Think More Rationally By Pretending You’re Giving Advice To Someone Else

When you’re faced with making a decision that involves yourself, it’s difficult to be rational because you’re trapped in your own world and biases. One way to get past these is to ask yourself, “If this was about someone else that I love and care about, what would I tell them?”

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/08/four-tricks-to-help-you-make-any-difficult-decision/” thumb=”https://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18vo0md3ajj8pjpg/original.jpg” title=”Four Tricks To Help You Make Any Difficult Decision” excerpt=”The decision-making process is never easy. No matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve, you’re bound to lose a little sleep over the big decisions. If you’re really struggling, here are a few ways to make the process a little easier on yourself as you work through all the possibilities.”]

In the video, Dan Ariely, a psychologist and author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, says that when you deal with someone else’s problems, you are removed from their emotions and can offer real, straightforward advice. So take that idea and use it on yourself. When you imagine you’re an outsider, your advice to yourself could end up being different from your first gut reactions.

A Simple Mind Trick Will Help You Think More Rationally [Big Think]