Daniel Pink shares three ways to think more clearly about hard decisions: talk to yourself in the third person, imagine advice from your future self ten years out, or picture what you'd tell a friend facing the same problem.
Not sure how to make a big decision? You're probably too close to it. The fix? Self-distancing. Here are 3 ways to do that. Number 1, talk to yourself in the third person. Instead of asking, what should I do? Address yourself by name. Seriously. For me, that would mean saying, what should Dan do? Research shows this trick helps you think more objectively, almost like you're giving advice to someone else. Number 2, ask your future self. Imagine having a conversation with yourself 10 years Would future you even care about this decision? What advice would they give? This instantly puts things in perspective. Number 3, give advice to your best friend. If your good buddy was in your exact situation, what would you tell them? The answer is usually obvious when it's not your problem. Self-distancing can help you make tough decisions.
