Social Mirrors and the Looking-Glass Self

In this episode, Niall speaks with Olga Khazan, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of “Weird” and “Me, But Better”. Drawing on research and personal experimentation, Olga shows how our personalities are more flexible than we often realise—and how intentional change can lead to greater fulfilment and success. In this conversation, they explore: — Why personality change often starts with letting go of limiting self-narratives — How Buddhist principles can reduce neuroticism and anxiety — Why acting against your natural tendencies sometimes brings unexpected benefits — The link between personality traits and life outcomes — How setting meaningful goals can support positive personality change And more. You can learn more about Olga’s work at http://olgakhazan.com. --- Olga Khazan is a staff writer for The Atlantic. Prior to that, she was The Atlantic’s Global editor. She has also written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and other publications. She is the author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change and Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World. --- Interview Links: — Olga’s website - https://olgakhazan.com — Olga's new book: Me, But Better - https://amzn.to/4rBLDly — Sneak peeks from Olga's book - https://olgakhazan.substack.com