1, #133 - Irrational

We’re not as rational as we think.

Let me prove it to you:

This weekend, I asked some friends what I thought was a great question: “When’s the last time you read or watched something that changed your behavior?”

But… none of them had a good answer. I didn’t either.

Do you?

We came up with some answers about things we’d read that changed our perspective—but not our behavior.

That’s when I realized: This question is just another example of the Information-Action Fallacy. We think that new information will change how we act, but it very rarely does.

Which isn’t to say that behavior can’t change!

Let me ask you an easier question: What’s a habit you’ve picked up from someone you spend a lot of time with?

Or: When’s the last time you felt so strongly about something, you took action?

And that’s the point: We’d like to think that our behavior is determined by our rational opinions, but our relationships and emotions often play a much larger role in deciding what we do.

So if you really want to change, maybe skip that next TED talk—and go spend time with someone who lives the way you want to.

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Insight inspired by Tyler, James, and my brother, Peter (Happy birthday, PY!)