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#78 Kill Self-Doubt FOREVER with Dr. Shade Zahrai

Feb 5, 2026

Guest

Dr Shadé Zahrai

Dr. Shadé Zahrai, behavioral researcher and peak performance educator with a PhD and former corporate lawyer, maps a research-backed path to self-trust. She discusses why raising your hand before you feel ready, how to plan for setbacks, and the four pillars of self-trust. Expect practical tools like worry lists, if-then plans, and shifting from comparison to emulation.

01:54:25

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insights

INSIGHT

Self-Trust Predicts Life Outcomes

The four elements of self-trust predict job performance, relationships, and income.
Strengthening self-trust is a high-impact lever across life domains.

insights

INSIGHT

Bronze Winners Feel Happier Than Silver

Upward counterfactuals (focusing on how you could've done better) make near-misses worse than clear losses.
Shifting attention to downward comparisons or learning preserves satisfaction and momentum.

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ADVICE

Curate Your Social Feed

Curate your circle: unfollow or reduce time with people whose presence pokes at your wounds.
Temporarily protect your energy until you build proof points and then reassess those connections.

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How Shadé Left Law for Purpose

02:00 • 3min

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The Raise-Your-Hand Career Moment

04:39 • 4min

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Try Things to Find Your Purpose

08:45 • 3min

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Confidence vs. Self-Trust

11:18 • 2min

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The Four Elements of Self-Trust

13:23 • 3min

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The Anxious Overachiever Profile

16:10 • 2min

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Origins of the Inner Critic

18:19 • 4min

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Can Personality Change?

22:40 • 2min

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Turning Failure Into Learning

24:52 • 3min

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Plan for Problems: Implementation Intentions

27:24 • 3min

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Michael Phelps: Visualize Setbacks

30:54 • 2min

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Fear of Social Rejection Explains Failure Anxiety

32:35 • 3min

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Social Media, Standards, and Comparison

35:45 • 3min

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Outcome vs. Process: Elizabeth Gilbert's Insight

38:42 • 29sec

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Vision, Proof Points, and Tiny Steps

39:11 • 3min

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Comparison: Look Down to Feel Better

41:53 • 7min

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Shift From Comparison to Emulation

48:59 • 4min

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Overthinking vs. Metacognition

53:26 • 4min

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Tool: Worry List and Worry Time

Writing, Meditation, and the Balcony Metaphor

01:15:23 • 9min

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Managing Toxic People and Boundaries

01:24:12 • 6min

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Imposter Phenomenon: Not Broken, Common Experience

01:30:10 • 6min

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Credentials Don't Cure Unworthiness

01:35:52 • 7min

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Big Trust Book and Doubt Quiz

01:42:57 • 5min

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Pick One Tool and Build Habitually

• Mentioned in 16 episodes

Big Trust

Dr Shadé Zahrai

#1005

• Mentioned in 37 episodes

Becoming supernatural

Joe Dispenza

In 'Becoming Supernatural', Dr. Joe Dispenza draws on research from his advanced workshops since 2012 to show how common people can achieve extraordinary transformations. The book combines scientific research in epigenetics, quantum physics, and neuroscience with ancient spiritual wisdom. Readers learn how to balance the body’s 7 energy centers, free themselves from the past, and create reality in the present moment by changing their energy. It also covers topics such as changing brain chemistry to initiate mystical experiences, accessing the quantum field, and the role of the pineal gland in spiritual experiences. The book aims to help readers develop a more efficient, balanced, healthy body and an unlimited mind.

• Mentioned in 1,373 episodes

Atomic Habits

James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth.

#196

• Mentioned in 116 episodes

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert

In 'Eat, Pray, Love', Elizabeth Gilbert chronicles her journey as she leaves behind her outwardly successful but inwardly unfulfilling life in the United States. The book is divided into three parts, each set in a different country: Italy, where she seeks pleasure and indulges in the local culture; India, where she delves into spiritual practices and meditation; and Bali, Indonesia, where she aims to find a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. The memoir is a personal and introspective account of Gilbert's struggles, growth, and self-discovery during her travels.

Dr. Shadé Zahrai is a behavioral researcher, award-winning peak performance educator, and leading authority on confidence and self-doubt. With a background as a corporate lawyer and an MBA and PhD in organizational behavior, she has designed transformative programs for Fortune 500 companies.

In this episode Dr. Shadé Zahrai shares insights on the importance of self-trust and how it can transform your life. Discover practical steps to align your career with what truly matters, drawing from research-backed methods that drive real change.

Read "Big Trust": https://www.shadezahrai.com/bigtrust

Episode 78 Chapters:

0:00 intro

6:59 Why should you “raise your hand” before you feel ready?

23:03 Can you actually change your personality traits?

30:03 Why does your brain fear failure and rejection so much?

34:58 Is social media making your fear of judgment worse?

38:59 Are you trapped by your current self-image?

42:02 How do you stop your mind from paralyzing you?

45:00 What is “Big Trust” and how do you build it?

50:01 Why does comparison steal your happiness?

55:04 Does insecurity push you forward or just make you miserable?

58:01 Is “imposter syndrome” actually just a normal human feeling?

1:01:00 Would you feel like an imposter designing the Nike logo?

1:05:59 Do your own rules and standards trap you mentally?

1:09:03 How do you break the overthinking loop for real?

1:14:59 Can writing your worries down calm your brain?

1:17:59 Is meditation the fastest way to gain perspective?

1:27:00 Why do problems feel heavier the longer you hold them?

1:29:57 How do you protect yourself from toxic people draining you?

1:37:59 Do you feel unworthy and how can you measure real change?

1:43:03 How do you track progress without fooling yourself?

1:47:02 Can you rewrite your past by changing what it means?

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Find out more about Dr Shade Zahrai:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shadezahrai

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadezahrai/

Website: https://www.shadezahrai.com/

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