TED Talks Daily What would your "deathbed self" tell you today? | Lauren Deeley
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Mar 10, 2026 
Lauren Deeley, a private wealth advisor and TED speaker, introduces the idea of connecting with your future 'deathbed self' to guide decisions. She shares vivid personal stories and research on future-self thinking. Conversations cover risk-taking choices, designing values-aligned financial plans, and how imagining that future can clarify purpose and everyday decisions.
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Connect With Your Future Self To Improve Decisions
- Imagining your deathbed self makes long-term choices feel personal and immediate.
- Lauren Deeley cites Hal Hershfield's research showing brains treat future selves as separate people, so bridging that gap improves long-term decisions.
Buying A Hostel After Asking Future Me
- At 22, Lauren visualized her deathbed self before buying a hostel in San Jose, Costa Rica and chose yes.
- She pictured laugh lines and aspen trees, felt calm energy, and that vision made the choice clear.
Rewriting Retirement After A Wakeup Call
- Clients Alex and Avery reassessed the standard retire-at-65 script after a friend's sudden death and chose a pre-retirement at 55.
- Lauren built a personalized financial plan so they could take 10 years to live then return to low-stress work.