Podcast Summary
Human discomfort with uncertainty: Understanding human discomfort with uncertainty is crucial for adapting to change, and can be improved by cultivating a flexible sense of self and embracing cognitive closure
Humans, including those who study change like Maya Shankar, can find it challenging to cope with uncertainty and change. Shankar, a former senior advisor in the Obama White House and current senior director of behavioral economics at Google, discusses how our discomfort with uncertainty is a common design flaw in humans. She also shares insights on how we can improve our ability to deal with change, such as cultivating a more flexible sense of self and embracing the concept of cognitive closure. Additionally, Shankar's background in cognitive science led her to study the inner workings of the mind and how we make decisions, ultimately leading her to a career in behavioral economics and hosting a podcast on change. Overall, this conversation highlights the importance of understanding human behavior and our relationship with uncertainty in order to navigate the constantly changing world around us.
Defaults and Behavioral Science: Using defaults and insights from behavioral science can lead to significant improvements in government programs and policies, resulting in positive impacts on people's lives
Understanding the power of defaults and applying behavioral science insights can significantly improve the effectiveness of government programs and policies. For instance, by automatically enrolling children into a school lunch program and allowing parents to opt-out only if they choose to, 12.5 million more kids started receiving lunch daily. This simple yet effective change illustrates the potential of using behavioral science to make a positive impact on people's lives. Additionally, the field of behavioral science covers various aspects, including cognitive science and decision-making, and it's not limited to specific applications. Instead, it offers valuable insights to navigate change and make informed decisions in our daily lives.
Identity and change: Our fear of uncertainty and change is rooted in the potential loss of identity, but by focusing on underlying traits that bring joy and fulfillment, we can cultivate a more adaptable sense of self and navigate change effectively
Humans have a natural aversion to uncertainty and change due to the potential loss of identity, which can be disorienting and painful. Maya, a change expert, experienced this firsthand when she faced multiple miscarriages during the recording of her podcast. She found solace in sharing her story publicly and discovered that her vulnerability helped others heal. Research suggests that our fear of uncertainty and change stems from the threat it poses to our identities, which we often cling to for a sense of security. To cultivate a more malleable sense of self and navigate change more effectively, it's essential to reframe our identities and attach them to the underlying traits that bring us joy and fulfillment, rather than specific pursuits. By doing so, we can maintain an exploratory mindset and adapt to life's unexpected twists and turns.
Motivators behind passions: Understanding our unique motivators can help us navigate change and find meaning in new experiences, despite our tendency to be poor cognitive forecasters
Identifying the underlying motivators behind our passions and pursuits can help us navigate through changes in life, making our experiences feel less disjointed. We each have unique motivators, and understanding these can help us find meaning and connection in new experiences. Additionally, acknowledging our tendency to be poor cognitive forecasters and embracing the complexity of change can lead to unexpected positive outcomes. The speaker's own experiences, from being a violinist to a news anchor to a podcaster, demonstrate the importance of this mindset. By focusing on the human connection and curiosity that drive us, we can adapt and thrive in the face of change.
Change and Personal Growth: Approaching change with humility and self-awareness, establishing daily rituals, and seeking awe-inspiring experiences can lead to personal growth and resilience during times of change
Going through changes, whether expected or unexpected, can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of oneself. However, forecasting the exact outcomes of changes is a challenging task due to the complex nature of human interactions and external variables. Instead, approaching change with humility and self-awareness is key to navigating it effectively. Establishing small daily rituals and seeking out awe-inspiring experiences can help provide a sense of stability and perspective during times of change. Ultimately, embracing the uncertainty of change and focusing on personal growth can lead to resilience and adaptability in the face of life's challenges.
Perspective and Healing: Seeking new perspectives through travel or introspection can heal and broaden our understanding, while being mindful of who we vent to and using cognitive reframing strategies can lead to positive outcomes when dealing with problems.
Experiencing new perspectives, whether through travel or introspection, can provide healing and a broader understanding of our place in the universe. It's important to remember that venting about problems isn't always helpful and may not lead to productive solutions. Instead, seeking cognitive reframing strategies and being selective about who we vent to can lead to more positive outcomes. Additionally, loosening our grip on control and using techniques like distancing ourselves from problems and creating narratives around experiences can help us navigate change and find meaning in the challenges we face.
Self-Defined Goals and Psychological State: Consider defining goals for yourself and set them when in a similar psychological state as during goal pursuit for increased motivation and empathy towards future self. Reward quality work and keep middle steps short or nonexistent to maintain focus.
The way we approach goal setting and motivation is greatly influenced by our mindset and psychological state. When setting goals, it's important to consider who is defining them, as we are more likely to achieve goals that we set for ourselves. Additionally, setting goals when we are in a similar psychological and physiological state as when we will be working towards them can help bridge the empathy gap between our present and future selves. It's also crucial to reward ourselves for achieving quality work rather than just completing a certain amount of time or tasks. The middle of a goal pursuit can be a challenge with decreasing motivation, so keeping middles short or nonexistent can help maintain focus. Giving advice to others can also be a powerful motivator for ourselves, as it helps us recall successful past behaviors and create better action plans for the future. Lastly, pairing unpleasant activities with immediately rewarding ones through temptation bundling can help increase motivation and make the unpleasant task more bearable.
New beginnings, transitions: During challenging experiences and transitions, our minds are more open to adopting new habits, making it easier to incorporate them into our lives.
Challenging experiences, although difficult, can be looked forward to as opportunities for fresh starts and the integration of new habits. According to the discussion, when we face transitions in life, such as moving to a new home or the beginning of a new week, our minds are more open to adopting new behaviors. This is because there are already changes happening in our lives, making it easier to incorporate new habits. Additionally, engaging in activities we enjoy during challenging times can help us look forward to these experiences and find meaning in them. The podcast "A Change of Plans" explores the human condition through various stories and is a passion project for its host, Maya Shankar. For more takeaways and to sign up for Dan Harris' newsletter, visit DanHarris.com.