How to Believe in Yourself
When was the last time you set a goal and struggled to reach it? Perhaps you're trying to write a novel but can't seem to get started. Or maybe you want to master a sport, but you keep making the same mistakes over and over again. This week, organizational psychologist Adam Grant guides us through the science of human potential, and teaches us how to uncover our own abilities.
- Duration
- 57m
- Broadcast on
- 18 Dec 2023
- Audio Format
- other
This episode appears to contain dynamically inserted ads. Transcript timestamps may be approximate.
When was the last time you set a goal and struggled to reach it? Perhaps you're trying to write a novel but can't seem to get started. Or maybe you want to master a sport, but you keep making the same mistakes over and over again. This week, organizational psychologist Adam Grant guides us through the science of human potential, and teaches us how to uncover our own abilities.
If you love Hidden Brain, please consider joining Hidden Brain+, our podcast subscription! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, or by clicking here.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This is Hidden Brain, I'm Shankar Vedanta. We've all heard the urban legend of the mother, who upon finding her child trapped under a car, is able to summon superhuman strength to lift the vehicle from the ground and save her child. It turns out, there's truth to the legend. In 1982, Angela Kavalo's son was working on a Chevy Impala when it fell on top of him. Angela lifted the car high enough off the ground that two neighbors could pull her son to safety. A similar event happened in 2019, when an Ohio teen lifted a car to save his neighbor's life. In 2006, a Canadian woman saved a group of children, including her own two sons, by fighting off a polar bear. It's unclear, biologically, how people can summon godlike strength in scenarios like these. But it raises an interesting question. Are we all capable of more than we think? You often hear echoes of this theme in the biographies of famous people. At 21, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS and given only a few years to live. He not only defied the odds and lived to the age of 76, he also went on to become one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists of all time. Bethany Hamilton was 13 when a shark bit off her left arm. She went on to become a professional surfer who has won multiple championships. It makes you think, doesn't it? What can I accomplish if I really set my mind in heart to it? What am I keeping myself from accomplishing by believing it to be impossible? The science of human potential and psychological insights on how to discover our potential. This week on Hidden Brain. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Instagram. Instagram teen accounts automatic protections limit who can contact teens, the content they can see, and the time they spend on the app. Teens are automatically placed into teen accounts. Teens under 16 will need a parent's permission to change any of those settings to be less strict. Learn more about teen accounts and Instagram's ongoing work to protect teens online at instagram.com/teenaccounts. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Defender. Even the boldest journey starts small, with a single decision to go somewhere new. The Defender 110 is a vehicle built for those moments for drivers capable of great things, whether they're headed toward uncharted territory or just a weekend away. The Defender 110 combines on-road presence with off-road capability. It looks tough because it is, with an exterior engineered for durability. Inside, capability meets comfort with seating for five and the option for seven plus refined finishes and thoughtful design. It's also packed with intuitive tech, like 3D surround cameras with clear-side ground view to help you navigate rough terrain, and the next-generation PIVI Pro infotainment system designed to keep you informed, connected, and in control, no matter the path. The Defender 110 is naturally capable, expedition ready, and built for those ready to move forward. Explore the Defender 110 at Land Rover USA.com. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Progressive. Whoever says saving money is hard, doesn't know that new customers who bundle and save with Progressive save hundreds. Because switching your home and auto insurance is better than cutting down on those iced lattes you love. Switch to Progressive and see if you could save. Get your quote today at Progressive.com, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, affiliates, and other insurers. Not available in all states. There's the old joke about how you get to Carnegie Hall. Practice, practice, practice. What keeps us from reaching our true potential in life? Well, that's easy. We should figure out what we ought to do and then do it. But like that joke about Carnegie Hall, the devil is in the details. At the University of Pennsylvania, organizational psychologist Adam Grant has studied how, when, and why our minds get bogged down by obstacles. In his book, Hidden Potential, Adam explores a psychology of how we can become the best versions of ourselves.
Transcription truncated.
When was the last time you set a goal and struggled to reach it? Perhaps you're trying to write a novel but can't seem to get started. Or maybe you want to master a sport, but you keep making the same mistakes over and over again. This week, organizational psychologist Adam Grant guides us through the science of human potential, and teaches us how to uncover our own abilities.