that promote a more fulfilling future.
Diamonds discovered:
- Our future self is blurry, almost ghostlike, while our present self is solid, tangible. Although our future self is not literally a different person, thinking in this manner can provide insights. Sacrifices for a stranger may seem illogical, but what if you began to see your future self as a friend or loved one?
Perhaps it's time to shift perspectives. Instead of treating your future self as a distant figure, bring them closer. Consider them an ally, a friend, someone worth making sacrifices for.
- If asked to choose between a chocolate bar and a handful of healthy nuts to be received in a week's time, many would opt for the healthier option. The allure of instant gratification wanes when the reward isn't immediate. The pull of the present is powerful because we are familiar with it. It's magnified in our perception, and time seems to compress as we look farther into the future. A day in the present feels longer than the anticipation of a day spent on a task six months from now.
- If we don't actively focus on our future selves, we risk making decisions in the present that could lead to future regret. So perhaps it's time to weigh anchor and let our future selves guide us as we navigate the sea of choices that life presents.
- Procrastination stems from our inability to foresee the future clearly results in a lack of understanding about the burdens we're leaving for our future selves to bear.
- A little forgiveness can go a long way. Forgive your past self for leaving tasks undone, and work on developing a better understanding of your future self to avoid procrastination. In doing so, you'll not only lessen the burden on your future self, but also foster a stronger connection among your past, present, and future selves.
- This struggle can be traced back to two primary biases. First is the projection bias – our tendency to assume our future selves will feel the way we currently do. Second is the end-of-history-illusion – our belief that our personality and preferences won't change much in the future. Both of these biases cloud our judgment, leading to decisions we might regret, whether that's a tattoo we come to dislike, or a romantic relationship that ends poorly.
- The key to good decision-making is a clear and empathetic understanding of your future self.
- Shaping a better future doesn't just involve hard choices and sacrifices; it also means making your present more enjoyable. If a task is difficult or unappealing, pair it with something enjoyable. Why not listen to an engaging audiobook while working out, or watch an intriguing YouTube video while brushing your teeth.
- When facing an overwhelming task, like a hefty debt, break it down into smaller, manageable payments. It’s a more approachable strategy and easier on your current self, while still benefiting your future self.
Imagine running into your future self, only to discover you are dissatisfied, trapped in a failing marriage, and in failing health. The question then becomes, how can you prevent such a future? How can you shape yourself into the best version of you possible?
Despite the innate capacity for transformation, recognizing and embracing your future self can prove challenging due to perceived distance and lack of tangible connection. This often leads to an emphasis on immediate needs, sometimes at the expense of future well-being.
However, strategies such as visualization, time framing, tangible commitments, immediate consequences for unwanted behaviors, and enhancing the enjoyment of tasks can bridge the gap, nurturing a healthier relationship with your future self. In doing so, you can encourage decisions that promote a more fulfilling future.
Diamonds discovered:
- Our future self is blurry, almost ghostlike, while our present self is solid, tangible. Although our future self is not literally a different person, thinking in this manner can provide insights. Sacrifices for a stranger may seem illogical, but what if you began to see your future self as a friend or loved one?
Perhaps it's time to shift perspectives. Instead of treating your future self as a distant figure, bring them closer. Consider them an ally, a friend, someone worth making sacrifices for.
- If asked to choose between a chocolate bar and a handful of healthy nuts to be received in a week's time, many would opt for the healthier option. The allure of instant gratification wanes when the reward isn't immediate. The pull of the present is powerful because we are familiar with it. It's magnified in our perception, and time seems to compress as we look farther into the future. A day in the present feels longer than the anticipation of a day spent on a task six months from now.
- If we don't actively focus on our future selves, we risk making decisions in the present that could lead to future regret. So perhaps it's time to weigh anchor and let our future selves guide us as we navigate the sea of choices that life presents.
- Procrastination stems from our inability to foresee the future clearly results in a lack of understanding about the burdens we're leaving for our future selves to bear.
- A little forgiveness can go a long way. Forgive your past self for leaving tasks undone, and work on developing a better understanding of your future self to avoid procrastination. In doing so, you'll not only lessen the burden on your future self, but also foster a stronger connection among your past, present, and future selves.
- This struggle can be traced back to two primary biases. First is the projection bias – our tendency to assume our future selves will feel the way we currently do. Second is the end-of-history-illusion – our belief that our personality and preferences won't change much in the future. Both of these biases cloud our judgment, leading to decisions we might regret, whether that's a tattoo we come to dislike, or a romantic relationship that ends poorly.
- The key to good decision-making is a clear and empathetic understanding of your future self.
- Shaping a better future doesn't just involve hard choices and sacrifices; it also means making your present more enjoyable. If a task is difficult or unappealing, pair it with something enjoyable. Why not listen to an engaging audiobook while working out, or watch an intriguing YouTube video while brushing your teeth.
- When facing an overwhelming task, like a hefty debt, break it down into smaller, manageable payments. It’s a more approachable strategy and easier on your current self, while still benefiting your future self.
June 19, 2023
My Future Self Needs Me!!
Will I be happy about/proud of the decisions I make today in 5, 10, or 30 years in the future? If I think about how I may feel about those decisions from the perspective of my future self, would I change my “today”decision? Can I use reflection to engage my younger self to provide perspective on my current decisions?
Hal Hershfield challenges us to consider these and other thought-provoking questions. The book takes one on a temporal journey that offers insights on how to navigate the decisions of the present while engaging our “future self.”
The author guides us through how framing current decisions while contemplating our past and future selves provides a critical perspective for improving our decision making processes. By envisioning ourselves in the future, we tap into a broader perspective on the potential consequences of our choices. This mindset encourages us to make decisions that align with our long-term goals, values, and well-being. Further, visualizing our future self can create a sense of connectedness and accountability to that future version of ourselves.
I found myself seeing potential of the research beyond financial decisions (aprimary use case of the book) to corporate decision processes. A commonly thought of challenge in Corporate decisions is the need for long-term performance versus the need for short-term results. Could the concepts presented by Professor Hershfield offer a pathway into improving those corporate decision makers? I think so….
Pick this book up today and begin your own temporal journey!!!
Will I be happy about/proud of the decisions I make today in 5, 10, or 30 years in the future? If I think about how I may feel about those decisions from the perspective of my future self, would I change my “today”decision? Can I use reflection to engage my younger self to provide perspective on my current decisions?
Hal Hershfield challenges us to consider these and other thought-provoking questions. The book takes one on a temporal journey that offers insights on how to navigate the decisions of the present while engaging our “future self.”
The author guides us through how framing current decisions while contemplating our past and future selves provides a critical perspective for improving our decision making processes. By envisioning ourselves in the future, we tap into a broader perspective on the potential consequences of our choices. This mindset encourages us to make decisions that align with our long-term goals, values, and well-being. Further, visualizing our future self can create a sense of connectedness and accountability to that future version of ourselves.
I found myself seeing potential of the research beyond financial decisions (aprimary use case of the book) to corporate decision processes. A commonly thought of challenge in Corporate decisions is the need for long-term performance versus the need for short-term results. Could the concepts presented by Professor Hershfield offer a pathway into improving those corporate decision makers? I think so….
Pick this book up today and begin your own temporal journey!!!
June 19, 2023
This is a fascinating look into how our ability to time-travel in our minds helps us manage our emotions and improve our decision-making. In particular, it looks at how we think about our future affects how we relate to our Future Self and its effect on our present.
Unlike Ben Hardy's Be Your Future Self Now, this is more a behavioral psychology book than a self-help book. Yet, in understanding the research, it does provide a lot of strategies that can be used for personal development.
I always appreciate books that have chapter summaries and the Highlights section at the end of each chapter does a great job of summing the most important lessons and solutions.
The first section of the book asks the question, "Who are we as we travel through time?". It challenges us to look at our futures selves as different versions of who we are. I found it interesting to consider how we can have "relationships" with these different "strangers".
The second section dives into 3 mistakes we make as we move from now to later:
1. We get overly focused on the present, failing to consider the future
2. We think ahead to the future, but only in a surface-level way
3. We fail to recognize the ways in which the future may be different from the present
In the final section, the author provides suggestions on how we can draw our future selves closer to our present selves, as well as methods that help us stay the course. The book ends with a nuanced reminder to not only live for tomorrow but to celebrate the present.
Unlike Ben Hardy's Be Your Future Self Now, this is more a behavioral psychology book than a self-help book. Yet, in understanding the research, it does provide a lot of strategies that can be used for personal development.
I always appreciate books that have chapter summaries and the Highlights section at the end of each chapter does a great job of summing the most important lessons and solutions.
The first section of the book asks the question, "Who are we as we travel through time?". It challenges us to look at our futures selves as different versions of who we are. I found it interesting to consider how we can have "relationships" with these different "strangers".
The second section dives into 3 mistakes we make as we move from now to later:
1. We get overly focused on the present, failing to consider the future
2. We think ahead to the future, but only in a surface-level way
3. We fail to recognize the ways in which the future may be different from the present
In the final section, the author provides suggestions on how we can draw our future selves closer to our present selves, as well as methods that help us stay the course. The book ends with a nuanced reminder to not only live for tomorrow but to celebrate the present.
September 15, 2023
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it’s presentation was cumbersome and often frustration to get through.
The author seemed poised to frame its arguments such that to shame you for your current and past actions. It considers how you spend your current life only in terms of how it is setting up your future self. It offered little room for fun, life balance, breaks, sympathy for mistakes, or enjoying the moment.
Additionally, the author presents ideas about a typical life that is… well typical and stereotyped. The idea of a life with a marriage and kids at x and y time, careers in stereotyped office setting, and retirement at exactly the standard 65-years-old, etc. were simply assumed to be the readers’ life goals.
The author also took no time to reverse its consideration. There was no time spent on thoughts like “how would my 16-year-old self view my current self?” This was a huge opportunity missed, that was the principle thought experiment I wanted to go down with the author. Instead, the author seemed to only consider how we are ‘treating’ our future self.
Overall, this book felt like a hokey attempt to shame oneself for every thing we are doing in the present that isn’t working towards the your inner-perfectionists’ goals.
I can’t really recommend it.
The author seemed poised to frame its arguments such that to shame you for your current and past actions. It considers how you spend your current life only in terms of how it is setting up your future self. It offered little room for fun, life balance, breaks, sympathy for mistakes, or enjoying the moment.
Additionally, the author presents ideas about a typical life that is… well typical and stereotyped. The idea of a life with a marriage and kids at x and y time, careers in stereotyped office setting, and retirement at exactly the standard 65-years-old, etc. were simply assumed to be the readers’ life goals.
The author also took no time to reverse its consideration. There was no time spent on thoughts like “how would my 16-year-old self view my current self?” This was a huge opportunity missed, that was the principle thought experiment I wanted to go down with the author. Instead, the author seemed to only consider how we are ‘treating’ our future self.
Overall, this book felt like a hokey attempt to shame oneself for every thing we are doing in the present that isn’t working towards the your inner-perfectionists’ goals.
I can’t really recommend it.
November 8, 2024
Your Future Self is not a cookie cutter self-help book. It's a little bit philosophy and psychology, too. I've been fascinated in the subject of 'self' throughout time after reading an old journal of mine and feeling as if I was reading something another person had written.
Hershfield discusses concrete ways of getting to know your future self so that you care about them in a deeper and less abstract way. His suggestions are based on several years of research and studies he's conducted on the subject.
I especially love that he addressed the state of the world at the end. I am sure most people have wondered at one point or another if there is any point to saving for a future that may not exist due to climate change, war, etc. I appreciate that he addressed that elephant in the room because that’s what I feel has been lacking in several other self-help and personal finance books. Also- he talked about a balance- because you do have opportunities for present day you- going on trips, taking a day off, spending time with loved ones- that future you might regret missing.
I listened to the audio, but I will probably take a look at the print version as there were some charts and examples he refers to that I'd like to see.
Hershfield discusses concrete ways of getting to know your future self so that you care about them in a deeper and less abstract way. His suggestions are based on several years of research and studies he's conducted on the subject.
I especially love that he addressed the state of the world at the end. I am sure most people have wondered at one point or another if there is any point to saving for a future that may not exist due to climate change, war, etc. I appreciate that he addressed that elephant in the room because that’s what I feel has been lacking in several other self-help and personal finance books. Also- he talked about a balance- because you do have opportunities for present day you- going on trips, taking a day off, spending time with loved ones- that future you might regret missing.
I listened to the audio, but I will probably take a look at the print version as there were some charts and examples he refers to that I'd like to see.
December 7, 2023
One of the best books I have ever read about how to develop insight into who you are and who you want to be. I have always been a fan of time travel books, mostly because of the curiosity and intrigue we all have about going back in time knowing what we know now and applying it to our past. But looking at the future has always been a white sheet of unknowns. Dr Hershfield takes you through the steps of self reflection, introspection, and soul searching to find out who we want to be and what to expect when we get there. I am not a fan of "self help" books, but Dr Hershfield takes a scientific deep dive into what people have gone through when trying to get in touch with their best self. His description of "planning for the future" is not limited to money. More importantly, he points out the important things that matter - people we love, experiences we treasure, passion, motivation, and enthusiasm. All of this is done in the context of social psychology and scientific experiments, peppered with his own insights and opinions. I very much enjoyed reading this and will use his recommendations to write my future self a letter and plan for a better future me.
April 29, 2023
If you want to learn a ton about how we think about and make decisions for our future selves—while also laughing out loud and maybe shedding a tear—read this book! Your Future Self reviews a lot of cutting-edge scientific evidence while also remaining engaging, heart-felt, and funny. Hal interviews so many fascinating people, whether its other world-renowned scientists, or people who want to freeze their bodies (so they can be potentially awakened in the distant future!), or a reformed serial killer (yes, he did that!). Hal's anecdotes are also relatable and insightful, often drawing on his own personal experiences with his family and colleagues. Reading this book feels like sitting down for a conversation with a close friend who is clearly next-level smart, has your long-term best interest in mind, and in another life, could have been a stand-up comedian. Hal often discusses sacrificing short-term indulgences for your future self's well-being; Reading his book doesn't involve sacrifice—you will enjoy yourself while reading it, and you will learn ideas that could leave your future self better off!
October 31, 2023
Your Future Self is an important addition to self-help resources written by a renowned scientist and distinguished scholar eminently qualified on the topic of this book. In fact much of the research on the topic of envisioning and planning for the future self has been done by the author and his close colleagues. There is a comprehensive Notes section following the book with numerous source materials and references, which is pretty impressive.
I enjoyed the book and it gave me alot of food for thought. Hal Hershfield is showing us how we can better our future lives by becoming cognizant of, and making friends with, our "future self"; side-by-side with our present-day self. He provides a number of helpful strategies for this backed with lots of entertaining anecdotes. Many studies have been done on this subject and some of those are summarized herein. It seems like embracing this philosophy would lead to more positive outcomes and certainly ought to benefit an individual.
I enjoyed the book and it gave me alot of food for thought. Hal Hershfield is showing us how we can better our future lives by becoming cognizant of, and making friends with, our "future self"; side-by-side with our present-day self. He provides a number of helpful strategies for this backed with lots of entertaining anecdotes. Many studies have been done on this subject and some of those are summarized herein. It seems like embracing this philosophy would lead to more positive outcomes and certainly ought to benefit an individual.
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