The Psychology of "I’ll Do It Later" (And How to Hack It) If 95% of people agree that donating blood is a "good thing," why do only 3% actually do it? Economists call this the Intention-Behavior Gap. It is the chasm between who we want to be (heroes) and who we actually are (people who hate needles). This gap isn't because you are lazy or uncaring. It is because your brain has a few evolutionary "bugs" that prevent you from acting.

Most self-help advice is like going to a desert dweller and trying to sell them swimming lessons. It’s "motivation" without context. You can show them the most beautiful pool in the world, but if they don't see water as a necessity for their current survival, they won't learn. Conversely, if you go to a fisherman and ask him to conserve water, he’ll look at you like you’re crazy. He’s surrounded by it. He has no "need" to change his relationship with it.