Minimizing Biological Bias in Your Decision Making
How the cross section of our identity and biological impulses undercut our future self.
“Last call!” The bartender shouted with two hands cupped around her mouth like a horn. We were at the aptly named Little Club. The final dozen patrons, including my two buddies, sat along the long wooden bar with me.
“Sean, want a shot? It’s on me,” Steven said, with a wicked grin. I looked at my watch. It was 2:55 AM.
With a groan, I said, “Fine.”
It was always that last shot that did me in — and it certainly did this time. Hours later, the sun filtered through my curtains, its beams contorting me into a grimacing vampire. My eyes squinted and I loathed every decision I made the prior night.
Sadly, we are often accomplices in these crimes against our futures selves. Why do we make these decisions when they’re so obviously a bad move? How can we stop them from happening again?
Following the feels
My friend always gave well-intended advice that consisted of some version of, “If it feels good, just do it!”
“Just eat the donut!” He’d say, not seeing what the big deal was, as I resisted the urge to dive in and obey my new diet.
