180. Unlocking Your Future Self: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing

180. Unlocking Your Future Self: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing

Author: Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart January 23, 2025 Duration: 21:59

Why creating happiness in the future starts today.


The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. As we set resolutions and prepare for evolutions, this special four-part series on communication, happiness, and well-being explores practical ways to enhance our lives through better communication, deeper connections, and more meaningful choices.

In pursuing happiness and well-being, we often focus on the present moment. But according to Hal Hershfield, one of the best ways to help ourselves today is to have a conversation with ourselves in the future.

"When I say future self, I really mean any version of us that exists at some later point in time," explains Hershfield, a UCLA professor and author of Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today. By thinking of our future selves as different people — ones we should care about — we can make better choices in the present. "If we can tap into the feelings of our future selves, then we can do more that benefits them, which may make our lives easier now and later."

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Hershfield and host Matt Abrahams explore how communication between our present and future selves can help us set goals, make decisions, and overcome pitfalls like procrastination, enabling us to take meaningful action now so we can thrive today and tomorrow.


This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/ThinkFast and get ten percent off your first month.

Episode Reference Links:

Connect:


Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:12) - What Is a Future Self?
  • (03:37) - Mistakes in Time Travel Thinking
  • (04:45) - Overcoming Procrastination
  • (07:16) - Connecting to Our Future Selves
  • (10:35) - Disappointment and Adjusting Goals
  • (12:14) - Goal Setting and Motivation
  • (15:02) - Public Accountability for Motivation
  • (16:04) - The Final Three Questions
  • (20:35) - Conclusion

********
Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.

Take advantage of our Sponsor offer from BetterHelp


Ever find yourself scrambling for the right words in a high-stakes meeting or struggling to get your point across clearly? That’s the territory Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques explores. Hosted by Matt Abrahams, a Stanford lecturer and author who understands the real-world pressure of thinking on your feet, this podcast digs into the mechanics of how we connect and convey ideas. Each episode features conversations with specialists across various fields, moving beyond theory to deliver concrete methods you can use immediately. Whether it’s navigating a difficult conversation, structuring a persuasive pitch, or simply becoming a more engaged listener, Matt focuses on the tactical skills that build confidence. The discussions are grounded in his professional experience and academic background, offering a blend of research and relatable application. You’ll hear specific techniques for organizing your thoughts under pressure, using storytelling to make data memorable, and adjusting your communication style for different audiences. This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s a resource for anyone who needs to influence, lead, or collaborate more effectively in their career and daily interactions. Tune in to this practical podcast for a regular dose of insights that aim to make your communication more intentional and impactful, one conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 284

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Podcast Episodes
131. Friction Fixing: How to Use Obstacles to Your Advantage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:44
Friction — that’s Professor Huggy Rao’s metaphor for the forces that hamper workplace efficiency. But as he says, some friction can be helpful — if you know how to use it.In his book, The Friction Project: How Smart Lead…
129. Connect Deeply: How to Communicate So People Feel Seen and Heard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
All too often, we communicate without really connecting. The key to building deep connections with others, says David Brooks, is to make them feel seen and heard.Brooks is a writer for the New York Times, the Atlantic, a…
128. Four Powerful Principles Pt. 2: Your Questions Answered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:34
Join Matt Abrahams engaging with his international audience and answering questions that touch upon some of today's most pressing communication challenges. Matt offers advice on everything from the nuances of crafting cl…
127. Four Principles of Powerful, Focused Communication Pt. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:14
Matt takes live questions from his worldwide audience and shares a lesson around concision, relevance, accessibly, and precision in messaging. In this "masterclass," he emphasizes the communicator's role as a translator…
Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast (A Sound Bite!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53
Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life. Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, a…
123. Rethinks: Why Curiosity Is Communication’s Secret Weapon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:40
The information you receive is only as strong as the questions you ask.This week we revisit Matt's discussion with Debra Schifrin about how to craft inquiries that can lead to better communication outcomes. Questions are…