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📈 The End-Of-History Illusion—Embracing Growth Over Time
Published 17 days ago • 5 min read
Hey Reader,
Welcome back to Living Better—your trusted guide to finding peace, purpose, and happiness in our fast-paced world.
Imagine looking back at who you were ten years ago. Chances are, you’ve changed in ways you couldn’t have predicted.
Now, consider this: Why do we often believe that who we are today is who we’ll be for the rest of our lives?
This is the End-of-History Illusion—a cognitive bias that tricks us into thinking we’ve reached our final form, even though our past is filled with growth and change.
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."
- Alan Watts
The End-Of-History Illusion
The End-of-History Illusion, coined by psychologists in 2013, highlights our tendency to underestimate how much we will change in the future.
We think that our current values, preferences, and personality are set in stone, but in reality, we are constantly evolving.
This illusion can lead us to make decisions that don’t account for future growth, limiting our potential.
Are you currently where you'd like to be on your growth journey?
Take a moment to reflect on how much you’ve changed in the past five or ten years. What beliefs, habits, or interests have evolved? Use this as a reminder that future change is just as likely.
Example: Journal about key moments of growth in your life and how they shaped who you are today.
2. Set Flexible Goals
While it’s important to set goals, keep them flexible enough to accommodate for your evolving self. What you want today might differ from what you’ll want in five years.
Example: Create long-term goals that focus on values and principles, rather than specific outcomes that may change as you grow.
3. Embrace New Experiences
Stay open to trying new things, even if they seem outside your current comfort zone. New experiences can lead to unexpected passions and growth.
Example: Challenge yourself to learn a new skill or hobby every year, knowing that it might spark a transformation.
4. Plan For Growth
When making decisions, consider how you might change in the future. Ask yourself, "Will this decision still align with my future self?"
Example: When choosing a career path, think about how it aligns with both your current interests and potential future growth.
Community Spotlight
Dive into heartwarming stories and inspiring journeys from fellow Living Better members! This week, we're highlighting Ashlee's sweet story:
"My son's teacher sent me this picture of him and his two best friends walking together after P.E. Both of his friends are nonverbal, but that doesn’t stop him from making connections with them.
Regardless of weight, hair, clothes, skin color, physical or intellectual disabilities, sexuality, religion, education, etc., children come to this earth open-minded and have nothing but love and light to offer.
They are so authentically connected to themselves and the divine power we are inherently gifted with. It’s our job to make sure as they grow up they stay this way.
Love is not to love one another in spite of our differences, it is to love one another INCLUSIVE OF OUR DIFFERENCES."
- Ashlee, Living Better subscriber
The End-of-History Illusion can limit us if we let it, but by embracing the reality of ongoing growth, we can break free from the constraints of a static mindset.
Your future self is still a work in progress, full of possibilities and untapped potential. Recognize that you have the power to continue evolving, and use that knowledge to make decisions that align with the person you are becoming.
The journey of self-discovery and growth never truly ends—embrace it and watch your life transform in ways you never imagined.
5X Entrepreneur, 6 X Bestselling Author, Top 1% Podcast Host
Ready to reach your full potential in life and leadership? Join 80,000+ subscribers who follow my weekly and monthly newsletters. I am a serial entrepreneur, the #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of six books and host of a top 1% podcast on leadership, and personal growth. My passion is sharing ideas that help people and organizations grow.
Designer, bestselling author, and founder of the School of Joy. I help people find more joy in life and work through design. Join more than 45,000 readers who receive our weekly treasure trove of science-backed tips, delightful discoveries, and inspiration for living a better life.
Your ultimate guide for captivating personal stories, actionable insights, and evidence-backed advice, propelling you toward a meaningful life. Join our community of 200,000+ readers!
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