Last week I shared the 2nd idea that shaped my thinking the most in the last year.

If you're finding this format interesting, let me know by replying to the email or commenting below.

Continuing on with the ideas, this week I'm sharing the 3rd and final idea and how it shaped my thinking. This week's idea is:

3. Appealing Fictions

An appealing fiction is when we believe the story we’re telling ourselves despite the facts saying otherwise.

We’re so blinded by emotions from the story we tell ourselves, that we miss the obvious facts. Morgan Housel talks about this in The Psychology of Money.

Reflecting on appealing fictions makes you take a step back. You're able to analyse the story you're telling yourself without being clouded by emotions.

How it's shaped my thinking:

Through learning from our past decisions, we can improve how we approach the future.

Recognising and questioning the appealing fictions we've believed in the past helps reframe mistakes as valuable tools for growth—helping us move forward with more clarity and better judgment.

Reflecting on our mistakes helps us avoid making the same ones again and again.

To help me do this I've been answering the following journal prompt I got ChatGPT to create:

Write about a time when you believed something strongly, even though the facts didn’t support it.

Why did you hold on to that belief, and how did it affect your choices?

How might understanding "appealing fictions" help you make better decisions in the future.

If you like this prompt or are looking to journal with prompts, you can check out my other newsletter, The Kaizen Club (Selfish plug over!)

These three lessons—learning from others, feeding the heart, and questioning appealing fictions—have profoundly shaped how I thought in 2024. And I hope to bring that thinking into 2025.

Now it’s your turn.

What’s the most powerful idea you’ve read in the last year, and how has it shaped your thinking?

Share yours by replying to this email or commenting below.