Hey there, Shankar here.
We've spent the last several weeks exploring a series of ideas about how you can use social science research to make your life better.
If you've missed those episodes, go back and listen to them.
We've looked at how you can make work more meaningful, the importance of limiting distractions, and a scientifically proven technique to achieve your most important goals.
Today's episode is the last one in the series.
We first put it out in January this year.
It asks a very important question.
If you happen to find yourself in a blind alley, nowhere to turn, you're frustrated, dejected.
What psychological techniques can help you get unstuck?
This is hidden brain.
I'm Shankar Vedantam.
Many of us feel we are not leading the lives we were meant to lead, that we're not living our dreams, that life is passing us by.
This sense of doubt leaves many of us feeling rudderless, confused, and stuck.
I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure that I made the exact right decision.
Today, we're going to explore the psychological traps we construct for ourselves that keep us from living our best lives.
For many years, Christine Metzger thought she knew what she wanted to do with her life.
But after more than a decade working in education administration, she woke up one day and realized she wasn't the person she wanted to be.
She didn't know exactly who she did want to be, but she was certain that that ideal version of Christine was out there.
She just had to find her.
She stumbled on what seemed like the perfect opportunity.