Winning the Battle Against Yourself

In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedanta interviews psychologist and neuroscientist Emily Falk about why people often fail to follow through on their resolutions and goals. Falk explains that our brains have a "value system" that prioritizes short-term rewards over long-term benefits, often leading us to make choices that contradict our conscious desires. She discusses how the social relevance system and influences from others can also impact our decisions. Falk suggests strategies for aligning our actions with our goals by reframing choices to emphasize immediate rewards, connecting goals to our identities, and leveraging social influence. She shares personal anecdotes and research findings to illustrate these concepts, offering insights into how we can work with our brains to achieve lasting change.