Most smart people reach for values when they're under a lot of pressure or stress.
It feels responsible. Grounded. Mature.
But under pressure, values often do the opposite of what they're meant to do. Instead of anchoring thinking, they shut it down. Instead of sharpening judgment, they end the inquiry. Certainty replaces contact with reality, and the relief that follows feels like clarity, even when it isn't.
This pattern didn't come from nowhere. You learned early that sounding sure keeps you safe. Speed earns trust. Confidence gets rewarded. That lesson helped you win, but it also trained your mind to prefer certainty over accuracy.
The cost shows up later.
Judgment narrows too early. Tradeoffs disappear. And when the first warning signs appear, most high achievers respond by pushing harder and acting faster, which deepens the problem instead of correcting it.
In this episode, I explain how this pattern forms, why it's especially common among smart, capable people, and how values can silently become a sedative for thinking. You'll learn how to tell whether your values are helping you see more clearly or helping discomfort go away, and what restores contact with reality when pressure is running the show.
Listen now.
Show Highlights Include:
For more about David Tian, go here:
https://www.davidtianphd.com/about/
Feeling like success in one area of life has come at the expense of another?
Maybe you've crushed it in your career, but your relationships feel strained. Or you've built the life you thought you wanted, yet there's still something important missing.
I've put together a free 3-minute assessment to help you see what's really holding you back. Answer a few simple questions, and you'll get instant access to a personalized masterclass that speaks directly to where you are right now.
It's fast. It's practical. And it could change the way you approach leadership, love, and fulfillment.
Take the first step here → https://dtphd.com/quiz
