← On Purpose with Jay Shetty
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Olga Khazan: Do You Feel Socially Awkward? This Episode Will Change Your Life & INSTANTLY Make You Confident in ANY Social Interaction
01:24:38
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- [00:00]
Jay Shetty
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:06]
Olga Hazan
Growing up, one of my favorite things about going back to school was picking out a new school supplies. It wasn't just about notebooks or pencils. It was about starting fresh, setting intentions and feeling prepared to grow. Now, as an adult, I still love that feeling. And thanks to Amazon, it's easier than ever to help the students in your life feel the same. Whether it's backpack, tech accessories, or classroom essentials, Amazon has everything you need to start the school year strong, all in one place, at prices that just make sense. Preparing for a new school year is more than a checklist. It's a chance to build confidence, excitement, and a sense of purpose. And with Amazon, you can make sure every student is ready to step into their full potential. Shop back to school at Amazon. Lately, I've been trying to be more intentional, even with small decisions like cooking at home instead of ordering out. It's simple, but it helps me save for things that truly matter. That's why I love the State Farm Personal Price Plan. It lets you bundle home and auto insurance to create an affordable price that fits your needs. It's one of those thoughtful choices that that support the life you're trying to build. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer, availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state. Claude is the AI assistant from Anthropic that millions of people have turned to because it just feels different. Not only is Claude an industry leader in writing and coding, but it's been designed with special attention to its character, a field of AI research that enhances empathy and emotional intelligence. That's why Claude has become the if you know, you know choice for personal reflection, relationship advice, vision boarding, and so much more. You can try Claud for free at any time. And for a special offer on premium capabilities with Claude Pro, head to Claude AI Forward slash Purpose. That's C L A U D E AI Purpose.
- [02:35]
Jay Shetty
People think that you were born with your personality and you're just stuck with it. But just because you've always been a certain way doesn't mean you have to stay that way. Olga Hazar, the author of Me But Better the Science and Promise of Personality.
- [02:49]
Claude
Change can an introvert actually become an extrovert?
- [02:52]
Jay Shetty
If they want to, rather than permanently changing, learn the ability to try on this personality trait. Put on extroversion.
- [03:02]
Claude
Is there an age at which it's impossible to change our personality.
- [03:05]
Jay Shetty
Some people change more after they're 30. Different choices that we make can change us throughout our lives.
- [03:12]
Claude
What's the difference between changing our habits and changing our personality traits?
- [03:17]
Jay Shetty
So you can actually fake it until you make it. Once you do your habits, often enough, they will become part of your personality and it won't feel fake anymore. It'll feel like it's part of your identity.
- [03:29]
Olga Hazan
How does this apply to people who.
- [03:30]
Claude
Are diagnosed with depression or adhd? Can they also change or is that very different?
- [03:36]
Jay Shetty
There's actually been this push, push in psychology to identify the personality traits that are associated with things like depression and adhd and actually has gone head to head with Lexapro, the antidepressant. And it works just as well. The number one health and wellness podcast, Jay Shetty.
- [03:54]
Claude
Jay Shetty.
- [03:55]
Jay Shetty
The one, the only Jay Shetty.
- [04:00]
Olga Hazan
Hey everyone.
- [04:00]
Claude
Welcome back to On Purpose. Thank you so much for coming back to listen, learn and grow. Today's guest is Olga Hazan, an award winning writer for the Atlantic and the author of Me But Better the Science and Practice of Personality Change. In her work, she dives deep into the science of why we are the way we are and more importantly, how we can actually change it. Olga hasn't just reported on the research, but actually experimented on herself to see if changing your personality is really possible, please welcome to On Purpose, Olga Hazan. Olga, thank you so much for being here.
- [04:41]
Jay Shetty
Yeah, thanks so much for having me, Olga.
- [04:43]
Claude
I wanted to dive straight in and the first thing I wanted to ask you is if someone listens to this episode, if someone reads your book, what are you hoping they can change and shift in their life, what are you hoping for them?
- [04:55]
Jay Shetty
I hope that they realize that whatever is kind of wrong in their life or not working for them currently, that they can change that no matter what age they are or where they live or what kind of job they have, you know, if they feel like they, they don't have enough community support, they don't have enough friends, that they can go out and make those friends if they feel like their progression in their career is being blocked by inability to publicly speak or connect with large audiences, that they can learn those skills. You know, if they feel kind of disorganized or like they can't really get motivated, that they can learn organizational skills and make that happen for themselves. So it's really just whatever your goals are and that you're able to align your traits and your behaviors with your goals.
- [05:36]
Claude
I love that I mean, that sounds like something we all need and applies to each and every one of us.
- [05:41]
Olga Hazan
How did you discover this to be a block?
- [05:44]
Claude
Like, when did you recognize that this was a block for people? And what was that block that you were facing and trying to solve?
- [05:50]
Jay Shetty
It was really just that I was very unhappy and there was no particular reason for it. So it wasn't like, oh, if this just gets resolved, I'll be happy again. You know, I kind of start my book with this anecdote about being in Miami in December. A beautiful time to be in Miami. You know, the weather is unimpeachable, cannot be improved upon. Staying in this great place, having a great work life, balance, things with my partner were good. It was before we had our baby, so we weren't tired. But I just had this day where I had all these, like, minor frustrations. You know, I got a really bad haircut, and I got stuck in traffic, and I. I got some photos taken of me that I wasn't crazy about. I was just like, I hate these photos. And I knew they were going to be released widely. I had this, like, frustrating incident at a grocery store, and I get back to our Airbnb where we're staying, and I just kind of have a meltdown, and I'm. I, like, kind of feel just broadly unhappy with everything. You know, I immediately turned to alcohol, which is what I would do at the time to manage my emotions. And I was just sort of so frustrated. And then even, like a few minutes later, I kind of thought, hey, why am. Why is this all getting to me? Like, if you look at anything about this situation, you know, I'm in this beautiful setting. Nothing is really wrong. I didn't get in a car accident or, you know, I. I wasn't even late for anything. You know, I didn't get fired from my job, my hair, whatever, grows back. I kind of realized that so often minor frustrations would really add up to me because of my high level of this trait called neuroticism, which is kind of associated with depression and anxiety. And so I kind of would get in these negative spirals where I would kind of add up these small things, these small negative events, and let them kind of ruin my whole day or my whole week or start this narrative where my life is so bad I can never be happy because these small frustrations happen to me. And I decided to kind of try to change that, because you're never going to have a life without small frustrations. Like, nothing is ever going to go perfectly so the only way to be happy is to. To be able to be happy. Despite that.
- [07:57]
Claude
How did that link to personality?
- [07:59]
Jay Shetty
There was some interesting research coming out that people can actually change their personality traits. And when they do change their personality traits, they actually become happier, healthier, whatever it is that that trait is correlated with, it can really kind of increase all these positive elements of their lives. And so we think of personality as something that we're just kind of stuck with. Like, I am this kind of person, and this is what I will always do. I'm the kind of person always get frustrated by small inconveniences. But really, we have the ability to change the way we respond to situations. We have the ability to change our behaviors, even our kind of typical thought patterns. And really, by changing those consistently, we have the ability to change personality. So that's kind of when I was like, maybe I should try a version of this for myself.
- [08:47]
Claude
What is personality? Like, how do you define it? Because I feel like it gets thrown around and then it gets mixed with so many different words. How do you define it?
- [08:56]
Jay Shetty
Yeah, a lot of people are like, oh, is it like the kind of jokes you tell or, you know, whether you're kind of loud and boisterous? Those are all kind of elements of personality. The way that personality scientists define it is the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that come most naturally to you. So something happens. Someone honks at you at a red light, you know, or something, you know, do you flip them off? Do you wave at them? Because you're really good natured, you know, do you, you know, meditate to yourself? That kind of shows your personality. And the researcher that I follow the most for this book, Nathan Hudson, who has done a lot of the research on personality change, he actually adds another element to that, which is that personality helps you get what you want. So personality is how we go about pursuing our goals. Agreeableness, which is another personality trait, can help you make more friends. It can attract people to you. It can kind of make you, you know, one of those people who has, like a huge bridal party at your wedding. Conscientiousness can help you get up earlier, get more done during the day, get promotions at work and things like that, if that's what you're into. So kind of on top of being this, like, reflex and habit, it's also a way that we pursue what we want out of life.
- [10:05]
Claude
Why do you think all of us feel so stuck in who we are and start to believe things like, I'm just not a funny person. I'M just a disorganized person. I'm just a negative person. Why do we get so stuck?
- [10:20]
Jay Shetty
I think it's because we've been told for a long time that personality is permanent and that we just are a certain way. I think some of this comes from the fact that personality is partly genetic. So you think that, you know, if something is genetic, it's inherited. You're going to be just like your parents. What are your parents like? They're like this and that. You're going to be a combo of that. It doesn't really work that way. We do. Obviously personality is like everything partly genetic, but that means that it's kind of a combination of different genes, the environment that you're in, and also your own decisions and your own actions and what you choose to do can shape your personality. But I think for a long time, the way scientists have talked about it, it sort of did feel like a death sentence. Kind of like you're going to be this way forever. You know the famous William James quote, Personality is set like plaster after the age of 30. And so especially after 30, people think that they're stuck being a certain way. But really the more recent psychological literature has shown that people actually change both naturally, just like without really trying to. They, they kind of change over time. And people can also change over shorter periods of time by taking concerted effort.
- [11:31]
Claude
Do we know how much personality is nature versus nurture?
- [11:35]
Jay Shetty
It depends on the trait and kind of the person, but it's about 40 to 60% heritable. And I want to caveat that heavily. So, so that means it's, it's, let's say, let's call it half comes from your genes. But if you think about it, you're not like your parents twin, right? So, so your genes, you get genes from them, but they kind of get combined in these unexpected ways and they might manifest in different ways depending on the environment that you grew up, the environment that you live in now, what kind of job you have. And so it's really this gene environment interaction that creates a lot of unpredictability in how your personality is going to manifest. Just because you know that you have something genetically doesn't mean that you're kind of doomed to be that way or that it's definitely going to turn out a certain way.
- [12:22]
Claude
Is there an age from which we can't change our personality? You just gave that example of, you know, that old quote about the idea of 30 and it's set in plaster. Is there an age at which it's impossible to change our personality.
- [12:35]
Jay Shetty
So there have been studies that show that some people change more after they're 30 than before. So most people change a lot during their teen years and especially during their early 20s. So that's a time of very rapid change. A lot of people kind of become a version of who they'll be for a part of their life during that time. Both in my interviews with people and in just the scientific literature, people kind of change throughout their lives across all the traits. Different life events can change us. Different social roles, different goals that we have, and different kind of choices that we make can change us throughout our lives.
- [13:13]
Claude
I like how everything you mentioned, the things that people want to change for themselves but not changing for people.
- [13:20]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. So that's been a big misconception about this topic as people are like, well, I don't want to change my personality to please anyone. I'm. Don't do that. Like, don't change your personality to please anyone. Like, that's definitely not my message. I think you should change your personality to please yourself and to get what you want out of life, not to please other people. So that's. Yeah, that's like a key distinction.
- [13:43]
Olga Hazan
Yeah.
- [13:43]
Claude
And, and how do we even go about knowing how we have to change our personality? Because I think when you really believe, it's almost like living in a city. So it's like, let's say I've. I was talking to someone yesterday and they said, I have lived in this town for 31 years and I'm about to move to a bigger city and I'm scared and nervous. That's almost what it feels like when you're changing your personality because you're like, I have lived in this body and this mind and this personality for 31 years. I don't even know which other city I want to live in. I don't even know which other personality I need or want. How do you even unearth and uncover how you may want to change your personality and what the right trait is?
- [14:30]
Jay Shetty
So there's kind of the dorky scientific way and then there's sort of less scientific, like woo woo ways that might even work better. So the scientific way is there's a big five personality test. It'll, it'll measure where you fall along the five personality traits. So it'll tell you kind of compared to everyone else on earth, you are much less extroverted than other people. So you're, you know, you're very low on extroversion. And so you might look at that score and think to yourself, I'd like to change that. I'd like to be more outgoing. I'd like to make new friends, whatever it is to do with extraversion that you want, and so then you can go about pursuing that goal. What I think you could also do is just, like, think about your values and think about what it is you. You want out of life. Like, a lot of people say they don't want to become more extroverted, and I kind of think that's fine if that's not a value that you have. But I've also talked to a lot of people who are like, look, I want to get, you know, a job as a manager at work. I don't want to, you know, be rank and file forever. I want to grow in my career. And that requires a certain amount of extroversion. Like, to lead people to speak persuasively, even just to manage people, requires you have extroversion skills. So if you think about that as a value for yourself, you could start to consider whether extroversion might be a trait that you want to work on. Another way that I did this personally is that I kind of looked at the people in my life that I was jealous of. So I have a friend who's very good at making friends. Like, she just is a huge people person, and people love her and are drawn to her, and she could move to a new city and make 10 friends and be having dinner with them that night. And I was really jealous of that. I was like, I kind of want that skill. Like, I was actually, like, texting her, like, how do you do that? And so you could just look at your life at, you know, the people who do things that you're kind of like, ooh, that's cool. Like, I kind of want to do that because that'll tell you the personality traits that matter to you.
- [16:25]
Olga Hazan
Yeah.
- [16:26]
Claude
I've always talked about how you can transform envy into study. And that's kind of how I've been my whole life. Anytime I've looked at someone and admired them or liked something that they have, whether it's a trait, a skill, an ability, I'm like, how did you get that right? And it's that idea. And. But it's interesting. I've always been wired that way, so that's always been my natural kind of. When you were saying your thoughts that you naturally had, that's kind of how it naturally always been. If I find something impressive, I want to know how to do it and how to build it. And how to grow it as opposed to feeling like they're special. And I can't have that, if that makes sense.
- [17:01]
Olga Hazan
What about those of us who just.
- [17:02]
Claude
Feel what people should like me for the way I am if I can't make friends as being authentically me? And the word authentic now has become this big buzzword and trend. So how does that fit into that idea of, well, people should love to hang out with you just the way you are. You shouldn't have to be extrovert like your friend. Are you being inauthentic by changing your personality?
- [17:26]
Jay Shetty
I mean, the truth is, is that no one is ever authentically themselves 100% right. That could be kind of off putting if you just said everything that came right to your mind without any kind of filter. Or like, I think there was like a movie once where it's like someone just said whatever they were thinking and like, people were very offended because, you know, it's. We actually do have a filter between ourselves and other people because we know that people kind of don't want that, like, completely raw, like, spur of the mind thoughts that come to us. So that's one thing is that one you're probably already filtering yourself at least a little bit. Maybe you're doing it in a, in a kind way where, like, you know, if a friend is in a bad relationship, you don't necessarily want to be like, yeah, keep dating that guy, you know, but you, you might say, like, hey, like, have you thought about, like, what you're getting out of this? You know, but you, you might not just launch into a rant about how that person sucks, right? Like, you find ways of saying things that appeal to people. The other thing is that, like, how do you know what your authentic self is like? Yeah, well, that's what I'm saying is like, I don't know that, like we have necessarily a genuine, consistent, authentic self that we need to like, preserve at all costs. I think that a lot of times our emotions are kind of fleeting and if you say something one day, you might not say it again the same way the next day. Or if you feel something about something one day, you might not feel that same way the next week. So you know which one of those is authentic? Are you exactly the same as you were in college? If not, are you, are you faking it? Like, you know what I mean? It's. We all kind of change and shift over time and depending on the situation. I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with that. I think that's Called growth.
- [19:13]
Claude
Yeah. It's weird how we're fascinated by this addiction to authenticity right now.
- [19:19]
Jay Shetty
Yeah.
- [19:19]
Claude
When I agree with you, I. I think authenticity is you showing up in different ways at different time with different people, because you can't possibly be the same person with everyone and you're not going to expose your full self to everyone at all times. It's just not a natural thing to do. But it's weird that we have this guise of authenticity that seems to be clouding our ability to grow, when actually probably the most authentic thing we can do as humans is to grow.
- [19:51]
Jay Shetty
Yeah, exactly.
- [19:51]
Claude
Is to choose to change.
- [19:53]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. And I don't know, I just think.
- [19:54]
Claude
That that's what survival is. Right.
- [19:56]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. No one is going to call you out for, I don't know, trying new things or trying new skills or trying new traits. I think that that can also be a part of authenticity. Anything that you do for the first time is going to feel a little inauthentic.
- [20:10]
Claude
That's the interesting part is that we had Vinjiang on recently, who's a communication expert and public speaking expert, and he was saying that we change how we dress and we don't think that's inauthentic, but then we don't change the way we speak. He was saying that our communication style remains exactly the same our whole life. So if we're monotonous and boring and we just think that's who we are, but the reality is that we are changing other parts of ourself. And you're right. When you try a new hairstyle, it feels a little uncomfortable for the first week. When you try a new pair of shoes or a new fit of clothing, it feels a bit uncomfortable. And that's not inauthentic. It's you trying to change your style or what fits you. And we can do the same with our personality. What's the difference between changing our habits and changing our personality traits? How do they connect or do that?
- [21:00]
Jay Shetty
This is a huge debate within psychology. I will try to give the not super nerdy version of it. So some psychologists think that habits basically become personality traits after a period of time. So if it's your habit to do something and you do it consistently for years, okay, you're now, this is your personality. Some psychologists think that there's also an element of, like, thought behind that, where if you do something and you really like to do it, you kind of start to incorporate it into your personality. You start to kind of make it part of your identity. This is like, you know, people who become runners and then they like kind of identify as runners and they're like as a runner, you know, and they're like running marathons, you know, that's sort of like more part of their personality is like exercising a ton and being, you know, really, we would say, conscientious about running. More so than someone who just like kind of mindlessly takes a jog every day and they don't really think too much about it. It's a gray area between those two poles. Like, I didn't used to be very conscientious, but I am now. And I can't tell you exactly when the switch happened from me just making a ton of to do lists and like leaving early for everything and like being like, remember this? Remember this? To like now me just doing it naturally. To me.
- [22:17]
Claude
It makes sense that our habits somewhat lean into our personality because a repetitive action or a consistent action feels like it becomes normality and then once it becomes normality. But I appreciate the distinction between, for example, a habit I have is to brush my teeth twice a day. But I don't identify as a brusher of teeth. Right. It's something I do, but it's not an identity. So I noticed that nuance. Whereas I play pickleball three to four times a week and I consider myself to be a pickler. Right. That idea is there's an identity associated with that. And I guess that's what you're saying is the difference between personality and habit.
- [22:57]
Olga Hazan
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- [25:24]
Claude
School season.
- [25:28]
Olga Hazan
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- [26:22]
Jay Shetty
Yeah, you incorporate it into yourself a little bit more. Yes, I have, I have one example which is public speaking is part of my job, like speaking at events, moderating events, doing stuff like this. And when I first started many years ago I was not good at it. I was kind of painfully just like really shy. It made me really uncomfortable to do things like this and I kind of just brute forced of tried to get better at it and I worked super hard and it did become a habit. I had to do a ton of these events and we were always having them, especially before COVID and I kind of felt like eventually I now really don't think about it. If an event is coming up and I have to moderate something, I'm like oh okay, what time do I need to be there? It's not even a process of psyching myself up or oh gosh, I'm so nervous. Even my physiological responses are not the same. I don't get like sweaty palms and kind of jittery and stuff like that. So I don't know, like is being extroverted in that way. I guess it's part of my personality now because I kind of reflexively do it. But in that intervening time, it was definitely like, I'm not extroverted. I'm trying really hard to be and I'm building this habit so that I can be.
- [27:33]
Claude
Yeah, my experience is exactly the same. I was so shy growing up as a kid. My parents forced me to go to public speaking drama school from age 11 to 18, and I took exams in public speaking. I was trained nine hours a week for seven years, eight years of my life. And it transformed my ability to stand up in front of a room. I've now been public speaking since I was 11. I'm 37 now, so it's what, 26 years of experience? So you could ask me to give a talk on any subject in three minutes and I'd feel comfortable. Granted, the subject would have to be something I'm aware of, not something out of my expertise, but it would feel comfortable and easy and I'd feel calm. If you asked me to do that when I was 11, that would not be the case. And if you asked me to do that at 21, I would have had the skills, but I wouldn't have had the passion to talk about things. And so I had to find what I was passionate about. But I fully believe that people aren't just born with skills, that we notice them. And I think we've created this myth in society where people are just magical or special or gifted. And that actually does two things. The first is it limits us from becoming those people or achieving those things. And the second thing is it actually discredits those people for the amount of work they've put in. So when you look at the greatest athletes in the world, I had the fortune of interviewing Kobe Bryant a few months before he passed. He was in the gym for twice as long as everyone else. That's what he said. In his words argue he was gifted and special and all those things. And I'm not saying he wasn't, but he would say it was because he was in the gym for twice as long as everyone else. He was getting a four hour shift in the gym before anyone woke up. And that was the difference maker in his mind. When you look at Cristiano Ronaldo, who's the biggest soccer player in the world, it's the same. Anyone who's been in his vicinity will say, well, he has a chef that's dialed in for his health, and he has the best recovery program, and he has the best fitness and wellness expert. When you look at it through his head, it's all work. Whereas when you look at it from the outside, you think it's magic and gifted. Right. And so I think we discredit that person's work ethic by saying it's magic and special. And we actually steal the opportunity from ourselves, from saying, I can't do that because I wasn't born with that. And so I hope everyone who's listening is having that recognition to say, you can do it. And anyone that you admire is just put in the work, whether it's public speaking, like yourself, or whether it's playing four hours of basketball more than the average person.
- [30:13]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. And that's a great example. And that is the same with personality change. Anyone who has a skill or a trait that you admire has probably put a lot of effort into that.
- [30:23]
Claude
How long does it take then to change a personality trait?
- [30:26]
Jay Shetty
That's a good question. And it really depends on the trait. So I found with extraversion, extroversion was one of the traits that I wanted to increase. I kind of felt socially isolated and, like, I didn't just really know a lot of people in my community. And also, just especially after Covid, I was like, I kind of just don't talk to anyone. Like, I'm in my house all the time. And I. Even though it was, you know, safe to do so. So for that one, I noticed the changes really quickly. Like, I found that I went from a preference to just stay at home on my couch and watch Netflix to a preference to get out there and talk to people, meet up with people, even if it's just in a surface level way. I found that change happened after, like, a couple months, like, maybe a month or two with something more performative. Like, I did improv classes as well. That took several months for me to truly get comfortable, just because I'm not, as I said, a natural performer. And I. That gave me a lot of anxiety. So that one took a little bit longer. With something like neuroticism, which is depression and anxiety, it's something that can be really rooted in yourself. Like, it's not purely behavioral. Right. Like, you can notice that someone is pretty calm seeming, but they could be really anxious on the inside. That can take a rather long time to change and to shift.
- [31:42]
Claude
But it's possible.
- [31:43]
Jay Shetty
Yes. So. So the studies that we have show, like, it's like a few months of therapy can really create a significant change in neuroticism. What I did was like a meditation class that I think it lasted eight weeks or 12 weeks or something like that.
- [31:57]
Claude
What type of meditation?
- [31:58]
Jay Shetty
It was mbsr. And it's just pure mindfulness meditation for dummies. Nothing special to it. And that did work to decrease my neuroticism after, I think, like, three months.
- [32:09]
Claude
How? What did it do?
- [32:10]
Jay Shetty
I am still totally not sure what meditation specifically does in the mind. I will tell you what I think it did for me. So this meditation class was a combination of sitting silently for 45 minutes every day or some sort of other mindful activity like yoga or walking. And once a week our teacher would give, like, a presentation about a topic in Buddhism that is probably very, very obvious to all of your listeners. Like, it's something that probably they have heard of or have come across or are aware of. Right. It was not super esoteric or like, late breaking, like, Buddhist thoughts. It was. It was very kind of simple. And I sort of was like, the whole time I was like, is this really doing anything? Like, I kind of already know about all this Buddhist stuff. I've come across it in my research. And this meditation is just really boring. You know, is this. What is this working? And it did work. My especially my depression score went down considerably throughout the course of this class.
- [33:12]
Claude
Is that a self score or is it a.
- [33:14]
Jay Shetty
So all of these are self scores. There's really not a way to measure personality outside of self assessment. I would recommend for. If people really want to get super accurate scores, just do the tests a lot, frequently, because then you'll kind of get a sense of, like, where you're falling, and it won't be like a random fluke result. But they're all self scores. But mine went down from the 94th percentile to the 39th percentile, which is a lot. My anxiety went down. My depression just went significantly low to, I think, like, I was considered, like, not depressed. And I think it was from these, like, Buddhist lessons that they taught us that somehow.
- [33:54]
Claude
What's one that stood out to you?
- [33:55]
Jay Shetty
Okay, so there's one. You're probably familiar with this. Have you heard of the double arrow? So the double arrow, for people who don't know, is this idea that something bad happens to you. Let's say you don't get as much work done as you wanted to one day. And then you sit there and berate yourself, why didn't I get as much work done today as I wanted? Now it's going to screw up tomorrow and I'm not going to get it done on time and my boss is going to be mad. That second part is a second arrow that you're basically shooting yourself with after the initial misfortune has happened. I knew this going into the meditation program, but there was something about someone kind of explaining it to me as like a universal human phenomenon and something that you actually have control over. Like you don't have to shoot yourself with this double arrow, the second arrow. You don't get any extra points in life from having two arrow injuries. You can just acknowledge that something bad happened and think about, okay, what am I going to do? How am I going to move forward in a calm way without a lot of self blame? I think that really made the difference for me. A lot of my neuroticism came from self blame and I think a lot of other people's does too. And that class was really good. If you're like a self blamer, it was very good at increasing self compassion.
- [35:05]
Claude
Having meditated for a long time now, I feel like it's really beautiful hearing about someone having an experience that in eight weeks was able to reduce depression that significantly. And even hearing about your experiences. It's really special because I think one of the things I find most interesting about the human mind is we think because we've heard something often that we understand it and that we've realized it. And therefore we're always looking for something new. Not realizing that actually it's that age old repetition of an idea that then you get to live and breathe and apply and then all of a sudden it transforms your life. And it isn't always about finding a new. And I think this idea of we always want to watch a new show or a new episode makes sense because that work isn't healing or transformative. But these ideas that are timeless that have been around for thousands of years, there's a reason why when they finally hit, they have this effect that, that you know, you're smiling in front of me right now and nodding. It's. It's that feeling that you get that you only get from something that heals you and transforms you. Yeah, that you've heard it a million times. But then when the penny drops, it stays with you forever.
- [36:22]
Jay Shetty
So there's a couple things about it. It was a group class, it was a zoom because the of pandemic, people were kind of all sharing their struggles, and we were all kind of going through these realizations together too. And so just seeing how it applied to different situations, even, like, very simple. Like, one thing my meditation teacher said was she would always say is, things happen that we don't like. And, like, how simple is that? Obviously, things happen that we don't like. Every day something happens that we don't like. But for me, I was like, oh, every single person here sitting here has things happen to them that they don't like. It's part of life. It's not always your fault. Even if it is your fault. Sitting there and going, ah, why am I always causing things to happen to me that I don't like is not gonna fix the thing.
- [37:08]
Claude
Yeah.
- [37:09]
Jay Shetty
And for me, that was really. I don't know, that was therapeutic in a way. As silly as it seems.
- [37:14]
Claude
No, I don't think it's silly at all. And I remember looking into. And I'm sure you're well aware of this, but the frequency illusion, and that idea has. Has totally given me so much confidence on how what we're both talking about is so real and so true. So for those who don't know, the frequency illusion is when you're thinking about buying a red car, and now every car that you see on the road is red, and you think, wow, everyone's just buying red cars. It must be in fashion. It must be in vogue. Like, everyone's buying red. The reality is there are not more red cars. It's just that now that you're noticing red cars, so what you notice appears more often. So when you notice things happen that I don't like, now all you're noticing is the things that happen that you don't like. And I always say to people that when I look at my life, and if you've reflected on your life, you can always tell two stories based on what you notice. So I could either say, today, I love what I do. I'm so grateful to do it. I'm really passionate about it. I wake up and I'm really excited about it, and I get to work with great people, Or I could say, the more I've done what I've loved, I've attracted more negativity. I've had people steal money from me. I've had people want to take advantage of me. I've been exploited, and whatever else it is now, both of those are true. And I don't want to encourage positive thinking, which is. No, only good things happen. To me, because that's not true. Things happen that I don't like, but the reality is I don't have to notice them as much. And ultimately, all that's multiplying is what I'm noticing. And that's exactly what you're saying in this idea. That. And that's what I think mindfulness does, especially mbsr is this idea of the ability to notice, what am I paying attention to and is it helping me? And then all of a sudden, you go, wait a minute. When I focus on the double arrow, it doesn't help me. It doesn't serve me. It doesn't get me anywhere. I just criticize myself and hurt and hate myself even more. And now I've dug an even deeper hole that's really hard to get out of tomorrow to get any work done.
- [39:14]
Jay Shetty
Exactly. And another common suggestion for reducing neuroticism is to have a gratitude journal. And of course, like, when I started this, I was like, this is stupid. Why would anyone be journaling about gratitude? Russians are not big on kind of positive little journaling practices like that. And kind of the more I did it, the more I realized that it was helping you notice the positive story. So, like, even on a dumb day where people on Twitter would yell at me and my boss was mad at me and my husband and I got in a fight or whatever, you know, I could always find a few things that went relatively well, you know, just even small things or just things that I was happy that I had, you know, that I have, that other people don't have. And, you know, it really does change your mindset a little bit. It makes it. It just breaks you out of that cycle of, like, everything is bad and my life is bad.
- [40:05]
Olga Hazan
Yeah.
- [40:05]
Claude
And the reason we have to do it is because we're all so wired. When have you ever got to a meeting smoothly and said, yeah, it was really smooth getting here today. Most of the time, if it was a bad journey to get to work that day, you would talk about it with everyone the whole day. You'd keep repeating it. So you would say it 10 times, and you wouldn't even think about it. Every meeting you'd go, oh, my God, I had the worst journey here to work today. This guy cut me off. There was an accident. You know, you saw the news and you just keep telling that story. Whereas you'd never say, yeah, it was really smooth today. It was amazing. I'm just so thankful that every light was green. And, you know, you just don't say that. And so we have to practice it. The gratitude journal, I think has become such a meme now because it's like, whatever, it's kind of been so watered down. But the point of it is the repetition of noticing a good story in your day because you're so wired to notice the bad stories every day. I wanted to ask you, what are the gender effects on personality?
- [41:05]
Jay Shetty
Women tend to be more conscientious in some ways, more agreeable, and also much more neurotic. Neuroticism is like highly associated with being female. And then men, Men tend to be much less agreeable, less conscientious in certain ways, and then less neuroticism. Men tend to have more of a. Like this, like it's called the dark triad or basically like kind of an antagonistic personality trait that women, because of socialization or whatever, tend not to display as much.
- [41:39]
Claude
And that's what makes heterosexual relationships so hard. Because there's. Oh yeah, there's a complete function of all of the.
- [41:45]
Jay Shetty
Like, my husband never mops the floor or whatever. That's personality based. Yeah.
- [41:51]
Claude
But the thing is, it's shared across men. As in it's not like it's just my guy.
- [41:56]
Jay Shetty
You occasionally will find someone, you know, obviously these are all averages. So you'll find someone who's like, sure, below the average or above. But yeah, it tends to be shared. Yeah.
- [42:05]
Claude
So that's something that all men need to work on.
- [42:07]
Jay Shetty
Yes. Yeah, exactly.
- [42:10]
Claude
And that's, that's the hard part with that. Right. Because romantic relationships is probably where we see this the most, where we just say to our partner, but that's not who I am. I don't want to be that. And also because you feel the pressure that your partner wants you to be that way, what do you do when your partner wants you to be that way, but you don't want to be that way for them.
- [42:28]
Jay Shetty
You know, there could be another reason to be that way though. Like, even if it would just make your relationship a little bit balmier, you know, maybe you understand each other better, maybe you communicate better because you agree to, to say things a certain way. My husband has this with like various things. He likes things. Like he tends to think that eating the very last bit of something is rude. And I think that leaving a big bag with a tiny bit of something in it is rude. But so now though, I see, when I see a big bag with a little bit piece of something, I'm like, oh, he's trying to be kind to me. Right. Like, I'm seeing it through his eyes of like he's being empathetic. And when I, like gobble down the last of the cheese and throw the package away, he tries to see it as like I'm being efficient and showing him love by not leaving crab in the fridge.
- [43:20]
Claude
Yeah, yeah. And that again goes back to the underlying need because that's an underlying expression of the same thing. Yeah. Could you name for us the five personality traits and then the personalities that are associated with those?
- [43:34]
Jay Shetty
So there's five traits that make up personality. You can remember them with the acronym ocean, which is nice because we're in California. So it's openness to experiences, which is. This is the hardest one, so stay with me. But it's kind of like people who are open minded, kind of down for whatever, kind of just you suggest a new restaurant to them and they're like, okay, yeah, let's check it out. C for conscientiousness. These are the go getters that wake up early. They run every day. They know where all their stuff is. They work really diligently at everything. They pursue their goals. These are type. Type A individuals. E for extroversion. We all have some sense of what this is. It's not just talking a lot. It's also like how much you like being around people and how kind of active you are. You know, are you kind of more the sit on the couch person or are you out and about doing stuff with other people is extroversion. Even if you're not talking? Agreeableness is a. And it gets a bad rap because people think it means just agreeing with everything, but it's really how warm and empathetic you are in your relationships. So you know, are you someone who is filled with a lot of antagonism? Do you start a lot of conflict with the people in your life or are you someone who is able to take the perspective of others, puts others needs before your own? So people high in agreeableness tend to have like really deep and meaningful friendships and relationships.
- [44:59]
Claude
But it could lead to people pleasing. On the negative end, it can.
- [45:02]
Jay Shetty
And I've heard from people who are like, I want to be less agreeable because I want to be less of a people pleaser. And there are ways to set boundaries in relationships that can still be agreeable and that don't lead to people pleasing. And then N is neuroticism. It's kind of. It's basically the two components of it are depression and anxiety. So. And it's, it's kind of all about how negative your inner weather Is like, how gloomy is it in there? You know, is it all like, you know, I had the worst commute into work today because a guy cut me off and blah, blah, blah, you know? Or are you able to kind of take a minute in there and smile at something, laugh with someone, even just appreciate it being a normal day? That would be someone who's more emotionally stable, which is the opposite of neuroticism.
- [45:48]
Claude
Got it. And introversion fits into extraversion. It's the opposite scale.
- [45:53]
Jay Shetty
Yes. Yeah.
- [45:53]
Claude
So openness closed.
- [45:55]
Jay Shetty
Yes, exactly.
- [45:56]
Claude
So they're all conscientiousness being unconscious.
- [45:59]
Jay Shetty
Yes. So they're all a spectrum. So no one is 100% one or the other people are like, I'm a total introvert. It's. You're probably like 23% of the way to, you know.
- [46:10]
Olga Hazan
Yeah.
- [46:11]
Claude
And are we all mixed? Are we all of them? Right? We have, we have, we have a score on the spectrum of each and every one of them.
- [46:18]
Olga Hazan
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- [47:24]
Claude
It'S the same routine.
- [47:26]
Olga Hazan
One kid wants a very specific backpack. I'm talking not just blue, but navy blue with a neon green zipper and a galaxy print. The other lost their lunchbox before the first week of school even ended. Last year. He's like, jay, I swear they get more expensive every time they grow an inch. And I get it. Kids grow, seasons change, and somehow they always need five new things they didn't need last year. But what doesn't have to change, how much you spend on them. So remember, with Amazon's low back to school prices. Just spend less on your kids because every dollar you don't spend on them is a dollar you haven't spent on them. Shop back to school at Amazon and spend less on your kids.
- [48:14]
Claude
It's always bittersweet when summer winds down.
- [48:17]
Olga Hazan
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- [49:42]
Jay Shetty
We all have each of these traits inside of us to varying degrees. Generally, you want to be pretty high on all of them. Other than neuroticism, you want to be low on that one. But pretty high doesn't mean all the way high or extreme or in every situation or every day. It just means that, like, if called upon to give a wedding toast, you're capable of doing that. You know, you're not gonna melt down. That would be like an appropriate amount of extroversion.
- [50:08]
Claude
Got it. Got it.
- [50:09]
Olga Hazan
Yeah.
- [50:09]
Claude
That's so interesting you say that, because I was looking at a study that was saying that if we're asked to give a toast as the maid of honor at our friend's wedding, we literally feel like we're being chased by a tiger. Right? Like that's the response in the brain because we're so scared of how it could go. And you're saying, ideally you don't feel that way, and that's A healthy level to be.
- [50:30]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. So it's. And that doesn't mean that you would give a toast every day. You know, it doesn't mean that like what you would prefer most in the world is to give a toast. You might still need a lot of quiet time to yourself, but it's someone who can kind of rise to those occasions.
- [50:43]
Claude
So I have a friend who always says to me, jay, I'm not as ambitious as you. I'm a lot more content and I'm stable is the words he uses. But then when we get into it, he'll be honest and say, I think I'm lazy, I'm not organized. And I disguise my lack of ambition as contentment. But really I'm not happy. Like, I'm anxious, I'm stressed, I'm not in a good place. Is that changeable?
- [51:11]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. So for my book I interviewed several people exactly like that. So they kind of thought they were just kind of, oh, whatever happens happens. Kind of like, you know, I'm content, I'm not very ambitious. But then one of the women, Julia, she really wanted to start her own business. She wanted to have her own copywriting business, but she worked as like a assistant at a hair salon, which was not really what she wanted to be doing. It was, it was a little bit menial and like just kind of. She felt like she had skills beyond that and she really just struggled to get motivated or like figure out how she was going to start this business. She kind of just like flipped overnight. Like she again, kind of like my thing with the MBSR class, she read that like you can accomplish your goals by just working at them for 20 minutes a day. Just in some self help book. This is not the secret to conscientiousness. But for her this was like, oh, like I could just do a little bit every day toward my goals. Like I don't have to suddenly wake up and be a different person. And she did. She got super organized. She's like one of the most organized people I've ever talked to. She has like all these to do lists, she has a calendar, she has Jira tracking of her client. You know, she's like very together. And this was someone who quit her job to start a business and then watch Game of Thrones for, you know, months because she didn't have that skill initially. So yeah, it's completely possible.
- [52:30]
Claude
So how do we do it?
- [52:31]
Jay Shetty
So what I found seems to work for people, is that you have to have. This is now like a cliche at this point, but you really have to have a. Why? One of the other people that I talked to in that chapter, he came from this, like, very poor rural part of Virginia. And he had never, like, studied really. He just wasn't into school. And he had never written a paper before. And he didn't realize that you can study for tests and in that way you can improve your score. So he gets to college somehow, like the, you know, whatever low college he gets into. And everyone thinks he's going to fail out because he's just not. School is not his thing. And then he takes one psychology class and he's like, oh, this is so interesting. I'm learning about why people do what they do. The science of the mind. This is applicable to me. This is. This is fascinating. And he decides he wants to become an academic psychologist, like a researcher in psychology, which is so far beyond where he is at that moment. And he does. He honestly just completely turns his life around. He gets organized. He gets, like, a filing cabinet with all of his homework and all that stuff. He finds a study buddy, which having a partner in whatever journey you're on is always going to be more effective. They stay up all night reading and studying together and writing essays together and, like, puzzling through, like, what does this mean? What does that mean? He finds a mentor in psychology who kind of keeps him going and gives him hope. He makes flashcards for every test. He sets, like, timelines for when he's going to start studying for each psychology quiz. And he is. He is a. He is now a tenured professor in psychology. He got into uga, which is a great grad school for psychology. And this is someone who I think made D's in high school. And it's really about having that thing that he's like, this is what I want to be doing. This is absolutely how I see it playing out. And nothing else in his life up until that point had ignited him in that same way.
- [54:27]
Claude
What are the strongest types of ways?
- [54:30]
Jay Shetty
I would say it's something that is going to kind of fuel you for the rest of your life. So people often. It's like their kids. People will do anything for their kids because they just kind of consume you and you're. You have, like, an infinite amount of energy to pour into them. For me, it was really. I really wanted to do journalism, and that was a big part of what made me more conscientious because I had a series of really boring jobs before I became a journalist. And I was like, I can't spend my whole life being this bored. Like, I cannot go in day in, day out and not look forward to anything or learning anything or any kind of interesting conversation. Just to, you know, I was. I was a secretary at a mail order mailbox company. I was like, this is. This is so tedious. This is so boring. I hate mailboxes. I don't care. And I was like, I can't do this for the rest of my life. No shade to the people who work there. So that is something. It's like you can be kind of running away from something. You can be running towards something. It's something that's going to just kind of fuel you forever, not. Not for the next, you know, week.
- [55:35]
Claude
Yeah. Okay, so you need a. Why? What else?
- [55:37]
Jay Shetty
As I mentioned previously, having someone who's kind of on the journey with you can be, for some reason, really empowering. It's called the mutually reinforcing effect. And it essentially means that you kind of are. Are learning from someone, right? You're getting strategies from them. So he was getting these, like, study skills from this other person, but he was also kind of learning alongside him. Like, they were kind. Creates this positive sense of peer pressure where you're like, let's do it together. Let's, like, run this race together. It makes you feel, like, less alone, especially when things get really hard. Like, I think it was for him at times.
- [56:14]
Claude
Okay, and then what else?
- [56:15]
Jay Shetty
There's a final concept called episodic future thinking. So a lot of times we have trouble being conscientious because we can't see how it will all kind of look in the end. So I am not talking about the secret here, but it's kind of about visualizing with very specific details either the outcome that you're trying to generate or the outcome that you're trying to avoid. So for Julia, the woman who had the business, it was, you know, I'm working for myself. I set my own schedule. I have all these clients. You know, I never have to see this hair salon again. And it was. It was very clear to her, like, how she was going to set up her home office, how she was going to run her day, how she was going to do this. So she had all the, like, kind of visualized pieces of it, and that would kind of keep her motivated when it inevitably got hard. For some people, it can be something negative. And as long as you're not so bogged down in the negativity, that can be motivating. So the. The guy who became a psychologist, his big fear was becoming an assistant manager. At Wendy's, because that was, like, the only job that was available in his hometown. And so he was like, if I have to go back to my hometown and be an assistant manager at Wendy's, like, I can't. I can't do that. I can't handle that. I have to do well at school because I can't have this, like, Wendy's future happen to me. So that that kind of thing can be really motivating, and that's, you know, connecting things to a bigger vision like that a lot of the stuff that you're going to be doing for conscientiousness is going to be kind of tedious. Like, you know, scheduling guests for your podcasts, I bet is, like, not the most fun process, like sending these emails and, like, finding a time, but it's, like, necessary for the larger vision. So if you keep your focus on that larger vision, it will motivate you through those difficult times.
- [58:00]
Claude
Yeah, I think that's such a big, important part, because I often think when people think of their purpose or their calling or a better life, it's without any difficult, tedious tasks. And that's just not reality. I talk to friends all the time, and I keep reminding them that you're always doing things you don't want to do, to do more of the things you want to do. And that's how life works. There's very few people on planet Earth, if any, that only wake up and do everything they want to do. And anyone who says that is probably just paraphrasing for, well, it all is things I love because it's feeding and serving a bigger vision. And I also like what you were saying, because I think for me, it was like that when I was in a stable consulting job. Before I do what I do now, the only thing that got me out of there was I didn't want to be like the people who were 20 years senior to me in those roles. Again, no offense to anyone who works there. They're happy there. That's great. I just couldn't see myself being someone there when I was 45 or 50 or whatever it was. And at the same time, I couldn't imagine getting to the end of my life and thinking I didn't try. And that visual for me, was really, really powerful and even probably the one I use most today, where I'm, like, at the end of my life, if I'm lying there and I'm hopefully conscious enough to reflect, I'm never, ever, ever going to be sad that I tried something and people thought I was bad at it, or there was terrible criticism, or people laughed at me because at that point, none of that will matter because I'll be forgotten in a matter of moments. And the most important thing will be what I'll remember about my life, which is I tried, I gave it a shot, I explored, I experimented, and I'll be proud of myself for doing that. And I think that visual is such a powerful way of, whether it's, like you said, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, or whether it's all the way to the end, it's such a powerful motivator that really puts things into context that you can't right now.
- [60:09]
Jay Shetty
Exactly. Yeah. And I mean, even, you know, people who are professionals at being gritty struggle with this. As one example, one of the people I interviewed was Angela Duckworth, who literally wrote Grit so the book about how to stick with your goals. She has trouble sticking with her goals. So she doesn't like making the PowerPoint slides for her classes. She told me, like, so she. This is a tedious thing for her. It's not fun. It's like fixing the font and like making it readable and all that stuff is she doesn't enjoy it, but she does it because it's so important to her to teach people about psychology and to be, you know, a good professor and to connect with her students that she's like, powers through these, like, PowerPoint sessions. So I think that was like a really good example because I'm like, if anyone knows how to be gritty, it's. It's her, you know, but even she struggles with it.
- [60:54]
Claude
Yeah. If someone wants to be more extroverted, what do they do every day? What do they need to change?
- [60:58]
Jay Shetty
All you have to do is talk to people.
- [61:00]
Claude
And it can take when you don't want to.
- [61:02]
Jay Shetty
Yes, it can take whatever form you want. But my recommendation for people who are introverts, who are kind of just starting out, maybe you just moved somewhere new and you want to meet new people. Sign up for an activity that happens regularly that you don't have to organize. Because I think where people get stuck is in the endless, like text chain of doom of like, how about Tuesday? How about Wednesday? How about drinks? How about here? How about there? Like, it's really hard to make things happen in our society because everyone's so over scheduled, everyone's busy. Everyone kind of has this inclination toward introversion. So just sign up for something like pickleball or like whatever your thing is, whatever you can tolerate that's Like a group activity that's gonna happen with or without you. Because that's, to me, like seeing the same people regularly over time is how you build connections and how you build friendships and not through, like, just being really good at scheduling.
- [61:59]
Olga Hazan
Yeah, it's almost.
- [62:00]
Claude
I remember for me, it was. I was around 15 years old, I was doing work experience at this company that my. I'd been connected to. And my job was to cold call 300 companies and try and sell event space for an exhibition. And I had never cold called in my life. At 15 years old, I didn't even know what that meant. And I remember getting a quick coaching session with someone who was really warm and actually really nice. His name was Joel, and just such a kind guy at the time. Like he was in his 30s probably, but showing me the ropes. And I remember just calling 300 and he told me, hey, most of them won't respond. Most of them will say no. And I probably only sold three out of 300 exhibition spots. But I felt so confident to be rejected and cold call from that point because I'd picked up the phone and talked to 300 people. And I didn't feel like a failure, which is a really bizarre, counterintuitive feeling because I failed 297 times. But the three exhibition slots I sold were just such big wins. And he was just like, yeah, those are the odds. Like, that's just how it works. And I feel like that was the moment I built a sense of confidence around being exposed to rejection.
- [63:18]
Olga Hazan
So it's almost like what you're saying.
- [63:19]
Claude
Is that exposure therapy of, hey, if you're not good at talking to people and you're bad at organizing yourself, pick something that's organized and just talk to one person. And then next week talk to two people there, and then next week talk to three people. And that exposure therapy, slowly, slowly, slowly, by the end of the eight weeks, you're like, oh, wow, I'm comfortable talking to people at Pickleball now, or whatever it may be.
- [63:41]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. And it's, you know, not every conversation is gonna go perfectly. Like, not every person you meet is. I had some really awkward conversations that I describe in the book. Like, with these new people I was talking to.
- [63:51]
Claude
Tell us about some of them.
- [63:52]
Jay Shetty
So I was doing a lot of meetup where you go on like, group outings with people. Usually it's like hiking or something like that. So it's a bunch of strangers who, who hike together. Again, if you go regularly, hopefully you get to know some of them. And I was doing a lot of, like, Bumble bff. Yeah, Bumble bff. And the Bumble BFF actually worked for me. I did meet a friend on Bumble bff, and we're still friends, but one of them was like, oh, she was trying to tell me that women peak in high school, that she was not looking for a partner and was not ever interested in dating again because we were in our 30s and women peak physically in high school. And I was like, I really don't think women peak in high school. That's really depressing. And I was just like, how do I navigate out of this, like, very, like, specific thing that you said that I really don't agree with? And that makes me sad that you think that. But so, yeah, you're gonna meet people who you're like, wow, I don't agree with you at all about that. You know, or just people who have, like, political opinions that are just different from yours or whatever it might be. But, you know, then you'll meet someone like my Bumble bff Alex. Yeah.
- [64:58]
Claude
Yeah, exactly. I think what's hard about it is that humans feel the more certain we are about who we are, the safer we are. And so when you start becoming uncertain about who you are and open to the idea that you could be more, it's a scary place to live because it's uncomfortable. But you don't like the idea that you met someone at 30, they're really outgoing, and now you're like, no, no.
- [65:26]
Olga Hazan
No, I'm a homebody.
- [65:27]
Claude
That's. That's who I am. Like, stop trying to change me. And, yeah, sure, I agree with you. Don't change for that person. But have you ever asked yourself whether you want to be more than a homebody? Have you explored. Have you experienced it, to even know whether that's what you want? And I think we're scared to do that because we feel sure that, no, no, no, I'm a homebody, and that's my identity, and that's what my friends know me for, and. And all my friends will be like.
- [65:51]
Olga Hazan
Yeah, you're a homebody.
- [65:52]
Claude
And it evokes a sense of identity and purpose to some degree, even though it isn't a purpose, but it makes me feel like people know who I am and I know who I am.
- [66:01]
Olga Hazan
So as soon as I start changing.
- [66:02]
Claude
My wife went through this. So my wife was someone who was considered by her friends, family, and people around her that she was unorganized, she was spontaneous, although she's the best time. So my wife is the best energy. She is magnetic. Everyone loves her, adores her. She didn't used to make plans. She didn't have a plan, and it was really hard to get hold of her. And that's the reputation she'd build up. And then when she started to change that. So when she started to say, hey, sorry, I can't actually make that. I've got work right now, or do you know what that day, I've got an event. I can't make it.
- [66:36]
Olga Hazan
Before, she was always available, always open.
- [66:39]
Claude
Because she didn't have a schedule. People started to make her feel bad about that. Being like, oh, you've changed. Oh, but you always used to be up for this before. Oh, I realize you're too busy for me now. And it was really interesting to watch her go through that because she was doing it for all the right reasons, because she wanted to be someone who was organized, disciplined. She was always disciplined in her workouts, but not as much in her work. And that shifted for her. And now she's extremely productive and effective and all the rest of it and very happy about it.
- [67:09]
Olga Hazan
But that change, she had a lot.
- [67:11]
Claude
Of friends who didn't react well to that, and I think that's what people are scared of. Does that make sense?
- [67:15]
Jay Shetty
Oh, yeah. I completely identify with that on so many levels. So first, I think anyone who's ever given up drinking has had this exact thing play out where everyone in your life suddenly says, like, come on, like, you're a party man. Like, what's going on with you? Like, you're not gonna be fun anymore. And then you have to, like, create this new identity of someone who still has friends but doesn't drink. The thing that was really resonant about that for me was that. So for a long time, I identified as someone who would almost certainly be a bad mom. I was like, I am the kind of person who, if I ever have a kid, I would mess up my kid because I would be such a bad mom. I'm not fit to have kids. I just had this story about myself that, like, I can't do it, even though I kind of wanted to do it. But I was like, no, no, no. Like, it's not for me. I'm. I'm not a kid person, right? And people kind of reinforce this in my life. So I remember when I got pregnant, my mom told me, I can't imagine you as a mother. And I think for me, there was, like, some comfort in that because, like, having a child is scary, and I'm not Saying that everyone should or anything like that. But it is, it is, is a big leap. It's like, it feels like a big, it is a huge change in your life and it's a big decision to make. It really like that fear. I was kind of explaining it away by like, I don't need to make this decision because I won't be a good mom anyway. That totally has not played out. Like, I'm a great mom. Like, I love my son and I adore him. The stuff that I thought I wouldn't like about it is the stuff I like the most. The stuff that I thought I would be best at is like, I actually don't find that enjoyable. I always ask myself, like, why did I tell myself for so long that I was certain to be a certain way or that I'm just like doomed to be a bad mom? I think we get that way about so many things in our lives and it's counterproductive.
- [68:57]
Olga Hazan
Yeah. And it's hard because at one point it's. It's hard because there's a sense of.
- [69:02]
Claude
Honesty and self awareness at a point in time. It's when that story becomes finite and fatalistic that it becomes dangerous.
- [69:11]
Olga Hazan
Right.
- [69:12]
Claude
There have been points in my life where me saying I'm just not the type of entrepreneur that goes on vacation right now has served me. But if I'm the entrepreneur forever that never goes on vacation, that is going to hurt me.
- [69:27]
Jay Shetty
Me.
- [69:27]
Claude
And so I think it's that nuanced balance between how is this self awareness but not a self defeating story. That's a really hard balance for people to toggle almost because it requires so much awareness, honesty, not falling into the extremes.
- [69:46]
Olga Hazan
It just requires.
- [69:47]
Claude
I don't even know what the right word is. Maybe it's maturity. It requires such a maturity to be able to hold an idea and not make it your identity, if that makes sense.
- [69:56]
Jay Shetty
Oh yeah. And the thing you have to keep in mind is that people and situations will bring things out in you that you didn't think were there like very few people before they've ever had a baby, like are naturally baby people, you know, makes sense. And first of all, they're only a baby for a year, so you don't even really have to worry about it that much. But you know, I kind of surprised myself that like, you know, we bring this little bundle home a couple months go by, they start kind of being more interactive and smiley and stuff and you do, you start singing Baby beluga and you know, cooing at them and cuddling. You know, you start doing all this stuff because as you take on social roles or as you kind of pursue goals that are important to you, you kind of find things within yourself that you didn't think were there before. Like we kind of have these like latent traits that, that come out when the moment is right. So even if like you don't think of yourself as a certain kind of person, you might surprise yourself when that, that situation comes up.
- [70:50]
Olga Hazan
Yeah, that's what I'm trying to figure out. It's like, it's almost not like because.
- [70:53]
Claude
You can't live this kind of willy nilly approach to life of just oh, it doesn't matter, I'll figure it out when I get there because that could be dangerous. And then at the same time, you can't be the over planner and the overwhelmed person who's trying to get every meticulous detail right of it, because certain skills are only going to come up in the moment. What is that balance called? Is there even a word for it?
- [71:17]
Olga Hazan
Before we dive into the next moment, let's hear from our sponsors. One thing I've been reflecting on lately is how even the smallest choices can create a big impact over time. Whether it's choosing to spend a quiet night in to recharge, or making a decision that brings you closer to a long term goal, those moments of intention really matter. And when it comes to the choices we make with our money, that same mindset applies. I've learned that saving for the things that truly matter, like your first home or a reliable car, starts with small, thoughtful decisions. That's why I appreciate what State Farm is doing with their personal price plan. It gives you the power to personalize your plan and create an affordable price that works for your life. You can bundle your home and auto insurance in a way that supports your journey and your goals. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state. This back to school season, spend less on your kids with Amazon. I was talking to one of my closest friends the other day. He has two kids and every year.
- [72:40]
Claude
It'S the same routine.
- [72:42]
Olga Hazan
One kid wants a very specific backpack. I'm talking not just blue, but navy blue with a neon green zipper and a galaxy print. The other lost their lunchbox before the first week of school even ended. Last Year he's like, j, I swear they get more expensive every time they grow an inch. And I get it. Kids grow, seasons change, and somehow they always need five new things they didn't need last year. But what doesn't have to change how much you spend on them. So remember, with Amazon's low back to school prices, just spend less on your kids, because every dollar you don't spend on them is a dollar you haven't spent on them. Shop back to school at Amazon and spend less on your kids is. You've probably been hearing about AI everywhere, and we all need to be mindful of the tools we trust. In this new chapter of technology, Claude is the if you know, you know, AI assistant that just feels different. While other AIs often sound like robots, Claude has been created with special research that informs its character, meaning that that Claude just gets it when it comes to empathy and emotional intelligence. That's why millions of people are turning to Claude for parenting tips, dating advice, mindful habits like journaling, budgeting, and so much more. Claude has been thoughtfully crafted by Anthropic and its team of researchers whose mission is to design the most capable and secure systems that place people at the center. You can try Claude for free at any time. And for a special offer on premium capabilities with Claude Pro, head to Claude. AI forward, slash, purpose. That's C L, A U D E A I. Forward, slash, purpose. And back to our episode.
- [74:35]
Jay Shetty
I think this is called social investment theory, but it's essentially this idea that over time, situations do change us. Like as there, you know, there have been studies that found that as, as people get a job that they're really interested in and become really committed to, they become more conscientious. Naturally, of course, they're learning this skill in order to do it for their job. After people fall in love, they've done studies that found that they become more extroverted and more agreeable because your partner is bringing out those qualities in you. They're kind of highlighting these good parts of you and saying, look, look, you have this in you. And I think that's really cool. I think it's good to know that as you take on these roles, eventually over time, you know, it's gonna be gradual. You'll kind of shape shift to meet the moment. And, you know, you have to want to do it. You know, there's a lot of, like, parents out there who could probably stand to put more of a concerted effort into it, but I do think it's, it's hopeful that Situations will bring out qualities in us.
- [75:34]
Claude
How does this work apply to people in relationships where they want their partner to change? And you'll hear someone go, I just see their potential. I know who they could be. They could really get it together, but they don't see it in themselves. Yeah, someone's thinking that way. How would you encourage them to think about change?
- [75:54]
Jay Shetty
I really wish I had written a chapter of this book called how to change your partner, because every single interviewer has asked me that question, and I don't really have a good answer, because we haven't really studied how to change other people. This is like the brick wall that all of society, like, bangs their head against, which is that we all wish our partners were a certain way and that our partners are never going to be that way. Complet. So, first of all, like, any profound and serious change over time has to come from within. Right. Like, if. If you really want to make someone, like, less anxious, saying, like, just calm down, stop worrying, you know, it doesn't work. They have to want to be less anxious. For some of the skills, though, or for some of the traits, it can be something where, like, maybe you introduce your partner to some of the tools that will help them be more conscientious. Maybe like. Like you start an exercise program together, for example, Maybe you start, hey, let's, like, both set a time every week where we're gonna sync up our calendars and figure out who needs to be where, when. You can do these, like, little tools and strategies to kind of move them closer, especially to conscientiousness. This has been found to work well where, like, you can kind of do it in the background, and it just kind of works. They don't have to really want it. It's hard because in order to keep that going, in order to go on a run, you know, without you, they have to want. Want to do it. People want different things in life. That's, like, part of what motivates personality change and what motivates everything else. You could try asking them if they seem to be living in accordance with their values. It's like, hey, you said that you really wanted to exercise this year, and we haven't done anything in weeks. Do you feel like we're exercising enough? You could do some motivational interviewing, but ultimately, people have to find it in themselves to do the things that. That are good for them.
- [77:40]
Claude
Yeah. People don't change for people. No, they change for themselves.
- [77:44]
Jay Shetty
Yeah.
- [77:45]
Claude
And they change when they want to, they change how they want to, and they Change at their pace, in their time. And this idea that you have the power to change anyone, if you just stopped for a moment and thought about how hard it's been to change yourself, right. You'd immediately realize that you have zero power over anyone else. And the reason why you're being asked by everyone is because I think it's the biggest myth. Because we think that if we can see someone's potential, we can change them. We think that if we can see someone's amazing future, we can change them. And we think if we can see what someone could be and achieve, that we're somehow holier than them for seeing that. And we think of it as well intentioned. But actually it's not. Because well intentioned means I let you become who you want to become and I accept that that's who you are. And sometimes it's painful because you can truly see what someone's capable of and that can be well intentioned. But until they really believe they want that for themselves, it really doesn't matter. And that is one of the most painful things to watch. Is someone lose out on their potential?
- [78:51]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. I mean, and you can talk to any relative of an addict or anyone who sees a clear path for someone and they won't take it. It's very hard to make other people do things.
- [79:03]
Claude
How does someone who's more pessimistic and negative and is listening to us right now and thinking, Olga, I want to become more of an optimistic or at least realistic person. Where do I start? How does that personality change look?
- [79:18]
Jay Shetty
Well, you've come to the right place. Cause I am very negative and pessimistic. I would say I still am, even despite, you know, this huge project that I did where I really, really tried to change myself. So something that I came across that was really helpful for this is the work of Tracy Dennis Tiwari, who's a psychologist who studies anxiety. And a big thing kind of an idea that I had about my anxiety was that I need anxiety to kind of help me avoid bad stuff. Like I need, like I will, I will screw up and like not get where I need to be or like, you know, mess things up unless I stay really anxious and vigilant. And eventually what that would do is turn into just constantly worrying and constantly being in a negative space where I was, I was never really enjoying anything because I was worrying about the next thing. So anxiety, you can worry, you can think about the things that could go wrong. Right. Like if you're putting in an offer on a house or Trying to get a new job or whatever you're doing. You can think about, like, oh, how. How could this interview go wrong? Right. But also think about how it could go right. Really. Most things in life, some things go wrong and some things go right, like, you know, what we were saying earlier. And you can actually make a list of your worries of things that could go wrong with this, but then make another column of, like, things that could go right with this. And how will I try to move, like, more of these into this other column? Because it is. It's unrealistic to only worry and to only think about the negative because some amount of things will. Will go well, or even if some of those bad things happen, there might be good in them or things that are, you know, maybe not so bad as. As you feared. Um, so I would just. Just. I call it reverse worrying. And it's just. It's not just like, positive thinking. I'm sure everything will be fine. It's just some things will be fine.
- [81:05]
Claude
Yeah. And I like the idea of consciously having to think about those again. It's just rewiring those thoughts that are so habituated to constantly pull you in that negative cycle. And, and you're right. It isn't this false toxic positivity because that isn't helpful or healthy at all. And it does take a lot of practice and repetition because, yeah, you're likely to wake up in the morning and the first thought you have is, oh, I'm so tired, just don't want to get out of bed. And so your first thought of the day is a negative, pessimistic one, as opposed to an optimistic, thoughtful one of, all right, I'm glad I got six hours last night, you know, or. Okay, well, yeah, I didn't get enough sleep last night. Let me get a bed early tonight. Whatever that may be could. Could make the shift. What about someone who's feeling like they're a people pleaser and they want to set boundaries, but they struggle with it because they're scared of being seen as selfish or assertive? How did they start making that shift?
- [82:06]
Jay Shetty
I've really had to apply this with parenting, but you can kind of, in a way, you can kind of parent people around you. Not literally, but you can kind of like, use some of the tools from parenting with other people, which is make people feel heard. Like, if someone's upset with you about something. To give you an example, I had a friend who texted me to say that she wanted me to check in with her via text message, at least once a week and that we were not going to be friends unless I text check in with her once a week. And I don't like texting. I just. It's. It's a. It's a very, like, scheduling platform for me, not a, like, emotional one. And I. I just don't like it. And so at the time, I sort of was like. Because it was before this project, I was like, oh, of course I'll do whatever you want. I'll. People, please. Right? I'll. I'll text you every week. And of course, I did it twice and then forgot because I don't actually like doing it. So what I learned from Miriam Kirmeyer, who's like, a friendship expert, is you can say, like, hey, I hear you. You feel like I'm not checking in with you enough. You feel like we're not connected. I totally get that. The thing is, I really don't like texting people in order to have conversations. It interrupts my workflow. Is there another way that we can do this that will meet your underlying need of being seen in this friendship and being checked in on and going through this hard thing with me, checking on you, but not require me to use this platform that I really don't like to do this thing that I really feel like it's not well equipped for? Maybe we could schedule a weekly phone call. Call. Maybe we could go for a walk. Maybe we could do, you know, this other list of activities. There's almost always a solution like that where you're meeting the underlying need, but you're not doing it in this way that is, like, not workable for you.
- [83:49]
Claude
I love that because it is an underlying need. That person doesn't really want a text every week.
- [83:54]
Jay Shetty
No, that's.
- [83:55]
Claude
That's them trying to find the bare minimum way to keep you in their life. That's really what they're doing, is what's the least I can ask for to try and keep this person alive in my life? But what I actually want is a really meaningful conversation once a month on the phone or in person where we go out for dinner or have tea or whatever it may be. And that's what I'm really looking for. And I think the more our relationships go to solving the underlying need, the less bitter we'll feel around. Hey, but I text you every week and you still don't feel close to me. I remember one of my friends said to me, she said, I just don't spend any time with my partner. And I said, well, he just told Me, you guys went away last weekend, and she said, yeah, but he was reading a book or the news or whatever it was, and I was trying to entertain the kids, and we didn't spend any time together. And I was like, well, the underlying need is alone, time, presence, connection. It's not time. You did have time together. You were both in the same place at the same time. But the underlying need is wanting, connection in a safe space. And probably. And, you know, it's asking that person, what is that underlying need? And all of a sudden you start to realize it's eye contact, it's vulnerability, it's being able to share something that I've been struggling with. And I find that no one ever communicates that. We always communicate as like, oh, can we just see each other once a week? And that's not really, you know, what you're looking for.
- [85:27]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. And this also works, I found, with, like, political disagreements. So when someone just comes at you. I have people in my life who I really disagree with politically on very important issues. When someone comes at you and just starts ranting at you about their worldview that you don't agree with, often it's because they are kind of making a bid for connection. Like, they're like, hey, this thing is so important to me. Like, is it important to you, too? Like, they're kind of trying to get you into their world. And once you see that, it becomes less about, like, this person is my political enemy and more about this person wants to establish a friendship. Let's find something else to, like, base it on, because we don't agree on this. But, you know, it can become almost like a. Like a friendly thing as opposed to this, you know, political fight.
- [86:08]
Claude
That's a really beautiful, nuanced point of. If you notice people's conversations as a expression of them inviting you into their world, which is often what it is, you start realizing it's actually not that much of a. It doesn't have some deep agenda or something. It's just them saying, this is what I think about. It's. It's really tough because we're all so busy and moving so fast that when you see something you don't like or doesn't, and I think that's what we've got to. In society today, is if I see a message or someone post something on their stories that I don't like, I start labeling them as someone that I don't want to interact with, rather than seeing that person as just a human who's expressing their thoughts, beliefs, and things they're interested in.
- [86:51]
Jay Shetty
Exactly.
- [86:51]
Claude
And we just don't have the time and capacity for that. I was going to ask, ask can an introvert actually become an extrovert? If they want to, so I think they can.
- [87:01]
Jay Shetty
But I would recommend against thinking of yourself as a pure introvert or extrovert. It's really uncommon to be all the way to one end or the other of introversion and extroversion. Let's say you. You are quite introverted, though, like, you would basically consider yourself almost all the way introverted. I think it is possible to become extroverted, but is. It's going to take a lot of work. It's going to take a lot of effort. I think I kind of realized that I was more extroverted than I maybe was thinking at the beginning of this project. I kind of found that when I didn't go to improv, I would really miss it. Or when I didn't go to my little silly meetups, I was kind of like, the weekend felt a little empty. So I would kind of avoid categorizing yourself and I would just see what it feels like to have more social interaction than you're used to. But let's say it doesn't feel amazing. Like, let's say you're like. It is actually quite exhausting. And you're like, I do need that quiet time alone to recharge. There's this concept called free traits that some psychologists have, which is that like, rather than permanently changing to where it's like, I'm a total extrovert in every situation, I want to talk to people. You kind of learn the ability to kind of try on this personality trait. It's almost like an invisibility cloak or something where you can kind of like put on extraversion and then do whatever it is you need to do with that extroversion. So a lot of times college professors will do this because they have to give these, like, interesting lectures, you know, but they're. The way they got to where they are is because they're good at, like, reading papers for, you know, 12 hours at a time. So they're usually. They are pretty introverted. And Brian Little, he kind of does say that he puts on extroversion. Like he puts on the free trade of extroversion, goes out and gives his lecture, and then he has to, like, go hide by himself. He can't, you know, stay in that room in glad hand. He has to go retreat and kind of restore to his introversion. So that's another way to think about. About it. I think that's still personality change because it's still allowing you to meet your goals that you have. And it's not permanent. But, you know, to anyone who talks to him, he would be an extrovert.
- [89:05]
Claude
And it's just reconciling that with. Again, I just see this. This challenge that we have with that today, which I don't think is. It's valid, but it's not justified. This idea of, oh, but that's inauthentic. Like, you're just. You're just using your. You're just manipulating something or you're adopting a skill and it's like, well, no, we all have to have skills at work that we don't use at home.
- [89:27]
Jay Shetty
Yeah, right.
- [89:28]
Claude
You're not that person at work. And you wouldn't try and organize your family in the way you project manager work. And it's not inauthentic to turn that off at home. It's. It's normal to do that. And so, yes, if you need to develop communication skills to get promoted, that's a healthy investment, because that's an important part of your life, if it is. And those skills will probably come in handy at home and in your personal life, too.
- [89:51]
Jay Shetty
Oh, totally. Yeah.
- [89:52]
Claude
So it's almost like, how do we start looking at life as the accumulation of skills and abilities and traits and habits as opposed to shifting our entire identity because of that. Just in the same way as if you wore color today, you're now not someone who just wears color.
- [90:09]
Jay Shetty
Exactly.
- [90:10]
Claude
You know, but it's weird how the mind kind of plays that trick in saying, oh, I'm just people pleasing, or I'm just shape shifting, which I think has become such a worry today.
- [90:19]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. Or masking people. Yeah. I've heard about, like, people saying, I'm masking if I'm, like, doing anything functional, and I'm like, who knows? I mean, we are all masking to some extent. Like. Like, I have to go on the radio sometimes, and that's definitely, you know, I don't talk all the time. Like, I talk on npr. We all have different ways of presenting ourselves depending on the situation.
- [90:43]
Claude
Yeah, definitely. I wanted to ask you the last few sections of question. How does this apply to people who are diagnosed with depression or adhd? Can they also change that through this work, or is that very different?
- [90:56]
Jay Shetty
There's actually been this push in psychology to identify the personality traits that are associated with things like depression and adhd. So my depression score went way down with changing neuroticism neuroticism and depression and anxiety are very closely linked. A lot of these things that we think of as sort of mental illnesses or mental health conditions actually have a personality trait component to them. And mbsr, the class that I took, actually has gone head to head with Lexapro, the antidepressant, and it works just as well. So in some ways, changing. Really? Yeah.
- [91:28]
Claude
Wow.
- [91:29]
Jay Shetty
So in some ways, changing your personality trait can address some of these, whatever you want to call them, mental health conditions that you might not be thrilled with to have in your life. So if it is depression, you know, something like meditation or therapy can really go a great deal to addressing that. If it's something like adhd, some people think that's just like a form of low conscientiousness. So if you think about it, it's just not having the systems in place to remember where your stuff is and where you need to be and what's on your calendar. So a lot of the therapists who work with adults, adults with adhd, basically just give them the tools that they use for conscientiousness. So it's like, here's a Google Calendar, like, fill it out with every single thing you need to do this week. Here's Todoist, an app that I use. Here's a clock that you can set 15 minutes at a time. It's coming up with the tools that people use to change personality traits, too. And there's actually a new effort to treat a borderline personality disorder, which is a. A mental condition. It also has a personality component, obviously by changing personality traits. It's using some of the strategies in the book and, and through therapy to actually shift people's levels of agreeableness and, and so forth and, and actually help cure bpd.
- [92:43]
Claude
Yeah. I think we're just living at that time right now where it feels like work to go to MBSR or to therapy and you don't actually end up having any skills.
- [92:54]
Jay Shetty
Yeah, right.
- [92:54]
Claude
Like with the pill, like, you don't. You don't change your reality, you're numbing something or you're better at dealing with it, or there's a sense of this doesn't worry me anymore. But there's not really an expansion of ability and skill and. And my. I mean, I'm mindful of the fact that people are on very, very different levels and may need it, but it's quite fascinating to hear that MBSR has that ability and similar scores.
- [93:20]
Jay Shetty
Yeah. And what you have to keep in mind is that. And I'm pro Antidepressants, whatever works for people, but, you know, they can reach a point where they don't work very well anymore. But the skills that you learn through something like meditation, mindfulness, even like a, you know, a cognitive behavioral therapy, they'll be with you through life even when you don't have your Xanax handy or whatever. So it's something I recommend maybe doing even in tandem with whatever antidepressant.
- [93:44]
Claude
We end every episode of On Purpose with a final five. So these questions have to be answered in one word to one sentence maximum.
- [93:52]
Jay Shetty
Okay.
- [93:52]
Claude
So, Olga Hazan, these are your final five. Question number one is what is the best advice you've ever heard or received? And you can apply it all to personality in your world. So what is the best advice you've ever heard or received?
- [94:04]
Jay Shetty
Go work at a place that will let you do exactly what you want to be doing, even if it's a very small establishment.
- [94:13]
Claude
Question number two. What is the worst advice you've ever heard or received?
- [94:16]
Jay Shetty
That if something is difficult, it's not worth doing?
- [94:19]
Claude
Question number three. What's something that you used to think was true about personality but now you've changed your mind on it?
- [94:26]
Jay Shetty
I used to think that your birth order was the most important thing that determined your personality.
- [94:32]
Claude
Interesting.
- [94:32]
Jay Shetty
And it is actually not at all important.
- [94:35]
Olga Hazan
Let's talk about that. Because people feel like I'm from the.
- [94:37]
Claude
First child or the third child or this middle child.
- [94:39]
Jay Shetty
Eldest daughter. Yeah.
- [94:41]
Claude
None of that stuff's real.
- [94:42]
Jay Shetty
No.
- [94:43]
Claude
Wow.
- [94:43]
Jay Shetty
There are some gender effects so that you could be picking up on being a daughter versus a son, but the birth order, it's very negligible. It's extremely small.
- [94:53]
Claude
Question number four. What is the biggest change that you've seen in yourself going on this journey that you're most grateful for now, looking back.
- [95:02]
Jay Shetty
Oh, it's that I think I need to connect with other people in order to be happy.
- [95:07]
Claude
And you didn't used to believe that?
- [95:08]
Jay Shetty
No, I used to think that I could just be a little astronaut in space and never talk to anyone and be totally fine. I think I especially as a new mom, I joined a bunch of new moms groups and I really need those. You can't do it alone.
- [95:20]
Claude
I love that. Fifth and final question. We ask this to every guest who's ever been on the show. If you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?
- [95:30]
Jay Shetty
No flaking on plans at the last minute. What's with that?
- [95:34]
Claude
I love it when someone cancels on me.
- [95:35]
Olga Hazan
It's like such a. Oh, you have.
- [95:37]
Jay Shetty
The joy of missing out.
- [95:38]
Claude
I never cancel last minute because I'm not that guy. But I love someone canceling on me last minute.
- [95:44]
Jay Shetty
No. And it's always like, you know, I just can't today. It's like, yes, you can. You do it every other day. Like, come on.
- [95:50]
Claude
I love it. There has to be some punishment for that. Then if you break that law.
- [95:54]
Jay Shetty
No hanging out with that person for a whole week. I don't know. I don't know what the punishment would be.
- [95:58]
Olga Hazan
I love it everyone.
- [95:59]
Claude
The book is called Me, but the Science and Promise of Personality Change by Olga Azana. I hope you've enjoyed this conversation. Make sure you share your favorite reflections, the experiments you're trying, the takeaways from.
- [96:12]
Olga Hazan
The book as you're reading it.
- [96:14]
Claude
Please post them and tag both of us on Instagram on TikTok. I love seeing all your stories and reels to see what resonates with you. Olga, thank you so much for coming on the show again. It's been wonderful to meet you and thank you so much for helping us teach us how to be ourselves, but better. So thank you so much.
- [96:30]
Jay Shetty
Yeah, thank you so much.
- [96:31]
Olga Hazan
If you love this episode, you'll love my conversation with Dr. Joe Dispenza on why stress and overthinking negatively impacts your brain and heart and how to change your habits that are on autopilot.
- [96:43]
Claude
Listen to it right now. How many times do we have to forget? Until we stop forgetting and start remembering. That's the moment of change.
- [96:51]
Jay Shetty
No one cares how many times you.
- [96:53]
Claude
Fell off the bicycle. If you ride the bicycle now, you ride the bike.
- [96:59]
Olga Hazan
Balancing work, family and education isn't easy, but American Public University makes it possible with online courses, monthly start dates, and flexible schedules. APU is designed for busy professionals who need education that fits their lives. And Affordability matters, too. APU offers the opportunity grant, giving students 10% off undergraduate and master's level tuition, helping you reach your goals without breaking the bank. Plus, they provide career services and 247 mental health support and no extra cost. Visit Apu Apus Edu to learn more. That's Apu Apus Edu. I've been seeing a lot more EVs lately. Parked in driveways, passing on the road, friends making the switch. And they all say the same thing. These cars are simpler. Fewer parts, fewer repairs, fewer headaches. That's what makes EVs worth considering. Less to break, less to fix. Even if you haven't made the move yet. It's hard to ignore the shift. They're more affordable, more available, and honestly.
- [98:13]
Claude
Just makes sense for everyday life.
- [98:15]
Olga Hazan
The way forward is electric. Learn more@electricforall.org Lately I've been trying to be more intentional, even with small decisions like cooking at home instead of ordering out. It's simple, but it helps me save for things that truly matter. That's why I love the State Farm Personal Price Plan. It lets you bundle home and auto insurance to create an affordable price that fits your needs. It's one of those thoughtful choices that support the life you're trying to build. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.
- [99:10]
Jay Shetty
This is an iHeart podcast.