Podcast Summary
Daydreams and Unrealistic Goals: Daydreaming about unrealistic goals can be beneficial as it provides pleasure, connects us with others, motivates us, and inspires us to grow, but it's important not to let it become all-consuming.
Having unrealistic dreams and fantasies, whether they're about winning the lottery or achieving ambitious goals, is a normal and even beneficial part of life. According to researcher Gabrielle Oettingen, we engage in positive fantasies to experience pleasure and connect with others. While it's important not to let these fantasies become all-consuming, they can serve as motivation and inspiration to pursue realistic goals and grow as individuals. Unrealistic dreams can also help us appreciate the present moment and find joy in the simple things. So, don't be too hard on yourself for indulging in a daydream or two – they may just be the fuel you need to achieve great things.
Dream Scrolling: Dream scrolling can be a time-wasting activity if people fail to take action towards making their dreams a reality, with an average of 36 days spent on it per year.
While indulging in positive fantasies like daydreaming about unrealistic goals or scrolling through dream purchases can provide temporary pleasure and even lead to meaningful conversations, it can also be dangerous if people get stuck in the fantasy stage and fail to take action towards achieving their dreams. Gabrielle Bernstein, the motivational speaker, argues that people often stop at the moment of visualization and overlook the negative obstacles that stand in the way. This can result in a significant amount of time and energy being wasted on dream scrolling, with an average of 873 hours or nearly 36 days spent on it per year, according to a survey. Instead, it's essential to identify the impediments and take the next step towards making the dream a reality.
Positive Fantasies: Excessive use of positive fantasies can lead to increased depression and worsening of objective life circumstances over time, it's important to recognize the difference between harmless daydreaming and addictive behaviors and practice moderation and mindfulness.
While positive fantasies can provide temporary pleasure and relief from negative emotions, they can also be harmful if they prevent individuals from taking action towards achieving their goals and improving their lives. Research suggests that excessive use of positive fantasies can lead to increased depression and a worsening of objective life circumstances over time. It's important to recognize the difference between harmless daydreaming and addictive behaviors, and to ask oneself what obstacles stand in the way of turning fantasies into reality. The availability and ease of access to virtual experiences through technology can exacerbate the risks associated with positive fantasies, making it crucial to practice moderation and mindfulness.
Optimistic bias in sports and business: Having overly optimistic views of future outcomes can lead to disappointment and frustration, but it's necessary for founders to have unrealistic expectations to take risks. Balance positive expectations with a realistic understanding of potential challenges.
While having positive fantasies and high expectations can be motivating, they can also lead to disappointment and frustration when things don't go as planned. This was shown in a study about soccer fans and their fantasies of their team winning. However, having unrealistic expectations, especially for founders starting a business, can be necessary to take the risk and make things happen. Psychological scientists, including Nobel Laureate Herbert A. "Danny" Kahneman, have found that people tend to have overly optimistic views of the future and imagine only one possible positive outcome, ignoring potential challenges and complexities. This optimistic bias can help us feel good in the moment but may prevent us from preparing for potential setbacks. Therefore, it's essential to balance having positive expectations with a realistic understanding of the potential challenges and complexities involved.
Balancing Ambition and Challenges: Allowing ourselves to dream big is beneficial, but it's essential to consider potential obstacles to increase the chances of success. Best founders and entrepreneurs don't give up easily and keep pushing forward despite challenges.
Having unrealistic goals or fantasies is not the problem when starting a business or pursuing any ambitious project. Instead, it's the failure to imagine and plan for the obstacles that can derail progress. The best founders and entrepreneurs don't know how to lose and keep pushing forward, even when faced with challenges. Research shows that allowing ourselves to fantasize without editing is beneficial, but it's crucial to also consider potential obstacles to increase the chances of success. As Kim Scott, author and executive, once said, "None of you are Steve Jobs," but that doesn't mean we can't dream big and work towards our goals, even if we're not leading our own companies. The key is to balance ambition with a clear understanding of the challenges ahead.
Dream and Obstacles in Goal Setting: Allow unrealistic dreams for energy, then identify and plan for obstacles for effective goal setting. Balance dreaming and planning for success.
Effective goal setting involves indulging in unrealistic dreams before identifying and planning for obstacles. According to the discussion, this contrast between aspirations and obstacles can provide the energy and drive needed to achieve goals. It's important to allow oneself to dream without limitations first, and then face the reality of obstacles with a clear plan. Unrealistic dreams can be enjoyable and even fun, but it's also crucial to be realistic about what one can and cannot achieve. The speakers emphasized the importance of self-reflection and asking the right questions to identify obstacles and find solutions. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of balance between dreaming and planning in goal setting.
Empathy in healthcare: Empathy is crucial in healthcare as it enables healthcare professionals to understand and connect with patients and their families emotionally, providing better care
Learning from this episode of No Stupid Questions is the importance of empathy in healthcare. Natalie Williams-Awa Deha and Ed Sixmith, who shared their personal experiences, emphasized the significance of understanding and connecting with patients and their families on an emotional level. By putting oneself in their shoes and showing sympathy, healthcare professionals can provide the best possible care. We encourage you to share your thoughts on seemingly unrealistic dreams by sending a voice memo to NSQ at Freakonomics.com. In the next episode, we'll discuss whether people are getting worse at experiencing discomfort. Stay tuned! No Stupid Questions is part of the Freakonomics Radio Network, produced by Stitcher and Brembud Radio. The senior producer is Rebecca Lee Douglas, and Lyric Baudage is the production associate. Greg Ripin mixed the episode, with help from Eleanor Osborn. Daniel Moritz-Raphson served as research assistants. Luis Guerra composed our theme song. Follow us on Twitter @NSQ_show and Facebook @NSQshow, and email us your questions to NSQ@freakonomics.com. Visit freakonomics.com/NSQ for more information.