The Unstoppable Power Of A Growth Mindset - Matthew Syed

The Common Thread in Elite Performance (0s)

• The individual has a diverse career, writing columns for The Times and The Sunday Times, hosting a podcast on BBC Radio 4, running a small business, writing books, and giving talks, which is a departure from their earlier life as a professional table tennis player (29s).
• The common thread throughout their career is an interest in performance, mindset, and how people make the most of their lives, with a focus on the psychological underpinnings of becoming good at something (1m13s).
• To become successful, one needs a strong hunger and discipline, as well as a willingness to privilege their craft above other things, which is a key lesson from their experience as a professional table tennis player (1m27s).
• The individual became curious about what makes people successful and whether the lessons they learned from sports are transferable to other areas of life, such as psychology, culture, teamwork, and personal evolution (1m48s).
• While people outside of the sporting world can learn from treating themselves more like athletes, businesses often face more complex challenges than sports teams, and sports could potentially learn more from business than the other way around (2m40s).
• The rules in sports tend to remain relatively constant, whereas in business, the rules are constantly changing due to technological advancements and other factors, making the challenges faced by businesses more complex and requiring greater agility (3m11s).
• The individual believes that the complexity and degrees of freedom in business are higher than in sports, making the challenges faced by businesses more interesting and requiring more adaptability (3m37s).

How to Learn From Failure (3m55s)

• Matthew Syed participated in the Olympic Games in Sydney, where he had an outside chance of winning a medal, and his preparation was meticulous, including a preparation camp on the Gold Coast with sparring partners who replicated the style he would face in the competition (4m8s).
• Despite his preparation, Syed was anxious before his opening match against Peter France of Germany, and the competition venue manager informed him that the match would be broadcast live on BBC1, adding to the pressure (5m25s).
• Syed's coach, Sjödin, told him that the outcome of the match would determine whether the last four years of preparation were a waste of time, which further increased the pressure (5m41s).
• Syed's performance in the match was affected by his overthinking, and he lost the first game 21-2, which is almost unheard of in Olympic competition, and eventually lost the match (6m52s).
• Syed describes this experience as a failure and a classic case of choking, where he overthought one component of the performance and everything else fell apart (7m7s).
• However, instead of giving up, Syed learned from the experience and developed a growth mindset, which is a willingness to see failure as an opportunity to learn rather than as evidence of a lack of ability (7m56s).
• The concept of an innate gift can have a transformative impact on how one engages with life, and redefining failure is a key attribute for success (8m10s).
• Every generation has considered the next generation to be fragile, but this perception may be more of a rhyme than a repetition of history (8m41s).
• Various approaches have been taken to empower future generations, including antifragility, mental models, and the idea that the social world doesn't care about individual success (8m51s).
• Resilience and the ability to deal with setbacks are crucial, but even with positive messaging, the experience of failure can still be uncomfortable (9m18s).
• The self-esteem movement, which originated on the West Coast of the United States, aimed to protect young people from failure but ultimately failed in practice (9m45s).
• This movement led to young people associating life with being perfect, making their first failure devastating, and instead, they should be given difficult challenges to develop resilience (10m17s).
• Failure is a necessary part of growth, and it's essential to have a tolerance for failure when seeking to innovate, as it allows for the improvement of ideas and prototypes (10m57s).
• However, it's essential to be sophisticated about how we think about failure and not fetishize it, as it's a natural part of the learning and growth process (11m50s).
• A pilot should not try new, untested approaches during a critical phase of flight, such as the final approach, as it poses a significant risk to the safety of the passengers. (12m0s)
• Instead, new approaches should be tested in a simulator, where the benefits of learning from failure can be realized without putting anyone at risk. (12m23s)
• In the context of innovation, it's essential to strike a balance between learning from failure and minimizing the associated risks. (12m46s)
• To achieve this balance, it's crucial to apply a strategic lens and test new ideas in a controlled environment, such as a pilot scheme, rather than risking the entire operation. (12m48s)
• However, testing new ideas in the most conducive conditions can be misleading, as it may not accurately reflect real-world scenarios. (13m10s)
• EO Wilson, a renowned intellectual, suggested that testing theories in tough environments yields more valuable learning experiences. (13m28s)
• To drive progress, it's essential to be resilient to failure and test ideas in empowering environments that facilitate learning. (13m59s)
• When considering a significant change, such as moving to a new location, it's essential to experience the environment during its most challenging season to get a realistic understanding of what to expect. (14m47s)
• This approach helps to avoid being misled by idealized or exceptional circumstances and ensures that one is prepared for the potential difficulties that may arise. (14m58s)

Where Does Self Esteem Come From? (15m21s)

• The concept of self-esteem has been extensively explored, but its fundamental components and genuine sources are still not fully understood from a scientific and psychological perspective (15m22s).
• Certain approaches to self-esteem can be detrimental and self-defeating, and it is possible that self-esteem is not as beneficial as commonly believed (15m59s).
• The life cycle of movies and franchises can be divided into four stages: introduction, growth, maturity, and parody, with parody being the final stage where established archetypes and cliches are used for meta commentary (17m17s).
• A good example of this life cycle is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which started with revolutionary movies like Captain America and Iron Man, followed by growth with movies like Captain America: Winter Soldier and Iron Man 3, then maturity with movies like Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War, and finally parody with movies like the most recent Thor movie (17m29s).
• The life cycle of movies and franchises can also be applied to individual creators, commentators, genres, and even civilizations, with parody being a sign of decline (18m51s).
• The concept of parody can be seen in the Rocky movie franchise, with the first movie being brilliant, the third movie being the weakest, and the fourth movie being particularly cliched and parody-like (16m58s).
• The Critical Drinker, a film critic on YouTube, has explained the life cycle of movies and franchises, and his analysis can be applied to various fields beyond film (17m4s).
• Successful musicians often become stuck in their creative process, leading to a loss of popularity as others copy or their style becomes clichéd, but some rare individuals manage to refresh their work by bringing in new perspectives and ideas (19m12s).
• These musicians leverage diversity of thought to create a new synthesis, avoiding clichés, and view life as a journey rather than a destination, allowing them to think differently about mistakes and perfection (19m37s).
• When one is successful, it can be easy to stay within their comfort zone, but this can lead to complacency, which Sir Alex Ferguson described as a virus that can subvert the idea of having a pioneering sense (21m11s).
• Complacency can be driven by self-esteem being bound up with looking and sounding perfect, but having a growth mindset allows individuals to view life as a hypothesis to be tested, rather than an argument to be proved (21m34s).
• Humans need validation, social acceptance, and prestige, which often involves doing something impressive or competent, but this can lead to a risk-averse mindset, where individuals stick to what works rather than trying new things (22m9s).
• A distinction can be made between exploiting a solution that works and exploring new possibilities, with the risk of exploitation being that people will get bored of what's being produced (22m48s).
• In a rapidly changing world, it is essential to strike a balance between exploiting existing knowledge and exploring new possibilities to avoid stagnation, except in some unusual ecosystems (23m21s).
• The faster the world is changing, the more the division between exploit and explore should be moved in the direction of explore (23m39s).
• The comfort zone often lies in exploiting what is already known to work, making it more comfortable, but being tough enough to explore new possibilities is crucial for survival in a changing marketplace (23m56s).
• The classic example of Blockbuster Video exploiting VHS vide tapes when the world was changing is a recipe for non-survival in the marketplace, highlighting the importance of adapting to change (24m13s).

Reframing the Fear of Risk (24m29s)

• People can have a better relationship with the fear of risk by reframing their experience, but simply repeating mantras like "it's not about the destination, it's the journey" may not be enough to overcome fear of risk, novelty, or failure (24m29s).
• A growth mindset can be a tremendous asset in overcoming fear and achieving success, as it allows individuals to view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning (25m10s).
• The concept of a growth mindset can be applied in various situations, such as when facing a decline in performance or rankings, as seen in the example of a table tennis player who had to reinvent himself after dropping down the world rankings (25m18s).
• To overcome fear and achieve success, individuals can take tangible actions, such as seeking out new opportunities and taking risks, as seen in the example of phoning directory inquiries to get the telephone numbers of newspapers and pitching article ideas (25m37s).
• Taking risks and stepping out of one's comfort zone can lead to unexpected opportunities, as seen in the example of getting a call from Goldman Sachs to give a talk to top traders after an article was published in The Times newspaper (27m19s).
• A growth mindset can also help individuals overcome their lack of experience or background in a particular area, as seen in the example of giving a talk to top traders at Goldman Sachs despite having no public speaking experience (27m39s).
• Embracing challenges and viewing them as opportunities for growth can lead to personal and professional development, as seen in the example of buying a fax machine and faxing article ideas to newspapers until one got published (26m41s).
• Developing communication skills is crucial, and one way to do this is by practicing public speaking, which can be improved with a growth mindset (28m13s).
• A growth mindset response to a challenging situation, such as being heckled during a talk, is to think that maybe one could improve, rather than assuming a lack of talent (28m32s).
• Toast Masters is a global network of public speaking clubs that provides a supportive environment for people to improve their communication and social confidence (28m55s).
• At Toast Masters, members give talks, including an initial "icebreaker" talk, and receive feedback from others, which helps to identify areas for improvement (29m16s).
• The organization encourages members to handle anxiety and learn to speak without notes, with the goal of improving their communication skills (29m35s).
• A key aspect of Toast Masters is the feedback process, where members receive at least one criticism to help them improve (29m43s).
• Embracing a growth mindset allows individuals to view life as a hypothesis, rather than an argument that needs to be corroborated, and to be open to learning and improvement (29m53s).
• Practicing spontaneous speaking, such as extemporizing on a topic for 60 seconds, can be a valuable skill for communicating effectively (30m17s).
• Developing communication skills takes practice, but the goal is not to become the best communicator in the world, but to reach one's full potential and be the best version of oneself (30m53s).
• A growth mindset can be empowering, as it allows individuals to take control of their own development and strive for improvement (31m2s).
• Practical tips and self-measurement can help individuals cultivate a growth mindset and overcome unconscious constraints that may hold them back (31m8s).
• Embracing a growth mindset can be liberating, allowing individuals to try new things, collaborate with others, and step out of their comfort zone (31m19s).
• The concept of "life as a hypothesis" can be a powerful way to approach personal growth and development (31m28s).
• Engaging in new experiences, such as learning a new sport or activity, can also help individuals develop a growth mindset and learn valuable lessons (31m30s).
• A coach once told a person that they are "not made of glass" when punched in the face, emphasizing the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity (31m48s).
• Conor McGregor's ability to watch an incoming punch and counter it with a series of strikes is an example of beautiful and effective striking in the UFC (32m8s).
• McGregor's win against Eddie Alvarez, where he became the UFC's first double champion, is a testament to his skill and resilience (32m48s).
• Learning that one is "not made of glass" is an important lesson in overcoming fear and failure, and it is a concept that can be applied to various areas of life (32m53s).
• A person's experience with doing work-in-progress shows in a comedy club in Austin, where they were able to experiment with new material and take risks, is an example of how a growth mindset can be applied in a creative field (33m23s).
• The person's decision to try out new material and be more experimental in their final work-in-progress show, despite the risk of failure, is an example of how a growth mindset can lead to growth and improvement (33m53s).
• The experience of having some jokes not land and feeling a sense of "inner British cringe" is a common experience for many performers, but having a growth mindset can help to mitigate this feeling and focus on the process of improvement (34m24s).
• Entering into a performance or creative endeavor with a hypothesis to be tested, rather than something to be proved, can help to reduce pressure and increase the willingness to take risks (34m33s).
• A person's experience with doing a podcast with Fred Flintoff and Robbie Savage, called "Flintoff, Savage and the Ping Pong Guy," is an example of how a creative endeavor can be successful and enjoyable when approached with a growth mindset (35m4s).
• Andrew Flintoff was initially self-conscious when speaking in front of a microphone or camera, a common reaction when being recorded or filmed (35m32s).
• Flintoff decided to participate in a tour of provincial theaters, performing in pantomime-type musicals, to overcome his self-consciousness and gain experience for a potential broadcasting career (36m5s).
• Despite not being paid much, Flintoff saw this as an opportunity to learn and improve his skills, ultimately helping him achieve success in broadcasting (36m16s).
• After the tour, Flintoff landed a significant role as the presenter of Top Gear, although his time on the show was cut short due to an accident (36m31s).
• Flintoff has continued to work as a broadcaster, showcasing his growth mindset and flourishing in his career, including working on a series about young cricketers and taking them to India (37m0s).

Natural Talent Vs Practice (37m11s)

• The concept of the 10,000 hour rule and genetics versus talent advantages is complex, and it's difficult to pinpoint a single determining factor for success in a particular field (37m11s).
• The idea that some people are born with innate abilities or predispositions can be misleading, as it often overlooks the role of environment, circumstance, and deliberate practice in achieving success (37m23s).
• The story of a table tennis player who grew up on a street with 50% of the top table tennis players in Britain, had a table in their garage, and was coached by the best coach in the country, illustrates the importance of a combination of factors in achieving success (38m6s).
• While genetics may play a role in certain abilities, such as height in basketball, it is often just one factor among many that contribute to success (39m24s).
• The relationship between the contribution of genes and the contribution of luck, environment, and circumstance likely changes depending on the activity or field (39m17s).
• The concept of the fine-tuned theory of the universe, which suggests that the universe is the result of a perfect storm of various factors, can be applied to the idea that success in a particular field often requires a combination of factors to come together (39m52s).
• The idea that the universe is the result of a delicate balance of various forces and constants can be used to illustrate the idea that success in a particular field often requires a similar balance of factors (40m10s).
• The concept of the weak anthropic principle, which suggests that the universe is the way it is because if it were any different, it would not be capable of supporting life, can be applied to the idea that success in a particular field often requires a specific combination of factors (40m56s).
• To achieve exceptional success, such as becoming the best table tennis player in England, one needs to have the right ingredients and mindset to make the most of their limited time on Earth (41m11s).
• In a zero-sum environment, if everyone improves by the same percentage, the relative rankings remain the same, which is something to consider if one's primary focus is on relative ranking (41m29s).
• However, many aspects of life are considered a positive sum game, where individual improvement can benefit not only the individual but also the institutions they work with and society as a whole (41m41s).
• Having a growth mindset towards subjects like mathematics can lead to increased numeracy, which is beneficial for both the individual and society (41m56s).
• Even in competitive environments like sports, the journey of self-improvement can be fulfilling and beautiful, regardless of whether one becomes the absolute best (42m16s).
• A life focused on being the best one can be is often more satisfying than one where an individual simply coasts through life, doing the minimum (42m45s).
• Striving for excellence can lead to a greater contribution to oneself, one's company, and society, and the collective power of this mindset can have a significant impact when scaled up (42m56s).
• The concept of a growth mindset may help explain certain trends in history, such as those discussed by Asia Bin (43m10s).

Retreating to the Inner Citadel (43m11s)

• The concept of the "inner Citadel" refers to a state where individuals retreat into themselves when they are unable to obtain what they desire from the world, and instead try to create that world inwardly, often by changing their desires to match what they can achieve (43m13s).
• This concept is related to the idea of "self-handicapping" in psychology, where individuals, often with a fixed mindset, create excuses for potential failure in order to protect their self-esteem (44m54s).
• Self-handicapping can manifest in behaviors such as deliberately not practicing or preparing for a task, in order to have an excuse for potential failure, and to avoid the pain of public failure (45m27s).
• This behavior is often seen in individuals who are perfectionists and have their self-esteem tied to their performance, and can be observed in various areas, such as academics or sports (45m1s).
• The upside of never trying is never having to feel the pain of failure, but this approach can also lead to private failure and a lack of personal growth (46m26s).
• The concept of the inner Citadel and self-handicapping have similar underlying psychological dynamics, where individuals try to protect themselves from the fear of failure and the potential damage to their self-esteem (46m18s).
• The idea of self-handicapping is not limited to individuals, but can also be observed in the behavior of some groups or societies, where they may create their own rules or games to win, rather than competing in the existing ones (44m15s).
• The philosopher Isaiah Berlin is mentioned as someone who wrote about the concept of the inner Citadel, and his ideas are discussed in the context of psychology and personal growth (43m15s).
• As a teenager, the individual played cricket extensively, with a full schedule of games and practice sessions, equivalent to a full-time job alongside attending school (46m53s).
• The individual experienced self-handicapping, where they would find excuses or create obstacles to avoid performing and potentially failing, due to fear of not meeting expectations (47m14s).
• As a leg spinner, the individual's bowling style was high-risk and high-reward, but often not suitable for certain game conditions, leading to instances where they wouldn't bat or bowl, known as a "thanks for coming" (TFC) (48m0s).
• The individual found a sense of satisfaction in having a TFC, as it allowed them to avoid the risk of failure and provided an excuse for not performing well (48m31s).
• This behavior was driven by a fear of failure and a desire to avoid being tested and potentially coming up short (48m46s).
• The individual acknowledges that this mindset is not unique and that it's understandable to fear failure, especially in the digital age where people often present a perfect image (49m35s).
• JK Rowling's quote from her 2008 Harvard Commencement Address is referenced, emphasizing that it's impossible to live without failing at something unless one lives so cautiously that they might as well not have lived at all (50m10s).

Why We Fail to Prioritise the Future (50m27s)

• The concept of time preference refers to the tendency of humans to prioritize immediate gains over future benefits, which is also known as hyperbolic discounting, where the discount rate is not constant over time (50m46s).
• This concept is relevant to various aspects of life, including economics, psychology, and personal development, as it affects decision-making and the ability to invest in the future (51m11s).
• Humans tend to prioritize immediate gratification, which can be detrimental to long-term growth and development, and can lead to a lack of economic growth and societal progress (51m48s).
• The ability to defer gratification and prioritize long-term goals is essential for personal and societal growth, and is a key aspect of a growth mindset (52m1s).
• The concept of time preference is not well-studied in economics, and there is a need for a better integration of this concept with psychology and other fields (52m12s).
• Reducing time preference and prioritizing long-term goals is crucial for individuals and societies, and can lead to a better life, adventure, and journey (52m39s).
• The concept of time preference can be applied to various aspects of life, including sports, finance, and politics, and can help explain the dynamics of Western civilization and its rise to dominance (53m42s).
• The Great Divergence between the West and the rest of the world can be attributed to the West's ability to prioritize long-term goals and invest in the future, leading to its economic and cultural dominance (54m29s).
• The rise of the West can be attributed to the ban on cousin marriage, which led to the dissolution of tribal structures and the creation of a national identity, driving innovation and change (54m37s).
• The ban on cousin marriage, which was enforced by the Roman Catholic Church, forced people to marry outside their tribe, leading to a more integrated society (55m10s).
• The interest rate in England dropped dramatically between AD and 1500, indicating a shift in the society's time preference from prioritizing the present to prioritizing the future (55m41s).
• The decrease in interest rates, from 20-30% to 5%, suggests that Western Europe was becoming more patient, allowing for cumulative compound economic growth (56m5s).
• The values of prudence, self-restraint, and industriousness, which emerged during the Protestant Reformation, further contributed to Western Europe's prioritization of the future (56m22s).
• However, around 1970, Western civilization began to become less patient, with a shift towards consuming now and worrying about the future later, as reflected in the rise of credit cards and fiscal deficits (56m52s).
• In England, there was never a fiscal deficit outside of a major war between 1670 and 1970, but since 1970, the government has run deficits every year, leading to a rising national debt (57m24s).
• Similarly, in America, there has been a deficit every year, with both presidential candidates in a recent election promising huge deficits, indicating a lack of willingness to prioritize the future (57m52s).
• This shift towards prioritizing the present over the future is concerning, especially given the increasing life expectancy, which should provide more reason to prioritize the future (58m25s).
• The concept of hyperbolic discounting suggests that people tend to prioritize the present over the future, especially in high-volatility environments, which may contribute to the shift towards consuming now and worrying about the future later (58m33s).
• Economists argue that time preference is not a great phrase to describe the tendency to prioritize short-term gains over long-term benefits, and alternative explanations are needed, such as the impact of increased life expectancy on average, despite some sections of American society experiencing a reduction in life expectancy (58m50s).
• Quantitative easing is an example of prioritizing short-term consumption over long-term problems, leading to issues like capital misallocation, asset price inflation, and difficulties for younger people to get on the housing ladder (59m14s).
• The self-esteem movement may be rooted in the desire for kids to succeed in the short term, but this can deprive them of the resilience necessary for long-term growth and a fulfilling life (59m45s).
• Grade inflation in education, which started in the 1970s, can devalue the currency of exams and make it difficult to provide meaningful feedback (1h0m4s).
• The mental health crisis may be partly caused by the tendency to label and diagnose issues in the short term, rather than addressing the underlying problems, making it challenging to provide support for those who need it most (1h0m20s).
• Many of these issues, including fiscal and monetary policy, the self-esteem movement, and mental health issues, started to change around the 1970s, and a unifying explanation is needed to understand these shifts (1h0m50s).
• A potential overarching dynamic that explains these changes is complacency, as the West has been at the top for a while, leading to rising expectations and a decrease in the ability to absorb necessary costs, similar to the decline of Ancient Rome (1h1m26s).
• The period of Western dominance is now at a point where people's expectations have run ahead of their material capacity to meet them, leading to borrowing from the future to continue consuming in the present and storing up problems for the future (1h2m30s).
• Deficits continue to grow as quantitative easing (QE) progresses, and this trend is expected to persist (1h2m48s).
• The practice of diagnosing everyone is becoming more prevalent, contributing to an ever-growing population of people with mental illness (1h2m54s).
• There is a rise in grade inflation, which is also a part of the broader issues being discussed (1h2m59s).

The Birth Rate Crisis (1h3m2s)

• The UK's birth rate has declined to 1.4, which means that for every 100 British people today, there will be 30 great-grandchildren, resulting in a 60% extinction rate within 100 years (1h3m18s).
• Economic prosperity and helping to raise up the lower classes are considered good, but it is unclear where this prosperity will come from, especially with the decline in birth rate and the impact of AI and robotics on the workforce (1h3m54s).
• The cultural predisposition of a sense of honic entitlement, financial entitlement, and life mastery may hinder overcoming the deficit and achieving economic freedom and independence (1h4m31s).
• The Scientific Revolution and the Advent of rationality in technology have made promises that they were able to deliver on in objective ways, but not in subjective ways, leading to a sense of disappointment and unfulfilled expectations (1h5m12s).
• Despite advances in technology, people still face challenges and uncertainties, such as the risk of cancer or accidents, which can contribute to a sense of entitlement and disappointment (1h5m35s).
• It is possible that we are in a "messy middle" phase of technological development, and it may take two or three decades to reach full technological maturity and master most of the problems people are facing (1h5m58s).
• The contrast between the advances in technology and the continued presence of challenges and uncertainties can contribute to a sense of entitlement and disappointment, especially when compared to the past when people had lower expectations and faced higher mortality rates (1h6m42s).
• Humans have made significant advancements in various fields, but there's still a gap in understanding the subjective, day-to-day human experience, creating a tension between the objective and subjective worlds (1h6m52s).
• The contrast between the objective and subjective worlds can be likened to having one hand in hot water and the other in cold water, then putting them both in lukewarm water, resulting in different sensations (1h7m10s).
• The Ormsby Table Tennis Club, run by Alan Ransom, was a hub for table tennis in Middlesboro, and Alan Ransom is considered a table tennis guru (1h7m42s).
• The current economic situation, with difficulties in getting on the housing ladder, is a consequence of prioritizing the present over the future at a societal level, making it cumulatively more challenging (1h8m46s).
• In recent elections, such as the British general election and the US election, the national debt was not discussed, and politicians made unrealistic promises, avoiding the topic due to its unpopularity (1h9m0s).
• The unfunded liabilities in the US are enormous due to demographics, with an increasing dependency ratio of older people to younger people, but this issue was not a focus of the political debate (1h9m24s).
• The lack of discussion on the national debt and unfunded liabilities is a distraction from the genuine challenges faced, with politicians focusing on less significant issues (1h9m44s).
• Economic growth is often prioritized by politicians, but it is essential to consider time preference, which is at the heart of achieving growth and prosperity (1h10m4s).
• Science aims to help solve empirical problems, but there is a disconnect between the objective world of science and the subjective human experience (1h10m34s).
• Science is considered the most successful of all human institutions, with significant impact on how we engage with the world, enjoy life, and form relationships (1h10m43s).

Literally True But Functionally False (1h11m5s)

• The increasing secularization of the West and the decline of traditional places where people found meaning have left many feeling lost and without typical explanations for life, leading to a sense of malaise. (1h11m8s)
• There is a distinction between things that are literally true but functionally false, and things that are functionally true but literally false, with the latter being conducive to success despite not being empirically true. (1h11m35s)
• The concept of functional truth is illustrated by the example of a person who grew up as a Christian, with a strong sense of assurance and community, but later came to question the empirical truth of their beliefs. (1h13m8s)
• The individual's father, who was born in India and moved to England, had a vision of Jesus Christ and converted from Shia Islam to Evangelical Born-Again Christianity, which was unusual and initially met with disapproval from both families. (1h12m11s)
• The individual's parents met at church and fell in love, despite their families' objections to their mixed-race marriage, and went on to have children and a long-lasting marriage. (1h12m39s)
• The individual enjoyed attending church and had a strong sense of community, but later came to question the empirical truth of their beliefs and struggled to reconcile their rational doubts with their desire to believe. (1h13m21s)
• The difficulty of choosing what to believe is highlighted by the example of a scene from Dan Brown's book "Angels and Demons," in which a character notes that belief is a gift that cannot be forced or chosen. (1h14m46s)
• The shift from believing in religion to relying on statistics and data has led to a loss of narrative and storytelling, which is how humans are built to understand and interpret the world, making this change functionally false despite being literally true (1h15m7s).
• The concept of a growth mindset can help people improve and make progress in life, but it does not provide an answer to the question of the point of life given its eventual end (1h16m11s).
• The awareness of impending mortality can imbue life with a sense of preciousness and importance, but it also brings a sense of melancholy and terror (1h16m28s).
• No amount of growth mindset or courage can change the fact that death is inevitable, and this realization can be difficult to come to terms with (1h17m8s).
• Replacing the narrative of God with something else does not change the fact that death is limited and final, and this limitlessness can be extraordinary and difficult to comprehend (1h17m31s).
• The search for meaning in life is a common quest, and it is surprising that people are not more preoccupied with the impending doom of death, as discussed in Brian McGee's book "The Confessions of a Philosopher" (1h17m55s).
• Meaning can be derived from everyday experiences and relationships, such as spending time with friends and family, but this does not provide a transcendental meaning that explains the purpose of life (1h18m27s).
• Living life as a hypothesis that will eventually end can be a difficult concept to accept, and people may find ways to cope with this reality by looking at the bereavements of others (1h18m35s).
• Being an only child has its drawbacks, including limited exposure to dealing with the death of family members, which can hinder understanding the role of death in life beyond the loss of pets and parents (1h19m1s).
• As a result, an only child may not get much practice in coping with death, unless they experience the loss of a spouse or close friends at a young age (1h19m13s).
• The limited experience with death can be a significant aspect of an only child's life, shaping their perspective on mortality and relationships (1h19m25s).

We Haven’t Mastered the Things That Matter Most (1h19m28s)

• Human life is surrounded by fundamental questions such as the meaning of life, dealing with death, and uncertainty, which are not necessarily domains of science, despite the many advancements made in various fields (1h19m29s).
• Despite having the ability to control the weather and achieve great things, humans still have to deal with problems like low mood, fear, and the possibility of death, which can feel unfair (1h20m5s).
• Future civilizations may look back on the current generation with sympathy, knowing that they had the knowledge to strive for mastery but lacked the ability to answer life's most important questions (1h20m29s).
• No matter how much humans learn, they will always be stuck with the finitude of life, which is something that cannot be overcome, even with advancements in technology like freezing brains (1h21m0s).
• The second law of thermodynamics states that the universe is moving towards a heat death, and everything will eventually become finite, making it impossible to reverse entropy indefinitely (1h21m11s).
• The concept of "locally reversing entropy" refers to the ability to create order and reverse the disorder that is inherent in the universe, but this is only possible for a brief period and requires a surplus of energy (1h21m30s).
• Civilizations require a high energy return on energy invested to survive and thrive, but the energy return on energy invested from oil and gas is declining, making it more difficult to reverse entropy and maintain productivity (1h23m20s).
• The decline in energy return on energy invested may explain why productivity has declined in recent decades, making it more challenging for civilizations to locally reverse entropy (1h23m45s).

Where to Find Matthew (1h23m53s)

• Matthew Syed's work is appreciated, and there is a desire to have him return for more conversations in the future (1h23m53s).
• To keep up to date with Matthew Syed's work, people can visit his website, which can be found by Googling his name, with the website address being either matthewsyed.co.uk or matthewsyed.com (1h24m16s).
• Matthew Syed has a growth mindset measurement tool on his website that people can use to assess their growth mindset, which he uses every six months to gain insights (1h24m24s).
• The growth mindset measurement tool can be found on Matthew Syed's website, specifically at matthewsyed.co.uk (1h24m38s).