Ari Wallach: Create Your Ideal Future Using Science-Based Protocols

At a Glance

• Aging Self-Image Exercise - ‘I’m journaling into the future, writing to future self’ - This highlights the reflective practice of considering one’s future self, which is important for personal growth and foresight.

• Voting on Tuesdays - ‘In America, we vote on Tuesday because that was the time that was necessary for someone to leave church on Sunday, ride on horseback into the big city, vote on Tuesday, and ride back before market day on Wednesday.’ - This provides a historical perspective that explains a current practice, illustrating how traditions can persist beyond their original context.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - ‘I think partially because what it does is it has this look at what are those negative stories that we tell ourselves, but then because you can’t just say stop doing something, you have to add and put in a positive story.’ - Emphasizes the importance of modifying one’s narrative for personal development.

• Writing New Stories - ‘We have to write a new story for ourselves. Who am I? Why am I here?’ - Stresses the need for individuals to actively create their identities and purposes, rather than passively inheriting them.

• Impact of Everyday Interactions - ‘How they model those behaviors is going to impact the future in a greater way than most of the ways we egoically think about having a legacy.’ - This point underlines the significant influence of daily behaviors over grand gestures.

• Long Path Mindset - ‘Long path sits on three pillars… transgenerational empathy, futures thinking, and telos.’ - Introduces a comprehensive framework for thinking about personal and societal progress.

• Significance of Emotions in Decision Making - ‘Emotions are there to help us make better decisions for the future. We are future oriented mammals and species.’ - Highlights the adaptive role of emotions in human behavior, which is often overlooked in favor of rational analysis.

What to Do

• ‘Examine the why Tuesdays’ - Understanding and reflecting on the stories we’ve inherited can help discern which serve us and which don’t, paving the way to create new, beneficial narratives for ourselves.

• ‘Write a new story for ourselves’ - It’s essential to redefine our identity and purpose based on self-reflection and personal values rather than external influences or historical narratives.

• ‘Invest in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)’ - CBT helps in identifying negative self-narratives and replacing them with positive alternatives, fostering better mental health and personal growth.

• ‘Engage in record keeping or creating time capsules’ - Documenting our thoughts and experiences can serve future generations and provide personal clarity and accountability.

• ‘Develop empathy for others’ - Understanding and sharing the feelings of others can enhance relationships and foster community and support networks.

• ‘Be present and practice genuine etiquette’ - Being mindful and respectful in interactions promotes positive relationships and personal well-being.

• ‘Model good behavior’ - Demonstrating kindness and good manners can influence others positively, contributing to a more compassionate society.

• ‘Encourage pro-social emotions’ - Cultivating feelings like awe, empathy, compassion, and love can drive actions that benefit future generations and lead to a more fulfilling life.

• ‘Utilize emotions as a KEDGE anchor’ - Leveraging emotions to motivate positive actions can help achieve desired future states, utilizing the strong pull of emotional drive towards constructive ends.

• ‘Perform the perfect day exercise’ - Visualizing both negative and positive scenarios can help in emotional and practical preparation for life’s challenges and opportunities, enhancing resilience and clarity.

What to Get

• Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs by Ari Wallach - Amazon

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - A psychological treatment method aimed at changing negative thought patterns.

• Brief Meditation Practices - Used for stress management, specifically mentioned in the context of aiding college students with stress.

Summary

In this episode of the Huberman Lab podcast, the host engages in a thought-provoking conversation with guest Ari Wallach about the future, the impact of our actions, and the ethical considerations surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and higher education. They discuss how current behaviors and societal models are shaping the way AI perceives and interacts with the world, emphasizing the responsibility to model positive behaviors for future technologies.

A significant part of the discussion focuses on the transformative potential of AI in education, predicting that institutions like Cambridge or Oxford could become accessible to everyone digitally, radically changing the traditional educational frameworks. Wallach highlights the importance of not only intellectual growth but also emotional and psychological development in higher education, suggesting that these elements are crucial for holistic personal development.

The conversation also delves into practical advice on personal growth and societal betterment. Wallach encourages listeners to examine the reasons behind their behaviors and the societal narratives they have inherited, urging them to write new, positive personal stories. He stresses the importance of introspection in understanding one’s purpose and role in shaping a desirable future.

Furthermore, the episode covers the concept of legacy and the impact of one’s actions on future generations. The importance of creating a ’time capsule’ or maintaining records is discussed as a way to ensure that future generations understand and appreciate the past efforts, thereby creating a continuous link through time.

Overall, the podcast serves as a platform for discussing deep philosophical questions about technology, education, and personal growth, offering listeners actionable insights into how they can contribute positively to the future while navigating their personal and professional lives.