#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