How Your Mind Changes Over Time & The Upside of Uncertainty - SYSK Choice

Mar 1, 2025

Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology and author, reveals how our minds evolve with age, suggesting that major happiness spikes occur later in life. He emphasizes the role of personal experiences in shaping morality and personality. Meanwhile, Nathan Furr, an innovation professor, challenges our fear of uncertainty, advocating for a mindset shift that embraces risks as gateways to opportunity. Together, they explore the complex relationship between happiness, moral development, and the transformative potential of uncertainty in our lives.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Happiness Curve

Happiness levels change throughout life, dipping in mid-50s before rising again.
People are often happiest in their 70s and 80s, contrary to popular belief.

INSIGHT

Older People and Death

While death is an unwelcome prospect, older people's mindset shifts.
This shift reduces death's impact on their happiness, unlike younger individuals.

INSIGHT

Human Kindness and Morality

Humans are capable of kindness and love, extending beyond kin to strangers.
Natural variations exist in morality, like other traits, with some more aggressive or empathetic.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

The letters Rx are somehow related to drug stores. But why? What do those letters actually mean? You probably think they have to do with medication or prescriptions or something. But why Rx? What do those letters stand for. This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/06/rx-mean-come/

You are SO not the person you once were. Nor are you the person you will one day be. That’s according to Paul Bloom, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale. Listen as he discusses what are most likely the happiest years of your life, why you are different from everyone else on the planet and other fascinating intel into how your mind makes you the person you are. Paul is author of the book Psych: The Story of the Human Mind (https://amzn.to/3k524d5).

Your future is uncertain. And people generally don’t like uncertainty. That because the future may be full of opportunity, but it can also be full of danger and disappointment – and you don’t know which one is around the corner. However, there is another way to look at uncertainty which my guest Nathan Furr is here to reveal. Nathan is a professor and author of the book The Upside of Uncertainty (https://amzn.to/3SbJBZ6). Listen as he offers a different way to face the unknown that will minimize risk and amplify opportunity.

Dio you know the difference between a road a street an avenue and a boulevard? For one thing, all streets are roads but not all roads are streets. Sound confusing? Listen and as I sort it all out. https://www.rd.com/article/difference-between-streets-roads-avenues/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

HERS: Hers is changing women's healthcare by providing access to GLP-1 weekly injections with the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as oral medication kits. Start your free online visit today at https://forhers.com/sysk

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices