Beyond Success

#36: The Hidden Reason Smart People Make Terrible Life Decisions


Listen Later

Perhaps the most important skill an intelligent person can learn is the Dao of Decision Making. 

Making tough, high-stakes decisions doesn't come naturally to high achievers because they've been fooled into valuing their intelligence more than their emotions. But every decision has its roots in emotions… and relying solely on logic and data for these decisions is a quick way to make a decision that wrecks your marriage, your internal harmony, and even your future fulfillment. 

In other words, there is a better way to access the deep kind of wisdom that makes the answer to high-stake decisions obvious. 

Problem is, high achievers, by their very nature, have learned to cut off this deep sense of emotional wisdom for their entire lives. 

That's why I recorded this episode. You'll discover the "Dao of Decision Making" method, figure out how to achieve internal harmony before making any high-stakes decisions, and you'll also learn techniques to give you clarity for every future decision you make. 

Listen now. 

Show Highlights Include:

  • How to get better at making high-stake decisions (so you don't accidentally wreck your marriage, your health, or your enjoyment of life) (0:30) 
  • Why making decisions based on the best arguments and logic can subtly lead you to misery (1:51) 
  • The deadly "Illusion of Rational Clarity" that pits your emotions against your logic and results in making decisions that sets your internal world ablaze, leaving you miserable and unfulfilled (3:10) 
  • Here's the brutal truth behind why smart people make dumb decisions (4:15) 
  • The psychological reason behind why you get stuck making decisions (and the airy-fairy-sounding solution smart people rarely consider) (10:17) 
  • Confucius's secret for achieving "Inner Harmony" so making high-stakes decisions becomes as easy and naturally as walking (12:39) 
  • Why any decision made from panic or pressure will never be the wisest decision you can make (and how to learn to be still and calm when faced with high-stakes decisions) (16:57) 
  • Use this quick protocol whenever you feel yourself spinning from a weight and high-stakes decision - it recenters you so that the wise decision become obvious (18:27) 

For more about David Tian, go here:

https://www.davidtianphd.com/about/ 

Want more success in leadership, deeper connections, or a greater sense of fulfillment? Take this free assessment—it's fast, easy, and tailored to your unique situation. Answer a few simple questions, and you'll get instant access to a suite of masterclasses designed specifically for where you are right now. Whether you're struggling or simply want more out of life, this is your next step. No guesswork. Just clarity. Click here and see what's waiting for you:

https://dtphd.com/quiz

Emotional Mastery is David Tian's step-by-step system to transform, regulate, and control your emotions... so that you can master yourself, your interactions with others, and your relationships... and live a life worth living. Learn more here:

https://www.davidtianphd.com/emotionalmastery 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Beyond SuccessBy David Tian

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

27 ratings


More shows like Beyond Success

View all
Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

Stuff You Should Know

78,347 Listeners

The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

The Joe Rogan Experience

227,737 Listeners

How To Talk To Girls Podcast by Tripp Kramer

How To Talk To Girls Podcast

1,091 Listeners

ManTalks Podcast by Connor Beaton

ManTalks Podcast

559 Listeners

The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson

The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

33,387 Listeners

Bedros Keuilian Podcast Show by Bedros Keuilian

Bedros Keuilian Podcast Show

2,279 Listeners

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

8,505 Listeners

The Unapologetic Man Podcast by Mark Sing

The Unapologetic Man Podcast

1,340 Listeners

Fiction - Comedy Fiction by The Sunset Explorers

Fiction - Comedy Fiction

6,446 Listeners

The Megyn Kelly Show by SiriusXM

The Megyn Kelly Show

40,574 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

29,122 Listeners

Jillian on Love by Jillian Turecki | QCODE

Jillian on Love

1,384 Listeners

The Tucker Carlson Show by Tucker Carlson Network

The Tucker Carlson Show

16,716 Listeners