Episode 083: When You Do Not Want to Go (And Why Going Anyway Might Be Worth It)

Ever talk yourself out of plans you were actually looking forward to? You are not flaky. Your brain is just running a prediction that is almost always wrong. Harvard psychologists call it affective forecasting - your brain’s attempt to predict how you will feel at tonight’s dinner, that birthday party, or the small group you committed to weeks ago. And the research is clear: we consistently overestimate how draining social events will be and underestimate how good they will feel once we are there. In this episode, we explore why your brain keeps giving you the wrong preview and a simple approach that gets you through the door without committing to the whole evening. What you will walk away with:A name for the mental pattern that talks you out of showing upThe surprising reason your post-event mood almost never matches your pre-event dreadA low-pressure way to honor your relationships even when your couch is louder than your RSVPSCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHT:  "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." (NIV) Romans 12:10Research note: This episode draws on affective forecasting research by Daniel Gilbert and Timothy Wilson (Harvard/UVA) and a week-long social interaction study by Gillian Sandstrom and colleagues (Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2022).Ready for your next step?FREE 5-Minute Daily Reset (instant download):YourNextBestStep.com Weekly encouragement + practical tips:YouTube @CoachJanetJ Instagram: @janetjjaecksIf this episode resonated with you, please follow/subscribe and share with a friend who needs their next step.  One small step. One day at a time.