Name: You don't actually know what your future self wants
Uploaded: 2022-10-06T14:55:16Z
Duration: 14 min 8 s
Description: "You are constantly becoming a new person," says journalist Shankar Vedantam. In a talk full of beautiful storytelling, he explains the profound impact of something he calls the "illusion of continuity" -- the belief that our future selves will share the same views, perspectives and hopes as our current selves -- and shows how we can more proactively craft the people we are to become.

Shankar Vedantam: You don't actually know what your future self wants

You don't actually know what your future self wants

"You are constantly becoming a new person," says journalist Shankar Vedantam. In a talk full of beautiful storytelling, he explains the profound impact of something he calls the "illusion of continuity" -- the belief that our future selves will share the same views, perspectives and hopes as our current selves -- and shows how we can more proactively craft the people we are to become.

People often assume their future selves will think and feel just as they do now, yet dramatic shifts in values and desires are common. A story of a woman with ALS who changed her mind about end-of-life care reveals how unpredictable our future choices can be. The talk draws on the ship of Theseus to show that, psychologically, we are always changing. Recognizing this illusion helps us shape our evolving selves with more intention and humility.