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Why the Brain Discounts the Future Self and Makes Attaining Goals So Hard
And, what to do about it.
The brain is an incredible machine. Just think of what it does for you. It allows you to effortlessly communicate with your family and friends. It allows you to expertly navigate through your environment, like while running or doing yoga. It allows you to appreciate beautiful music and taste delicious foods.
But, for all the brain does for us, there’s one thing that drives us bananas — our inability to change our habits to reach our goals. And we all have goals, don’t we? Whether it’s to eat healthier, get to the gym more often, or start a writing practice, there are things that we want and our brains seem to just get in the way.
At first glance, something appears to be broken. It seems counter-intuitive that evolution would have made it so difficult for us to achieve our long-term goals. Why are we so prone to eating the proverbial doughnut when all we want to do is lose weight?
I would suggest thinking of it like this: the brain has the near-impossible task of keeping us alive without knowing anything about its environment. In its toolbox, the brain must have a tool for every situation. But — and this is the critical point — if we die, the game is lost. Thus, our brains prefer the tools that benefit us right now. All…
