Why Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar

#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical tools to break out of rumination and navigate uncertainty.

Maya Shankar is the bestselling author of The Other Side of Change, and hosts the podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She previously served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and led the White House Behavioral Science Team.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/navigating-change-maya-shankar

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Resources Mentioned

Maya: Website | Instagram

• Book: The Other Side of Change
• Podcast: A Slight Change of Plans

Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke

Deep Personality Assessment

ATH Podcast

• Ep #81: Making Smarter Decisions and Knowing When to Walk Away with Annie Duke
• Ep #265: I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep
• Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
• Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(00:38) What People Get Wrong About Change

(05:14) The Antidote That Makes Change Easier

(12:11) Past Change vs. Intentional Change

(16:02) Maximisers vs. Satisficers

(19:10) Anchor Your Identity to Your Why

(23:15) How to Discover Your Why

(25:03) Navigating Change With a Very Different Partner

(29:17) Breaking the Rumination Cycle

(29:58) Mental Time Travel

(31:55) Affect Labeling

(32:39) Tools for Better Self-Understanding

(36:01) AI as a Conversational Partner

(39:43) Tactics For Thinking Through Big Changes

(42:01) Moral Elevation

(43:36) Why Reading Fiction Matters

(44:29) Repurposing Your Experience

(45:34) The First Step When Everything Changes

(47:31) Where to Find More From Maya

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