This is a Lexicon entry: the mechanism, when it shows up, and the countermeasure. The full correction, with real-world cases and the audit prompt, hasn't been written yet.
When it shows up
Every age group reports significant personal change over the past decade but predicts minimal change over the next decade. 18-year-olds, 40-year-olds and 60-year-olds all show the same pattern. Tattoo regret, career lock-in, relationship assumptions and long-term financial commitments are all downstream consequences.
Failure mode
Making permanent decisions for a temporary self. Over-investing in current preferences. Underestimating the degree to which future-you will have different values, tastes and priorities. The person making the 30-year commitment is not the person who will live with it.
Countermeasure
Before making long-term commitments, ask: "Would 10-years-ago-me have predicted my current preferences?" If not, assume your current preferences are equally unstable. Build in reversibility where possible.
Related traps
Also connected in the map2 more, locked
Also revealed
Entry #94 of 631 in The Lexicon · see the full Lexicon