Hey there, and welcome to this week’s Further! I’m back from a much-needed vacation, and eager to get this newsletter back on track.
Let’s talk a bit about self control. Why is it sometimes so tough to stick with our health and fitness goals, for example, when we’re presented with an opportunity for chocolate cake?
Historical research has pinpointed the area of the brain responsible for self control in the frontal lobes of the prefrontal cortex. A new study has found another important component:
- The latest research on future-oriented behavior and self-control identifies another key player: the temporo-parietal junction, a brain region that allows us to practice theory of mind, empathize with others, and drives prosocial decision-making.
In essence, this part of your brain is treating your “future self” as if it’s a separate person. When you “harm” that future self by seeking instant gratification now, you’re acting in a self-centered fashion, just as if you were putting your own desires ahead of, for example, a request from your spouse.
- The latest discovery on the role of the TPJ in overcoming self-centeredness by focusing one’s attention on the well-being of your future self could lead to the development of a wide range of therapeutic interventions designed to minimize impulsive behavior and increase self-control in disorders such as addiction and OCD.
We already know that referring to yourself in the third-person in your internal monologue increases performance and well being. Take it to the next level and consider the person you want to become as if it’s a literal separate person — and show the appropriate consideration with your behavior in the present.
You can’t get a more perfect example of the Golden Rule: treat your future self as you’d like to be treated. Now … drop that cake.
Self-Centeredness May Sabotage Self-Control, Study Finds
Keep going-
Brian Clark
Further
further: health
Candy Crush
You spent last weekend reveling in the fun of Halloween, sipping on eyeball lychee cocktails, indulging in endless sweet treats, and grazing on cheese platters at parties. The problem? It’s Monday, and that cheat-day attitude has left you feeling sluggish with a massive pang of guilt.
3 Easy Ways to Detox After a Candy Binge
Forbidden Fruit?
Question: I just read that we shouldn’t be getting more than 10% of our calories from sugar. Should I cut back on fruit?
Ask the doctors: How much fruit can I eat and stay within the sugar guidelines?‘
Organic Growth
Buying exclusively organic foods can be extremely unaffordable. Depending on where you live, it may even be impossible—not all grocery stores have an expansive organic section.
These Are The Foods You Should Actually Buy Organic
further: wealth
Dress Uniformly
Here’s why the powerful are given to uniform, whether it’s Steve Jobs in his sweater and jeans; Karl Lagerfeld in any variety of jackets and trousers, all in white or black; or Mark Zuckerberg in his T-shirts and hoodies.
The Psychological Case for Dressing Way Up (or Down) for Work
Don’t Fade Away, Either
Thanks to the pioneering research of psychologist Christina Maslach and several collaborators, we know that burnout is a three-component syndrome that arises in response to chronic stressors on the job. Let’s examine each symptom—exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy—in turn.
Status Fail
You may recall BlackBerry, Borders, Polaroid, and Myspace — companies that, respectively, got their lunches eaten by Apple, Amazon, Instagram, and Facebook. These companies all suffered from pathological status quo bias, or a predilection for keeping things as they are.
3 Ways to Get Over ‘Status Quo Bias’ at Work
further: wisdom
Stasis Sucks
Further readers know that constant learning and self-improvement can and must be done for great life results. It’s not always easy, however, thanks to homeostasis — the basic self-regulating feedback loops that keep us repeating the same habits over and over
The Broccoli Point: Why Creating Habits Is Hard
You Snooze, You Lose
Snoozing for an extra round (or three) doesn’t just make your morning routine a little more hectic; it actually messes with your mind, making each morning wakeup harder than it needs to be.
How Hitting the Snooze Button Messes With Your Mind
Listen Up
Recent research suggests that typical “good listening” behaviors fall far short of describing listening skills that actually work. Here’s what does.
What Great Listeners Actually Do
further: sharing
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