Season of Stuck

Stuck? Your Future Self Can Help

July 16, 2024 Deanna deBara with Hal Hershfield Season 1 Episode 7
Stuck? Your Future Self Can Help
Season of Stuck
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Season of Stuck
Stuck? Your Future Self Can Help
Jul 16, 2024 Season 1 Episode 7
Deanna deBara with Hal Hershfield

In this episode of Season of Stuck, host Deanna deBara chats with Hal Hershfield, a psychologist and professor of marketing and behavioral decision-making at UCLA Anderson School of Management, about the concept of future selves and their influence on how we make decisions in the present. During the episode, they discuss challenges like procrastination and why it can be so hard to prioritize the future self over the present moment. Hal also shares practical strategies, such as using commitment devices and visualizing the future self, to make decisions today that have a positive impact on both your immediate and distant future self. Deanna also reflects on the impact her future self has had on her decision-making and how her values—and how she makes decisions, present and future—have changed over time. Tune in now and start making decisions today that your future self will thank you for!


Tune in to learn about:

  • Future selves and their influence on present decision-making
  • What’s going on with procrastination
  • Impact of different time frames on accessing the future self
  • How to use commitment devices to guard against future behavior
  • Building a relationship with your future self
  • How to connect with your future self—and getting unstuck in the process


Thoughts from the episode:
“The difficulty arises when we prioritize the present day after day after day—in such a way that we keep telling ourselves that we want to do something for that future self, and then never really get there because we're constantly leaning into whatever we want to do right now.” –Hal Hershfield


About Hal Hershfield: 

Hal Hershfield is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and holds the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors Term Chair in Management. He is the author of Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today. 

 

Connect with Hal Hershfield:

On the web:

Hal’s website

Hal’s email

On social media:

X: @HalHershfield

YouTube: @haleh27


Stay connected with Season of Stuck:

Want more insights on how to make your journey from stuck to unstuck? Make sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts; you can catch new episodes every Tuesday.

Want to make sure you never miss an episode? Visit seasonofstuck.com to get episodes delivered to your inbox. 

And for even more stuck-related content, make sure to follow us on Instagram @seasonofstuck


****DISCLAIMER****

Season of Stuck is for general information only and should not be considered health, financial, or any other type of professional advice. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on Season of Stuck is not an endorsement. We do not verify the accuracy of the information that guests present. Adult language may be present. Our producer and host disclaim any liability arising out of your reliance on Season of Stuck.

Please note that we may receive a commission should you choose to purchase any product or service using our website link to the products, services, and links featured on Season of Stuck and/or in related properties (including seasonofstuck.com and email communications).

Show Notes Chapter Markers

In this episode of Season of Stuck, host Deanna deBara chats with Hal Hershfield, a psychologist and professor of marketing and behavioral decision-making at UCLA Anderson School of Management, about the concept of future selves and their influence on how we make decisions in the present. During the episode, they discuss challenges like procrastination and why it can be so hard to prioritize the future self over the present moment. Hal also shares practical strategies, such as using commitment devices and visualizing the future self, to make decisions today that have a positive impact on both your immediate and distant future self. Deanna also reflects on the impact her future self has had on her decision-making and how her values—and how she makes decisions, present and future—have changed over time. Tune in now and start making decisions today that your future self will thank you for!


Tune in to learn about:

  • Future selves and their influence on present decision-making
  • What’s going on with procrastination
  • Impact of different time frames on accessing the future self
  • How to use commitment devices to guard against future behavior
  • Building a relationship with your future self
  • How to connect with your future self—and getting unstuck in the process


Thoughts from the episode:
“The difficulty arises when we prioritize the present day after day after day—in such a way that we keep telling ourselves that we want to do something for that future self, and then never really get there because we're constantly leaning into whatever we want to do right now.” –Hal Hershfield


About Hal Hershfield: 

Hal Hershfield is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and holds the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors Term Chair in Management. He is the author of Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today. 

 

Connect with Hal Hershfield:

On the web:

Hal’s website

Hal’s email

On social media:

X: @HalHershfield

YouTube: @haleh27


Stay connected with Season of Stuck:

Want more insights on how to make your journey from stuck to unstuck? Make sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts; you can catch new episodes every Tuesday.

Want to make sure you never miss an episode? Visit seasonofstuck.com to get episodes delivered to your inbox. 

And for even more stuck-related content, make sure to follow us on Instagram @seasonofstuck


****DISCLAIMER****

Season of Stuck is for general information only and should not be considered health, financial, or any other type of professional advice. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on Season of Stuck is not an endorsement. We do not verify the accuracy of the information that guests present. Adult language may be present. Our producer and host disclaim any liability arising out of your reliance on Season of Stuck.

Please note that we may receive a commission should you choose to purchase any product or service using our website link to the products, services, and links featured on Season of Stuck and/or in related properties (including seasonofstuck.com and email communications).

The concept of future selves
The impact of future selves on decision-making
Challenges in making decisions for the future self
Exploring the concept of future self with Hal Hershfield
Insights from Hal Hershfield on future selves
Understanding the challenges of prioritizing the future self
The struggle of prioritizing the present self
The phenomenon of procrastination
The difficulty in connecting with the future self
Differences in accessing future selves based on time frames and activities
Personal example of connecting with the future self
Trick knees and broken legs
Removing choice and commitment devices
Empowering the future self
Building a relationship with the future self
Being considerate to the future self
Navigating the push-pull between present and future selves
Malleability of values and adapting to change
Embracing change and transitioning to new chapters
Meeting Future Selves
Impact of Connecting with Future Selves
Practical Exercises for Connecting with Future Selves
Advice from Future Self
Rapid fire Q&A