#283 Your Future Self | Hal Hershfield, PhD

In this episode of the 'SuperPsyched' podcast, Dr. Adam Dorsay interviews Dr. Hal Hershfield, a UCLA professor and author of 'Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today.' They discuss the critical importance of building a relationship with your future self, the psychological mechanisms behind procrastination, and practical exercises for better future-oriented decision-making. Through thought experiments and personal anecdotes, the conversation reveals how perspective taking and understanding the future impact of our current decisions can lead to greater life satisfaction and wellbeing. The episode also touches upon the importance of balancing present enjoyment with future planning and includes insights on how these concepts can benefit not just individuals but collective units like families and organizations.

00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched

00:28 Meet Your Future Self

01:13 Interview with Dr. Hal Hershfield

02:47 Defining the Future Self

03:40 Thought Experiments and Their Impact

05:28 Daily Exercises for Future Self Connection

08:43 Balancing Present and Future Investments

10:35 Personal Reflections and Decisions

13:44 Navigating Life's Tough Choices

19:25 The Importance of Quality Questions

20:50 Relating to Our Future Selves

25:31 Understanding Procrastination

29:13 Collective Future Selves

33:00 The Power of Perspective Taking

35:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Helpful Links:

Hal Hershfield, PhD

Hal Hershfield, PhD UCLA Anderson School of Management

Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today Book