Who Do You Want To Be?

This Hidden Brain podcast episode explores how to identify and pursue life goals aligned with one's deepest values. The interview with psychologist Ken Sheldon details how societal pressures and external rewards often lead to misaligned goals, resulting in unhappiness. Sheldon's research highlights the importance of intrinsic motivation and introduces a three-stage process—preparation, illumination, and verification—to uncover and achieve self-concordant goals. The podcast uses examples like the experiences of law students and long-distance hikers to illustrate how external incentives can undermine intrinsic motivation. Ultimately, the episode encourages listeners to cultivate self-awareness and actively seek alignment between their conscious and unconscious desires to achieve greater fulfillment.