Sunday Pick: How to challenge your self-limiting beliefs with Shawn Achor | from ReThinking with Adam Grant

Elise Hue (0:03)

Happy Sunday, y'all. Elise Hue here. And today, we're bringing you a Sunday pick where we share an episode of another podcast from TED, handpicked by us for you. Your beliefs about yourself and the world have a big impact on your mental health, relationships and success.

As a proponent of positive psychology, Shawn Achor has spent his career studying how to challenge and change the core beliefs that might be holding us back. In this episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, Shawn and Adam dive into the surprising connections between happiness and success, and discuss the science of optimism and pessimism. Shawn also describes seven key beliefs that undermine happiness, breaks down strategies for shifting those beliefs, and asks Adam to weigh in on how to convince leaders to care about the well-being of their people. To hear more deep conversations, you can find ReThinking wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about TED's podcasts at podcasts.ted.com. Now on to the episode right after a short break.

This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Ah, fall, that cozy season where we swap the swimwear for sweaters and sunnies for scarves. But before the Halloween decorations are put away or the Thanksgiving table has been set, there's already holly jolly music playing in the grocery store, reminding you that the year is coming to a close. Time to kick end of year into high gear. When you use Apple Card with Apple Pay, you earn 2% daily cash back on all purchases, including food, decorations, gifts and more. Get a head start on your end of year purchases. Apply for your Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone today. And start using it right away with Apple Pay. Subject to credit approval, Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs, BankUSA, Salt Lake City Branch, Terms and More at applecard.com.

This episode is brought to you by TikTok. I used to think great work was about being in the right head space. Then I found a TikTok video that made me think about my physical space. An interior designer explores how things like ceiling height and room size might influence how we think. Now I wonder how much of our environment shapes our work without us noticing. Now I'm looking at my work space, asking what kind of thinking I'm making room for. On TikTok, one idea can change how you see something you thought you knew. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok.

This episode is sponsored by Ethos as a mom of three girls. I spent a lot of time thinking about their futures, what kind of world they'll grow up in, what they'll be passionate about, who my girls will become. Part of being their mom is doing everything I can to make sure they'll be okay no matter what happens. Life insurance gives me that peace of mind. And if you're thinking about ways to protect your loved ones too, Ethos can help. Ethos makes getting life insurance fast and easy, 100 percent online. You can get a quote in seconds, apply in minutes and get same day coverage. There's no medical exam, you just answer a few simple health questions. You can get up to $3 million in coverage with some policies as low as $30 a month. Take 10 minutes to get covered today with life insurance through Ethos. Get your free quote at ethos.com/tedtalks. That's ethos.com/tedtalks.

Application times may vary, rates may vary.

Shawn Achor (3:30)

I think AI is amazing at helping us with tasks. It can predict the odds of whether or not you'll survive cancer or whether or not you'll successfully land a job. But it can never believe that you can overcome those odds. Belief requires an essence of willpower. It changes whether or not we try to make friends or to date or to get jobs. Beliefs change not only the math about what's possible and probable, but it changes our path too.

Adam Grant (3:57)

Hey everyone, it's Adam Grant. Welcome back to ReThinking, my podcast with Ted on the science of what makes us tick. I'm an organizational psychologist and I'm taking you inside the minds of fascinating people to explore new thoughts and new ways of thinking.

Shawn Achor is a positive psychology evangelist, best known for his case that happiness drives success, not the other way around. He gave one of the first viral TED Talks about it.

Shawn Achor (4:24)

When I was seven years old and my sister was just five years old, we were playing on top of a bunk bed. Somehow without any help or push from her older brother at all, suddenly Amy disappeared off at the top of the bunk bed and landed with this crash on the floor. She landed painfully on her hands and knees on all fours on the ground. I said, Amy, Amy, wait, don't cry, don't cry. Did you see how you landed? No human lands on all fours like that. Amy, I think this means you're a unicorn.