11 Mar 2026
1h 53m

How to Handle Life When It Falls Apart: Rewire Your Beliefs, Calm Your Mind, Stop Ruminating & Move Forward With Confidence: Dr Maya Shankar #635

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Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Change, particularly the unwanted and unexpected kind, is explored as a catalyst for personal transformation. Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist and author, discusses how unexpected change reveals hidden beliefs and can lead to newfound self-understanding. Shankar highlights the brain's aversion to uncertainty, noting research showing people prefer certainty of a negative outcome over ambiguity. The conversation explores how individuals can build resilience by adopting a more open-minded approach and challenging limiting beliefs. Shankar shares stories from her book, including one about a woman with amnesia who felt liberated from shame tied to her family's heritage, and another about an incarcerated man who became a poet. Moral elevation, witnessing acts of courage or kindness, is presented as a tool for expanding one's sense of possibility.

Outlines

Part 1: Psychology of Uncertainty

Part 2: Beliefs, Identity, and Revelation

Part 3: Moral Elevation and Inspiration

Part 4: Purpose, Narrative, and Strategy

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