As humans, we tend to observe significant changes in ourselves when looking back at the past, realizing how much we have evolved and transformed. However, when envisioning the future, we often fall into the trap of assuming that we will remain the same individuals with the same perspectives and preferences. This phenomenon is known as the illusion of continuity, where we fail to anticipate the potential shifts in our personalities, beliefs, and desires as we progress in life.
"You are constantly becoming a new person," says journalist Shankar Vedantam. In a talk full of beautiful storytelling, he explains the profound impact of something he calls the "illusion of continuity" -- the belief that our future selves will share the same views, perspectives and hopes as our current selves -- and shows how we can more proactively craft the people we are to become.