The 7 Beliefs That Will Change Your Reality Forever

This episode of the Oprah podcast is. presented by our fantastic partners at. The Farmer's Dog. We saw a TikTok with 17 million views of. a young woman who was crashing out. >> me to be honest? I'm angry. I'm mad. I'm mad because I care more. about you than you care about me. And. then no matter how much I try to let go. of it and give it to God,

it's still so heavy. >> Wow, you were having a day. >> I was. >> You were having a day. >> Beliefs are more powerful than I think. we give them credit for. >> Yeah. >> You wrote a whole book, so you give them. a lot of credit. >> I I'm a big fan of beliefs, so yeah. >> them a lot of credit. >> There's lots of definitions of belief. [music] Mine is just a simple one. It's. the lens which you view the world. >> What advice do you have [music] to this. generation of people who are dating, who. have no belief that finding true love is. real? >> That question is going to him, not to. me.

I know this for sure. You do not become. what you wish for. You do not become. what you want. You do not become even. what you aspire to. You become exactly. what you believe is possible. [music]. Okay, so Forbes was doing a list on 250. of the greatest self-made. people in the country. And guess WHO'S. NUMBER ONE? >> [cheering]. [applause].

>> GUESS WHO'S NUMBER ONE? >> [cheering]. [applause]. >> NOW, I YOU I I USUALLY don't honestly. goodness, I usually don't care about. these things cuz a person just sent me. another person who's on the list uh who. sent sent me the list. And I And they. said, "Oh, I'm so happy to be on this. list with you." And I said, "What list. is it?". OH, IT'S THE FORBES [screaming].

LIST. >> [applause]. >> NOW, what what what what's great about. this list is about the people who are. the the self-made people in the country. And also, one of the way they measured. it is the distance that you've come from. where you were to where you are. And. this makes me want to cry. BECAUSE. >> [applause]. >> IT'S IN such a long way. from Kosciusko, dirt road, Mississippi.

to here. >> [applause]. >> It's like it it's like it's another. planet. Born to a teen mother, poverty, Mississippi, racism, misogynism, sexism, all of that stuff. But I will tell you. this, that's why this show is so. important. It never occurred to me in all the. successes that I've had that I wouldn't. be successful. Never occurred to me that I wouldn't be. successful. And the reason it never.

occurred to me is because of what we're. talking about today, your beliefs. Because from the time I was that little. girl in rural Mississippi on my. grandmother's back porch, screen porch, and her Y'all who who know me know. you've heard this story. She was hanging. out the clothes on the line cuz she was. a domestic worker and would bring the. sheets home to boil them in the big. black pot cuz we didn't have washing. machines. And she would what was boiling. the sheets in the pot and taking them. out and putting them on the line on the.

line. And she said, "Oprah Gail, you. better watch me because one day you. going to have to do this for yourself.". And I could feel. inside myself. that the Forbes list was coming. >> [applause]. >> IT WOULD TAKE 70 YEARS. NO. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T KNOW ONE DARN THING. ABOUT a Forbes list, but I could feel. inside myself that I am not going to be. hanging clothes on a line and boiling.

them in a pot because I believed. that This is the belief that has carried. me my whole life. I believed that I was. God's child. Because I would sit in the service every. Sunday and I would listen to the. preacher say, "You're God's child." And. because I didn't have a father didn't. know who my father was at the time. I. didn't know my father till I was 7 8. years old. I thought that God was. actually my father. And therefore Jesus was my brother.

>> [laughter]. >> And that we were just all in the family. together. And that all through God all. things are possible. So I actually. believed that. So in every endeavor, every contest I was in, every speaking. engagement, when I moved to Baltimore, when I got the job there, when I got my. first job at 16, when I moved to Chicago. and everybody said Chicago is the most. racist place you can ever go for a job.

It never occurred to me that I wouldn't. get the job because I was a woman or. because of the color of my skin. I. thought if I don't get the job, it's cuz. they don't like me. It's cuz I'm not funny enough, I'm not. warm enough, I'm not good enough, but it. never occurred to me because why? I'm God's child. That is a core belief. that I have had that has carried me. everywhere. So I wanted to know what are. your core beliefs because you I know. this for sure. You do not become what.

you wish for. You do not become what you. want. You do not become even what you. aspire to. You become exactly what you. believe is possible. And those beliefs. carry you forward. You make all your. decisions based upon what do you really. believe? And so if you're not getting. where you want to go, you have to look. at what is the ceiling of my beliefs, okay? So, who wants to answer that? What. do you believe? What do you believe? Yes. Yeah. >> I want to stop the suffering, to help.

others. >> Okay. >> I really believe that I'm here to serve. others to help. >> way? >> In their mental just capacity, but also. to find themselves. >> Okay. That's a core belief. >> That's a core belief. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Alexander, what's your. core belief? >> My core belief is that I'm worth. something. >> That you're worth something. >> Yes. >> Okay. That you matter. >> That I matter. >> Yeah. Okay. Core belief? >> My core belief is that what's for you. will flow to you effortlessly and. without force.

>> Okay. And how is it showing up in your. life? >> I'm a very hard worker, very ambitious. Everything that I've worked hard for. leads me to opportunities, but the. ultimate thing that really pushes me. forward usually flows to me and comes to. me. >> Okay. Wonderful. Melanie? >> My core belief is to treat yourself and. others with kindness because you never. know what somebody's going through. >> Okay. And how has that showed up in your. life? How has it manifested for you? >> It's manifested because the people that. have come into my life, I feel like have. taught me about myself, and especially.

because you never know what somebody's. going through, and I've had sadly. friends who have. who are no longer here because they've. taken their life, and I think that has. been an opportunity for me to learn how. to lead with kindness, to be able to. show up for our brothers and sisters. >> Okay. And so, that's what you do. >> That's what I do. >> been a guiding principle. >> principle. >> Okay. All right. Well, I'm so happy. today because my guest is a renowned. positive psychology researcher who. studies the connection between happiness. and success. And we met many years ago.

when I first interviewed him, and now. he's written a new book called The Power. of Beliefs, How Strengthening Seven Core. Beliefs Predicts Greater Success and a. Better life. It's wonderful to see you. again. Shawn Achor. >> [applause]. >> Now you've heard the audience talk about. some of their core beliefs. The subtitle. of your book is how strengthening seven. core beliefs predicts greater success.

and a better life. I loved it when she. said I matter because that's one of. them, right? Yes. Yes. Yes. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Good to see you again. >> So good to see you again. >> It was a good to hear people talk about. beliefs. >> It was. And I think it's the core of. it's the core predictor of what happens. next in our lives. That these beliefs. don't just shape our experience of the. present. They predict what happens next. Not only in someone's life long term, but also in the course of going through. cancer treatment or trying to be a.

student, trying to find a job, or trying. to find love in this world. >> Mhm. And tell us why cuz your definition. of belief is. >> There's lots of definitions of belief. Mine is the. it's just a simple one. It's the lens. which you view the world, but that that. lens is something that's unique to us. and human. >> Yeah. >> Um and the you know, we have AI right. now that can predict predict whether or. not someone's going to. their likelihood of surviving cancer or. their likelihood of finding a job. We.

can predict the odds, but what AI can't. do. >> is belief. >> It can't believe you will ever beat the. odds. It will never believe you can beat. the odds to be successful if you started. at one socioeconomic place. It can't. believe you'll beat the odds and find a. job or find love or overcome cancer. That's uniquely human because that. requires willpower and deter. determination and hope in this quiet. fire that says that I believe my. behavior still matters.

>> Wow. Okay. So, what I was saying earlier, you. and I've talked about this before that I. don't think you get you just get what. you want in life. You don't get what you. want no matter even how hard you work, if there is somewhere a subconscious. belief that you can't have it. >> That's right. >> a subconscious ceiling somewhere that. believes it because you are a woman or. because you're short or because you're. black or brown or whatever your race, if. there's somewhere inside you that.

subconsciously believes that, that will. prevent you from going forward. I I. don't I've seen it over and over and. over again, but I don't actually. understand how that, you know, physically works. Can you explain it? >> I can, but there's actually amazing. research on this very phenomenon that. you're talking about. Um they did. studies where they had a student come in. and they were going to about about to. give them a math test, but if it was a. woman about to take a math test or a. black student, before taking the test.

test half of the students would be given. a neutral article just talking about the. world right now. And then half would. read an article about how women are not. good at math or black students are not. good at math. And then they take the test. And what. they found is that the students were. randomly assigned, the scores the math. scores should have been the same for. both groups, but the groups that heard. that they do not perform as well, when. they read that, they start to believe. that. And when that happens,

the math scores actually dropped. significantly. And they've done this. over and over again, but I have to tell. you as I heard your introduction, there. is something that we've heard some of. these studies before, it's called. stereotype threat, that if I threaten. you with a stereotype, you perform worse. across the board. But what's amazing in. the research that not many people know. about is that there's a 10% minority. report that we never talk about. 10% of. the women or those black students that. read that that racist article.

beforehand, 10% of them do better on the. math test. They hear that belief that. you're not good at math, and they. actually perform better than if they had. not even had that pri- that prime. And. the reason for that is that you've. touched on a signature belief, something. that they believe so deeply that no. matter what the world says, >> Yeah. >> they believe that eventually my behavior. matters if linked to the right people. >> Yeah. Yeah, cuz I was thinking if I was. taking that test, I would have I would. have thought, "Well, I'm going to show.

you.". >> Exactly. >> Yeah, I'm going to show you. >> Exactly. Ab- Ab- Absolutely. >> Hello listeners. I always say that one. of the great joys [music] of my life has. been my dogs. So, I am deeply committed. to their well-being, just [music] like. our friends at The Farmer's Dog. From my. golden retrievers to my cocker spaniels, I've had 21 dogs over the years. Their. smiles, they do [music] smile, you know. Their snuggles, their spirits remind me. to slow down, to be present, [music]. and to appreciate the small comforts in.

life. Listen to this. The Farmer's Dog. makes human-grade food for our dogs with. real ingredients. >> [music]. >> and minimal processing. So, I've been. feeding The Farmer's Dog to my cocker. spaniel, Sadie, for a while now. Sadie's. 17 and a half, because it supports. healthy aging, and [music] I think it's. giving us more good days together. Because every time I feed her The. Farmer's Dog, I know [music] I'm giving. her safe, quality food. To all my fellow. dog lovers, you know our beloved. companions give us so much, and that is.

why The Farmer's Dog helps us do our. best for them. >> So, we don't have time to work today on. strengthening all seven, all seven, but. I wanted to just focus on the first. three. And number one is my behavior. matters. So, let's talk about how we can. begin to. focus on behavior. and why that matters and why that makes. a difference in your your future. Okay, as and as I'm speaking, if you if.

you if you guys have a question, please. let us know because. I think this is the key to having a. successful and happy life is the power. of your beliefs. And and ultimately, it's do you believe that the world is. for you or against you? >> Mhm. >> Isn't it? Do you believe that the world. is for you, or do you believe that the. world is stacked against you? >> So, I I think we live in a world that. doesn't look like it should. And in the. midst of that world, we keep reading. news stories that we keep feeling like.

my behavior doesn't matter. Or we get uh a negative feedback at. work, or we don't get a job, or we go. through a breakup, or something bad. happens in our life. And what happens in. those moments is this, if you take the. same broken world, but you give a different belief to that. same individual, their outcomes change dramatically. If. you take the same student with ADHD, the. same young mother who's trying to. overcome the debts that she's in, or. caring for aging parents, or the same. person that's growing older, if you take.

that same person at work, or just. getting a cancer diagnosis, >> Yeah. >> and you have changed one belief, and. that belief is, my behavior matters, or. my behavior doesn't matter. What happens. next changes dramatically in the science. that we do. So, what we find is if you. believe your behavior matters, and you. have stage three cancer, you. eat healthier. You go to the doctor. You. take the medication you need. You deepen. your relationships with your friends, cuz you know that's that's going to help. you. And what we find is their outcomes.

change. Same world, different beliefs, different outcomes. >> so amazing that you're saying this, cuz. I had a friend recently who was going. through cancer, and also struggles with eating. And when. they got the cancer diagnosis, actually. started eating and eating and eating and. eating and eating, and. said that they were really just trying. to take themselves out. >> Yeah. >> And after, you know, having I I. basically did an intervention to say, "Your behavior makes a difference. And.

so, you have to be a participant and. first of all, believe that eating. healthy is going to make a difference.". >> Right. >> Yes. >> But the important part that I would add. to that is that. positive beliefs don't guarantee. positive outcomes. And but they do propel us towards them. That if I believe and hope that a good. outcome would happen from a cancer, it. doesn't guarantee. >> Right. >> that outcome will happen, but it it. propels us towards.

>> It changes the way you approach it. >> It changes the attitude. I I know that. my wife and I, Michelle, every time she. was pregnant, I prayed and hoped and. believed that our children. would be okay and be healthy. And we. went through two miscarriages. And you know, in the midst of when our. hopes are dashed, when we feel like the. world doesn't look like it should, in. those moments, if we've given up the. belief that my behavior matters or is.

that I matter or that we still have. something to be grateful for or that. there's something greater than me, we wouldn't have our children right now. >> Right. >> And and we would have a very different. view on the world. >> Okay. So, my behavior matters, key. number one. But you just said it we still have. something to be grateful for. You know, great gratitude is actually my religion. It is my greatest spiritual practice. And there is, you know, no one who has. more gratitude for where I've come from. to where I am. There's not a day that I.

don't think about it. There's not a day. that I'm not aware of, you know, the. work that I've done, but also the. blessings that that I've received for. it. So, I I think being grateful is key. to everything. >> Yes. >> And even in the worst of times, when. you're feeling the worst, the way to. turn around those negative vibrations, those negative feelings, I think, is to. sit and think about what is you're. grateful for. And if you can't think of. it, just listen to yourself breathe. That you have breath. That you have.

breath. What do you think about gratitude? >> Well, my first book was called The. Happiness Advantage. >> Yeah. >> And what we found was that when the. brain becomes more grateful for the. world that we're in, >> Yeah. >> mean that we're grateful for everything. that's happening. It doesn't mean we're. grateful for the inequality or the. discrimination or the racism that's in. our world right now. But when we find. those moments of things we're grateful. for in the midst of it, it allows our. brain to actually move from the part of. the brain that sees how my behavior. doesn't matter, that fearful part that. says things will never get better or.

that I will never be okay, to the front. part of the brain that moves forward. And what we find is as somebody becomes. more grateful, what we find is that almost every single. business and educational outcome we know. how to test for improves dramatically. >> It just really. >> rises, our productivity improves, we. live longer, we become more altruistic. Everything we test for on the ACT and. SAT standardized test rises, our. creativity nearly tripled triples, our. intelligence rises. It turns out having. a grateful brain is one of the greatest.

possible advantages you could give to. someone in the midst of a world that. doesn't look like it should. >> say this just to share with you guys. I've kept a gratitude journal since like. 1992, I think. And there was a period where I. had a whole lot of stuff going on and um. was not writing down my five things. every day. And I started to feel more. disconnected, more I wouldn't say. depressed, but just just like disjointed. and things started to go wrong and I. couldn't figure out. And I went, "Oh, I.

know what it is. I haven't been. practicing gratitude." And that's why. now I say it's a religion cuz I practice. it religiously. It's like it's like the. last thing I do before I go to bed every. night. >> that. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I've been doing it for. years. I've journals and journals and. journals. It's getting better cuz it. used to be like filled with food. >> [laughter]. >> I had the best pancakes today. I had the. best this today. And the la-la-la-la. I'm so grateful for this whipped cream.

on the bottom. Yeah. [laughter] But but but the little. little small things, you know, like. water pressure in the shower. Isn't. water pressure a thing to be grateful. for? Oh my god, when you're in a hotel and. the water drip drip drip. >> [laughter]. >> So, when you go to a hotel and the water. pressure is like, "OH MY GOD, WATER PRESSURE!". IT'S SO GREAT GREAT GREAT. And so, I. think that that actually changes your. brain, doesn't it? The gratitude. >> It does cuz gratitude is searching for.

the good that's in the world around us. And it changes not only what we feel. when we have water pressure or central. air or food on our plate. It changes. what happens next for people. There's. this amazing demonstration experiment. that was done by researcher named. Richard Wiseman. And what he did is he. had people come into a room like this. one and he would give them a survey and. find out, "Do you think that you are a. grateful person and that you're a lucky. person? Do good things just seem to. happen to you? That if you work for it, that the world can conspire in your. favor? Or.

do you think you're an unlucky person? Do bad things [clears throat] just keep. happening to you no matter how hard you. work?" And then he hands them a. newspaper. And in the newspaper, he. wants you to count the number of. photographs that are in it. So, you go. quickly through it and if you get the. number correct, you get 5 lb. It was. done in the UK. Yeah. So, the people start doing this quickly as. possible looking for all the the the. photos in the newspaper. But on page two. of everyone's newspaper, but in big. letters, but not in a photo, it says, "Stop the experiment now. We'll give you. 10 lb if you stop now.".

And here's what happens. The people who. felt that they were unlucky, the The who. are the pessimists or the people who. felt like good things wouldn't happen to. them, they finished the experiment and. they get paid cuz they get the number. correct. They get 5 pounds. But the. group that thought that good things just. happened to them, that uh good things. can happen in this world, the optimist, it turns out that they stopped the. experiment and not only get double pay, but they saw an opportunity that other. people didn't see in that reality. And.

neuroscientists found out why. afterwards. >> Why? >> They found that when we're in a grateful. state, when we're positive, our brain. thinks it's possible for there to be. good things around us. So your brain. scans for it, but if you don't believe. that it's possible that there are good. things in the world around us, you don't. look for them, so you miss out on those. possibilities. I'm reminded of this. quote by my favorite author who's. CS Lewis, and he said that uh there are. people that believe in miracles and. sometimes see them, and there are people. that don't believe in miracles and never.

see one. I think the same thing is true for. people. They're scanning for the things. that they're grateful for in their. lives. >> Well, it's been over 10 years now since. we had our conversation and 8 years. since you published your your last book. Was it Big Potential? >> Yes. >> Yeah. And you reveal in The Power of Belief. that you intentionally took the foot. your foot off the gas pedal for a while. just of your career because you wanted. to what? >> Well, 8 years ago, I had this book come.

out and my wife Michelle was pregnant at. the time and we were going to have a. baby at the end of April. So I decided. let's have this book come out the first. week of February so I could go on the. book tour sprint and then get off the. road and be there with my wife and new. child. >> Yeah. >> The day before the book came out was the. Super Bowl. And during the Super Bowl, during the first quarter while my team. was playing, my wife's water broke. We didn't know that was what was going. on at the time, which is very important. to the story. Um it was 3 months too. early and it was during the Super Bowl.

>> Mhm. So she. she Ubered to the hospital. Husband of the year. >> [laughter]. >> I got her an Uber XL, so that's that's. fancy. And she got there and they said, "Ma'am, your water broke. You need to stay here. for 6 weeks trying to hold this baby. in." And 2 days later she was rushed. into emergency surgery. We didn't even have a name for this. child. It was 3 months too early and we. almost lost her three times in a 2-day. period of time.

And she kept sparking back to life and. we found her name. Her name is Zoe. Sparks Acore and she just turned eight. >> [applause]. >> But instead of going on a book tour to. talk about research on how you pursue. happiness and success, instead my. happiness as a researcher sat in the in. the NICU in an incubator for the next 50. days while these doctors tried to keep. her alive. And what happened in that. moment, overnight, is my beliefs about.

what was important and how I mattered. changed. And what changed next in my. life was because of those beliefs. I. remember holding Zoe's hand, this little. 3-lb baby that was under the purple. light with all those wires just keeping. her alive and I decided that I was going. to not only take a step back from work, but I was going to become a full-time. dad for the next couple years to take. care of Zoe and our family. And it was. amazing and it was also hard at the same. time in a way I didn't expect cuz I saw. all these opportunities that I I wanted.

seemed to pass me by and the world. seemed like it was passing me by, but. I'm grateful for that time because not. only did it shift my beliefs, but also. it gave me space. And when the pandemic. occurred, these hospitals and schools. started reaching out about what could. they do when they were suffering so. much. And I had the space, but also that. meaningful belief to try and help in. those moments. And what What learned. from those people, those nurses, the. doctors, those school teachers,

was the same thing I learned from Zoe, that the lens through which you view the. world changes not only a present, it. changes what happens next. >> Mhm. >> We're excited for the Oprah podcast to. present this series, Life is Better with. Dogs, in partnership with The Farmer's. Dog. >> My name is Dr. Hunter Finn. I've been a. veterinarian for 7 years. >> A proud son of Louisiana, 33-year-old. Dr. Hunter Finn knew he was born to. become a veterinarian. >> The number one question that I get all.

the time in the clinic is, "What's the. best food to feed my dog?" Food is. definitely love, so overfeeding is a big. issue. Nutrition is overlooked. It's the. best preventive medicine that we [music]. have. >> Is that yummy? >> Every meal is a chance to nourish their. body, to help prevent disease, and to. really strengthen that bond that we. share with them. >> [music]. >> And ultimately help them live longer, happier lives with us. >> To hear more, scan [music] the QR code. or go to the. farmersdog.com/oprahpodcast.

You write about the pause in your work. life, and you also. Can you tell the story of the morning. you woke up in Minneapolis to speak at. Target? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> So, uh. this is a petty story, but it leads to. something good. Um I think that's important to say. because beliefs are real, even if. they're not true. If if a child, if a student is. surrounded by people who love them, and. care for them, and parents that care for. them, and teachers that care about them,

but they believe. that they're not lovable, or believe. that they're alone, that belief is not. true, but it's real. It creates real. effects. So, in the this period that I. was a stay-at-home dad, I started to. feel like these opportunities were. passing me by. And I showed up um I got. to the talk um at 3:00 a.m. in in. morning, so I was tired. When I woke up. the next morning, I got a news alert. that someone had uh. made uh in my space a gun uh the New. York Times number one best seller. And I. thought to myself, I wish I had that,

but I'm a stay-at-home dad now, so so. good for them. And then. >> It was a happiness book. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And then I got another note literally 5. seconds later that someone got this. incredible opportunity that I really. would have wanted. And because I was. tired, in that moment, I went into a. mental tailspin. And my brain thought, you know, if you stopped working, the. world wouldn't be like, "No." It would. just shrug. And then I started feel like. maybe I matter less now. And then I. thought, maybe I don't matter. And as. soon as I had that belief, things.

started to change. What happened. immediately was I was blind to the. opportunity to get to speak at Target. I. was blind to the fact that I'd taken. time to be there with Zoe and Leo. And I. remember getting into a car to go to the. talk and sitting in the backseat looking. out the window despondent and just. feeling like I was watching the world. pass by. Well, the driver took me to the wrong. location. He took me to Target. headquarters, but I was supposed to go. to a theater. And so the organizers. called me on the phone and said, "Stay. where you are. Don't go anywhere. We're.

going to send somebody to come get you. It's clear you're lost." And I felt. lost, but I decided to go up the. escalator into Target headquarters. And. while I was doing that, this guy jogged. up the stairs next to the escalator. And. he said, "Are you Shawn Achor?" And I. said, "Yes." Thinking that this was the. escort. And he shook my hand awkwardly. over the railing as we were going up the. escalator and stairs together. And as we. got to the top of the escalator, he. said, "I just wanted to let you know, your book changed my life." And then he. went through a turnstile into Target. headquarters and disappeared. And I have.

no idea who he is. I have no idea who he. was. I have no idea why the research, not my book, but the research had an. impact upon his life. But as soon as my. brain heard that message, something. happened. There's a study that just came. out in nature where they found that uh. if you provide new information to the. brain, you these neuroscientists can actually. watch on neuro scans, they can actually. watch you encode a new belief almost at. the speed of light. And that's what. happened in that moment. Suddenly, the. scales fell from my eyes. I felt like I. could see that this talk was an.

opportunity to maybe help somebody else. and that maybe I'd done something. meaningful in the past. And the talk. went so much better because it was not. about me, it was about the people that. were there. And when I got back into the. car, I got in back in with the same. driver and sat in the same seat and I. looked out the same window, I still felt. replaced at work in the world, but I. could again see that I mattered in the. midst of it. >> Yeah, that's why knowing that you matter. is so vital to every human being. And.

that's And you know, one it's one of the. all the the lessons that I learned. during The Oprah Winfrey Show all those. years is that after every show somebody. would say something like, "Was that. okay? Was that good? Was that all. right?" No matter who it was that I was. interviewing would say that. The. president said it, you know, Beyoncé. said it. Every Everybody would say in. one form or another, "Was that okay?". And I realized that the common. denominator in our human experience is. that we all want to know that we matter. >> Yes.

>> And every argument that you have, every. conversation that you have, everybody. wants to know, "Do you hear me? Are you listening to me? And does what I. say matter to you?" That's what. everybody wants. >> At back of the divinity school, I. learned that the word for angel is just. simply messenger. And that guy was an angel cuz he. delivered a message to my brain right. when I needed to hear it. But we need. those people within our life, those. messengers. And that messenger could be. a teacher or a parent or a good friend.

or a therapist. >> but we are also those people. >> Yes, and that's the point. >> to make other people understand that. they matter in your life. And that's. your number one role as a human being is. to let other people you matter to him. you matter. to let other people know that that that. they matter. I think that's that's one. of the cores. The other essential belief. that you list is one of the seven is I. have something to give. Ah, I thought. that was so important because she was.

saying I'm here because I'm here to. serve. Yes, let's talk about I have. something to give. >> I love this because I think there's. often times in our life we feel like we. don't have something to give. If we don't have a ton of money we might. think I have nothing to give and then we. don't even give $5 to a charity. Or if. we think I'm too busy I have no time. right now. Then we think I don't have time to send. that text to a friend to just check in. to hear how they're doing. What happens. is that we go back and forth between. these beliefs. We either feel like we. have enough or we feel like I don't have.

enough but then we go too far in this. In the book I pair. I don't have enough not with I have. enough cuz I don't think that that's. true. I don't think that we always have. enough. We might be in debt or we might. be sick or we might want things that. other people have. That's not where I'm. going. The opposite to me of that I. don't have enough is I have something to. give. And there's amazing research about. how this this changes us. There's a. study that I've written about in every. one of my books cuz I love it. It's. called the Good Samaritan study and the.

Good Samaritan study is a famous. psychology experiment and they had these. pastors read about the story from the. Bible called the Good Samaritan which. simply was about how. there was a person that was injured on. the side of a of a path or road and all. these people that should have helped. didn't and then the person who you never. thought would have helped was the one. who actually helped the Good Samaritan. So the pastors learn this are reading. about the story. They're writing up a. sermon and then they have to walk across. campus to deliver the sermon and there's. two conditions. Half of them they told. you have plenty of time to get over.

there. Just walk down this path and. you'll deliver your sermon to the people. they're waiting for you there. You have. lots of time. The other group they said. you are so behind right now. You took. way too long to do this. You need to get. over there. Waiting for you. You need to. get over walk as fast as you can down. that path. So there's a hurry condition. and non-hurry condition. So some of them. believe I don't have enough time. These. are pastors. They're reading the Good. Samaritan story about helping other. people. And along the path they put an. undercover researcher who is standing in. a doorway sick and slumping over and.

it's clear he's in distress. And the. majority of the pastors who felt like. they had enough time stopped and asked. the person if they can help. And the. majority of the pastors who were reading. the Good Samaritan story who felt like. they didn't have enough time. don't stop to help the person. What this. means is when we feel like we don't have. enough, we stop being the type of person. that we want to be. We stop living out. the values that we have. providing love to other people. So as. you described that your value your core.

value is being a servant to other. people. We have to believe that we have. something to give in that moment and it. might not be money. It might not be a. lot of time that you have to spend with. that person. But even a smile or a wave. or a note of kindness or a hug or a. touch on the shoulder. we've all known has a huge effect upon. us and starts to help us live out our. lives. >> what else I found this to be Sean. I. found that whenever you whatever your. jobs are and everybody here has a. different job you know either really. like or you don't like. But whenever you.

shift the paradigm of whatever it is. you're doing whatever your job title. says whenever you shift that to service. how do I use this thing that I do in. service to something other than myself. it shifts it it it shifts the air around. it it shifts the frequency it shifts the. vibration because I believe that we are. all here in service to each other. And. so are you a hair I was just having this.

conversation with my hairdresser this. morning Nicole who y'all saw. >> Looks good. >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> Good. Thank you, Nicole. I was just. having this conversation with Nicole and. Derek who who who beats my face into. reality every day. And I was saying, "Gosh, just this morning I said to them, 'Guys, I'm just so blessed to have you. >> Mhm. >> I'm so I feel so blessed to have you. because you change the way I see myself. cuz I get up looking like God knows. I'm God's child but I.

>> [laughter]. >> Only God knows that I'm his child and. that I. So, so so the fact that you do hair or you. work in a salon or you do makeup, some. people see that as a job. I see it as. offering a different way for other. people to see themselves and experience. themselves. Some people work in a flower. shop. You think you're selling flowers. I see you're offering beauty to people. every day. So, I think whatever your job. is, whatever it is you feel like you.

have been called or not called to do, if. you shift the idea of that to how do I. use this thing that I'm doing as an. offering in service to someone, it. changes it. It changes It changes the. way you see it and it also changes the. way the people receive it. >> I love that. >> Don't you think? >> I do. >> Yeah. I know because when I said that to. to Nicole this morning, she says, "Well, thank you. I really I I see that myself. I see that people change when they come.

in my chair and they see themselves. transformed, you know?" That's great. Okay. So, while the team was working on. this episode, we saw a TikTok with 17. million views. of a young woman who was crashing out. Here's the video. >> You want me to be honest? I'm angry. I'm mad. I'm mad because. >> [music]. >> I care more about you than you care. about me, and that's how it's ALWAYS. GOD!

I'M TIRED OF IT. AH! I'M MAD! I'm angry! I'm tired of feeling. so much! I'm tired of being in my head! I hate it! And no matter how much I try. to let go of it and give it to God, it's. still so heavy! >> Wow, you were having a day. >> I was. >> You were having a day. What was going on. there, Daily? >> I get emotional every time I listen to.

it. And when I tell people about it, they're like, "I want to see the video.". And I'm like, "I can't handle it again. I can't.". >> Um for context, I got out of a 3-year. relationship back in October, and I. found out that he had cheated on me. And. I hit a wall. I just started a. successful cleaning business in the. Kansas City area. And it completely devastated everything. I've dealt with anxiety and depression. my whole life, but this was. it for me. And I was trying to find anything to. fill that void, and I just found.

that nothing nothing was working, and I. was so sad. And in this video, this. isn't the first time I posted a video of. me crying on TikTok, and it's always. gotten traction, and I think that's. because there's power in vulnerability. >> Mhm. >> and relatability. And so when I posted. it and saw thousands of people that said. 18 million views now on TikTok alone, everybody saying, "We relate. We we see. you. You're not alone." That was. a healing for me, but also for other. people. >> Mhm. >> Um now since then, I'm doing much better.

now. >> [laughter]. >> You certainly look it today. >> [applause]. >> In fact, I I um. I chose Jesus Christ, and I turned and I. fully surrendered everything because I. was so done. I was fed up. I was. hopeless. And. since then, I've just been healed. I've. been made new. My business is booming. I'm healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, everything. >> That's what happens when you become. God's child. >> Amen, sister. And I chose gratitude. every single day. So, you saying that I. was like that's I that was confirmation.

that I'm meant to be here right now. >> Yeah. >> Um now, since I've dropped out of the. dating pool, I don't date anymore. I. give all of my time and energy to my. cleaning business, which is great. >> Yeah. >> Um I know that me alongside a lot of. women in this generation of dating feel. hopeless when it comes to finding love. with hookup culture, with dating. >> Yeah. >> With dating apps, it feels hopeless. It. feels pointless. >> Yeah. >> So, what my question for you guys, I. guess, would be. >> No, it's for him. It's definitely not. for me.

That question is going to him, not to. me, but go ahead. >> What advice do you have to this. generation of people who are dating, who have no belief that finding true. love is real? >> Well, church, look at the church. >> And everybody. >> Look at the church went. We hear you, dating. >> Amen, sister. >> As I listen to your story, I hear so. much from this research. Like, I think. from the very beginning, I think you. heard that you're not alone.

>> Yeah. >> I think that you helped other people. know that they're not alone in the midst. of it. That's one of the most powerful. beliefs we have. Um there's this a study. of one of my favorite studies in the. book that found that if you're looking. at a hill you need to climb in front of. you, if you're looking at that hill by. yourself, your brain shows you a picture of a hill. that looks 15% steeper. than if I put someone next to you do you. believe it's going to climb the hill. with you. That shouldn't be happening. The hill's. not changing, but our perception of the. hill that happens instantaneously before.

you do anything is different based upon. do I think I'm alone or do I'm with am I. with other people? And it wasn't just. the physical ones that were affecting. us, it's the emotional ones as well. >> Mhm. >> Overcoming anxiety or depression or. loneliness or trying to date or try to. find a job in the midst of a world that. doesn't look like it should, those. mountains are collapsing or expanding. based upon whether or not we think we're. alone or we're with other people. So, my first thing that I would say is that. when we look at those challenges, this. is why happiness can't be self-help. As.

soon as you put happiness books in the. self-help section of a bookstore, we. make it 20 to 30% steeper for people to. achieve cuz they think something's wrong. with the world, but something's wrong. with me, I need to fix it. And then once. I fixed it, then then I can be. successful. And what we're finding is. the greatest predictor of long-term. levels of happiness and success. is your social connection score. It's. other people. It's the breadth of the. meaning in your social relationships. The other thing that I think is so. important about what you're saying is. that you're you're searching for hope.

like many people are in this world. Hope. not just for dating, but hope. that people have for a job or hope that. they'll get over cancer. And I talked to a pastor, one of my. friends named Matt Tuggle in Dallas, and. he says that when people are crashing. out or when they're at the bottom, where. a relationship fails or marriage fails. or they don't get the job that they want. or that they lose someone, his goal at the bottom is to help them. to start to believe that the future you.

hoped for. is not the only future with hope. And what I loved about this is that we. get fixed on one version of hope. that changed for you. That there were other futures that had. hope. But once you see that, it gets. back to the newspaper study. When we. believe that there's possibility out. there, when we believe that there's. something greater than me, what we find. is scientifically our beliefs. predict what happens next. And I'm not. surprised to hear the incredible. successes you've had in your life. >> I'm so grateful to be here.

>> Uh. >> I really am. >> Thank you. Thank you, Daily. [applause]. >> So, the very same week that we were. working on a podcast about the power of. beliefs, with Shawn, my producer sent me. this video that popped up in her feet. Take a look at this. >> You're okay. You're okay. Are you okay? Okay. So, that was 25-year-old me. Let me give. you a little backstory. There was. nothing bigger than The Oprah Winfrey. Show. Oprah was it. Growing up in a. small town, I was fascinated by people. like her. How someone build a life that.

big? I think I just needed proof that a. woman could build something that. powerful. At 24-years-old, I moved to. Chicago. I was an elementary school art. teacher. My best friend, who also loved. Oprah, moved here shortly after me. One. day, she scored last-minute tickets to. The Oprah Winfrey Show. I remember her. saying something that stuck with me when. I was younger, >> [music]. >> "Luck is when preparation meets. opportunity." When you stick to. something and you keep grinding and you. keep at it. Had I not moved to Chicago, this. night at [music] the United Center would.

not be happening. Don't quit. Keep going. because you never know what's on the. horizon. for you. >> Shannon, Shannon. >> Oh. >> Yeah, good good TO SEE YOU. [applause]. WOW, THAT'S A FUN STORY. SO, WHAT do you. know for sure about beliefs? >> That they are real and they are. powerful. And I think they shape the way. we move through life. Um. I also think that who we surround. ourself with, what we watch, what we.

listen to, um just like I was a teenager. watching The Oprah Winfrey Show and you. inspired me and I'm like, "She lives in. Chicago. It must be pretty good there. Like I I I think I'm going to take a. chance and do this.". >> [laughter]. >> You know, my life is great there and. I've had so many opportunities that I. know for sure I wouldn't have had had I. not, you know, been inspired by you. So, I think that people shape us, but I I. think ultimately it comes from within. When you decide to take action and you. try things and you fail and you grow and.

you learn and life beats you up a little. bit and you keep going, you start to. gain confidence and then you start to. like really believe in your own power. >> Wow. Well, good to see you again. >> Good to see you. It's great to see you. >> Wow. Wow. Wow. In the book you write. about a former public teacher, want to. talk schools schools superintendent. Tell us about that. >> Yes. Uh so, I got the opportunity to. work with a superintendent of Genesee. County, which is where Flint, Michigan.

is, and was invited in to to share this. research on beliefs and happiness. And I. was nervous going in because it's Flint. You've got. entrenched inequality and. discrimination, racism, and lead in the. drinking water. They had to turn off the. water fountains while they were there. for the students. In the midst of that, to come in and talk about happiness and. optimism was daunting, but also I. believe so crucial because when the. teachers. believed that their behavior might not. matter, they left on average after 2.

years. So, our goal was could we change. the beliefs for the teachers and see if. it had effect upon the students. >> Oh, so Dr. Hegel is here. Tell us how. positive beliefs changed your district. >> Yeah, thank you for having me. Appreciate that. So, I think all of us know that systems. themselves don't change. Right. People. actually make the difference and change. And so, with uh Shawn's work, we really. intentionally focused on people.

and did a lot of training and um time. intentionally with people and used his. first book Happiness Advantage and the. strategies within Happiness Advantage. to focus on our greatest asset, which. are the people inside of the. intermediate school district, and worked. to ensure that the staff and the. students inside of the intermediate. school district knew that they are. valued, that what they do mattered, how they.

feel mattered, >> mattered, >> and ensure that. >> Cuz isn't that what everybody wants? >> Every person, no matter what their role. is inside of the school district, >> Everybody wants to know that. >> everybody felt that they were important. >> So, what what period of time did you all. do this work? >> We have This work began around 2012, and. it continues today. It does It's not. just an initiative, it is a belief. >> Yeah. >> of myself, >> It's a way of a way of being, yeah. >> yeah. Go to work, the way you show up to.

work is different. It's a deeper meaning. of care, so that you are lifting each. other every day. And so, that through. Shawn's work, you know, happiness fuels. more happiness and more success. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> the people actually believe that. >> Yeah, now we all believe we matter. >> believe that. >> of that. And children. believe that, and it shows up in their. academic success. >> huge for children, isn't it? Huge. >> Yeah, the when the teachers started to.

believe that their behavior mattered, that they were not alone, what we saw. was in the classrooms where the. teachers' levels of optimism rose, the. teachers' students' test scores rose, but we weren't working with the. students. We were working with the. teachers, and you could see the. contagious effect of positive beliefs. not just upon ourselves, but upon the. people that we serve as well. And we got. reports that people in the community, who sometimes the teachers never even. met, the guardians or the parents of. those students, that their well-being. scores were improving. So, we worked. with the teachers be could see an effect.

upon the students and upon the. community, which I think I think both of. those stories that both of you described. about how beliefs beliefs are more. powerful than I think we give them. credit for. >> Yeah. >> And I think one one of the most exciting. things is. >> You You wrote a whole book, so you give. them a lot of credit. I I'm a big fan of. beliefs, so. >> them a lot of credit, beliefs. >> Yes, yes. >> Here's something amazing that I didn't. know until I started working on the. book, um that changed, I think, everything for me. So, I I love to share. this because I think is both of what.

you're saying is that we've heard of. something called the placebo effect. The. placebo effect is the belief that if I. give you a fake pill or a fake. intervention, but you believe that it's. real, you show real health outcome. benefits. In fact, every drug that the. Federal Drug Administration has to test, we compare it to the power of beliefs. We've known this for a while. In fact, one of the Well, we've known this, but. we underestimate the power of beliefs. because there is a study back in 2001. called the sham knee surgery, which is a. famous one because what they did is they.

invited 300 gentlemen in and they had. terrible knee pain that would not get. better. >> I would have been very pissed if I was. in that placebo. >> They don't know what's coming because uh. two-thirds of them So, they got a free. They were offered a free knee surgery, which sounds amazing. >> they got away with this, but go ahead. >> I don't know how they got this free. Two-thirds of them did get a free knee. surgery. The The doctor came in at the. Baylor College of Medicine, created uh. an incision, fixed the ligaments, fixed. the cartilage, and sutured them back up, leaving a scar. For the other third,

>> They just get a little bit of a little. incision. >> comes in, gives them an incision, goes. has a has a coffee, and then comes back. and sutures them back up, giving them a. scar, but no surgery. But, when they wake up from anesthesia, they have a scar, so they don't know if. they got a real surgery or not. Here's. what happened. At the 6-month mark, the healing effects for both groups were. almost identical between the real. surgery and the sham surgery. Two years. later, mobility, inflammation, pain were.

all improved almost at the same level. between people that got a real surgery. and people that believed that they had a. surgery. But, this is where things take. a huge turn cuz we've heard about. placebos. This is the part that if you. walk away from one thing from our. conversation together, it's that we live. in a world where we feel like the power. of belief is on the decline. With. technology and uh the way that the world. is right now, it feels like our beliefs. are dwindling in this world. But. scientifically, we're actually getting. the complete opposite message. So, the.

placebo effect remained constant over. time, but I was looking at depression. studies and I found that over the past. three decades, the placebo effect, the. likelihood of a fake intervention that. you believe is real to have an effect. upon you, rose by 7% every decade for. three decades. Why would belief become. more predictive of people's lives? So, I. got fascinated and I started going. deeper into the research. I read over. 100 articles and meta-analysis and what. I found is in all these conditions from. heart disease to cancer to childhood.

epilepsy. to depression to anxiety, we found that. the placebo rate over the past two. decades has doubled if not tripled. What. this means for you. is that the power of belief is not. dwindling or declining. Scientifically, the power of belief to heal us is. greater now than it was 20 years ago. That the power of belief is actually. ascending. >> Wow. Okay. I still would have been very upset.

if I got the fake knee surgery, you. know? I would have been I mean, how did. those people. >> And you would have been better, possibly. >> [laughter]. >> There had to be some people that got the. fakes that their knees started to hurt. after a while. There had to be some. >> Absolutely. And there were people that. got the real surgery and it didn't work. >> Okay. >> I went through back surgery myself and. have the scar and, you know, I was one. of the lucky ones that it actually. worked. >> Yeah. >> Um but I don't know if I got a real.

surgery. >> [laughter]. >> I was asleep. >> All right. All right. So, I wanted to. you know, for you two, Shannon, after. being on the Oprah show in that moment. and how have beliefs carried you through. the rest of your life? >> I've always I think I had really I had. have really supportive parents. Um my. dad was the ultimate optimist, um but he. was a really hard worker and just he saw. the good in everything and I think. subconsciously um he passed away.

three almost three years ago. Um I'm. carrying his spirit and his I feel him. in me and I know that um how I've. approached things and I wake up in the. morning and list five things before I. get out of the bed out of bed that I'm. grateful for. Um and I I didn't do that. before. Um I think it just comes with. age. I've evolved and changed, but I've. always just believed just keep going and. I just have followed, you know, um. what I've always loved to do, which is. creating art and.

>> It's that grateful journal. It makes a. difference. It does Don't you see it. makes a difference? >> Oh, big time. >> Changes your vibration. >> Yep. >> Simone, you have a question. >> Yes. >> Thank you so much for having me. This. has been great. Uh So, I'm 23 and just. kind of entering the corporate world. from graduating from college and I think. this discussion and your work in general. has really reminded me of the book. Atomic Habits and kind of how you change. your identity when you're kind of. unraveling a smoking addiction is like. the example that comes to mind and it's. changed from like I'm a smoker, so like.

what's the harm in another cigarette. versus I am not a smoker even if I'm. smoking right now and I think that it. reminded me a lot of like an attribute. I've been praised for, which is being. hard working and we've talked about that. a lot today and I think that it's. something that I've always thought was. really important and I think as it's. progressed, particularly entering. entering the workforce, I kind of don't. want to sacrifice that, but I kind of. find myself in a place where work. dominates a lot of my life and so it's. hard working almost to a fault and where. you're like neglecting other areas and. so I guess even though I think it takes.

work and effort to maintain. relationships, whether it's socially or. romantically, um like we were talking. about before. So, I guess my kind of. question is how do you go about a belief. that you're worried is kind of harming. you in some way or like how do you have. to unwind that or can you be like. believe in it too much to a fault? >> It's a great question. >> Such a great question. Thank you so. much. It's a it's a beautiful one that I. think a lot of us wrestle with cuz what. you're asking about is can belief change. and how do we change it and what do we. lose when we change those beliefs? I was. worried when I took time away with Zoe.

that the world was passing me by and it. did have cost. We're missing out all the. time. Right now while we're here in this. incredible moment someone's kissing for. the first time, right? Or they're. winning a race, right? Or they're having. a baby, right? Or they're having these. moments. We're missing out in different. ways and they're missing out on this. moment. What we find in those those. times is we're looking can beliefs. change and does it take a long time? And. I think that one of the most important. things I've learned in this research is. about how those entrenched beliefs that. sometimes hold us back and actually.

change. Uh if I can, I would love to. tell a story that I went through that. was what made me experience that that. relates to the hill study that I. mentioned earlier. So a few years ago my. my wife and I, Michelle and I got to go. on a 8-hour hike in the White Mountains. in New Hampshire and we decided this in. February but uh we were going to go in. October when the leaves were changing. Then I got a brilliant idea. >> What if we brought your son? >> My son Leo on this trip who's eight. My. wife who's the smarter of the two of us. said, "That's that's a terrible idea.

It's 8 hours. >> [laughter]. >> It's a incredibly difficult hike and. he's 8 years old." So I bugged her for. the next 8 months but the answer was. still no until the night before the. hike. Um. uh with minimal coaching my son Leo went. up to Michelle and said, "Mom, can I. please go on that hike with you tomorrow. so I have something to be proud of?". So the next morning the three of us got. to go on an 8-hour hike in the White. Mountains in New Hampshire. We started our hike at at 9:00 a.m. We. started our 8-hour hike at 9:00 a.m. and.

we finished the hike at 11:00 a.m. the. next day. >> [laughter]. >> It started out so well. We started. hiking and we were in good spirits and I. saw some hikers pass by me and I know I. know I know what they're thinking. They're thinking he is an amazing dad. He is so special to bring his son on. this and it was special and unique. because there were no other kids out on. this trail. And it was just professional. hikers passing us. Well, any The only. problem with little kids is that they. have little legs. >> Yeah. >> And it took him 6 hours to do the first.

third of the hike. And we got to the top. of the mountain and we realized that we. were trapped cuz you can't go back down. there. It's too treacherous. You have to. go over three more peaks and then down. the backside. So, I huddled Michelle and. Leo together and I said, "The sun is. going to set in 2 hours. We have to take. no more breaks and we're going to run.". Which was not a thing. And we just. realized that it We found out that it. snowed on top of the mountain as well, which we didn't know from the base. So, 2 hours later the sun set and we were on. the second peak. And then a miracle.

happened. We found an emergency hut that. had been built back in 1888 for some. reason. And we huddled together for. warmth in that emergency hut in 34°. temperature with no blankets and no. flashlights. And then the next morning. something utterly ordinary happened. Some people listening to this story will. be like, "He is providing a meaningful. experience for his kids." And others are. like, "I need to be calling child. protective services.". >> [laughter]. >> I'm watching her reaction to this. All. right. But the next morning something utterly.

normal happened. The sun rose and then. we rose and then we hiked down the rest. of the hill and we did not feel any of. the pain from the day before. We felt. like we had a new lease on life and we. felt bonded in a new way. >> So, I'm I'm trying to understand where. did where did your belief change in all. this? >> changed when we got back to the rental. house. So, what happened was there is a. creek behind our house and there was a. board that went across this creek that. was very flimsy. And every time my son. Leo would go up to that board, my belief. that was holding me back was I was a. helicopter parent. I felt like I had. constantly had to be talking and protect.

Our house was bubble wrapped within an. inch of its life until he was like until. he was eight. And um. when my every time I saw Leo go towards. that bridge, my brain would immediately. say. say something. So, I'd be like, "Leo, stop. Hey, buddy, watch your step. Hey, look out. That bridge can fall." But. this time, without doing anything, those. entrenched helicopter parent beliefs. changed. And in an instant, my brain. shifted to he's got this. And so, for. the first time, as he would walk across. that bridge, I didn't say anything. And.

he fell right into the creek. >> [laughter]. >> No, he's fine. But what happened that moment is. >> What a great dad. >> what a great dad. So special. is this something I didn't think could. change or that I wanted to change cuz it. might harm him actually change in a. moment. And his beliefs changed. overnight as well. Cuz he went back went. back to school. We had gone on dozens of. hikes, but for the first time ever, he. went back to school and he he told his. teachers and his friend, "I'm a hiker. I'm a hiker." Now, if you believe you're. a hiker, what do you do next? You climb. more mountains. What we're finding.

>> what happened to me. I'm climbing more mountains cuz I now. define myself as a hiker. >> That's it. >> That's exactly it. >> And so, I'm always like I used to be. going on vacation looking for what to. eat, and now I I literally choose places. based on where is the best place to. hike. >> I love that. >> Yes, because I consider myself a hiker. now. >> We do the We do the same thing. Once you. change that identity, the whole point of. this book is that if you change your. beliefs, beliefs don't just shape our. reality. They predict what happens next.

It happens next for you as you look for. hikes, but also we have these moments. That was a change that occurred on a. mountain. But we have these We work. really hard to change our beliefs. sometimes, and we have to sometimes with. the addiction recovery. Or we think. beliefs can't change. Like we have a. family member or maybe an in-law that we. think that they're born a pessimist, they die a pessimist, right? If you're. born into a family that doesn't have. religious beliefs, you don't have. religious beliefs. But what we're. finding is that change is actually. radically possible. I studied back at.

the divinity school, and traditional I. studied Christian Buddhist Christian. ethics. Uh I'm a Christian, and I. compared it to Buddhist ethics, cuz I. want to understand how other people's. different beliefs shape how we. experience this world. Why do we give? Why do we forgive? Why do we wake up in. the morning? And while I was doing that, I learned the traditional Buddhist. believe that you have to work your way. into your way towards enlightenment. through these habits and willpower and. determination. And then there's Zen. Buddhism, which believes that change can. happen rapidly in a car accident, with.

the birth of a child, with seeing. someone that you fall in love with. Um. it can happen in uh a Nikki Ward in a. hospital, and it can happen even on. uh a snowy mountain in emergency hut. That suddenly our beliefs that held us. back could start to change. almost at the speed of light. >> I think it's really important for. everybody who gets the power of beliefs. to actually spend some time thinking. about what do you actually believe. >> Mhm.

>> And if you are feeling held back in your. life right now, and you feeling like. you're not moving forward, or you're. feeling stuck, or whatever, don't look. outside yourself, look inside yourself, and ask yourself what do I believe is. true or possible for me. And if you get. And if And if And if it it is a belief. that's holding you back, you use this to. help strengthen moving yourself forward. >> I love that. >> I love that, too. The last great belief.

that we need to strengthen is believing. in something that's bigger than you. The. final core belief, that there's. something greater than me versus there. is nothing greater than me. And what. does that mean? >> Well, uh it's actually one of the most. powerful and predictive beliefs that we. have, the belief that there's something. greater than ourselves. And um I knew. that I was going to get pushed back by. putting it in the book. People would. say, "You're writing a science book, stay in your lane. Um but. >> But you tell people if you want to skip. this chapter, you can. >> You can skip this chapter. You can focus. on the other beliefs, for sure. Um but.

from a scientific perspective, religious beliefs are actually. neurologically different. What that. means is we can tell on a brain scan if. you're having a belief about something. that's supernatural versus you're having. an ordinary belief. You can actually. tell the quality and difference of. beliefs based upon this. And we also. know that it's highly predictive of how. long someone lives, how much social. connection they feel, how much joy they. feel. I had a. >> If they believe in something bigger than. themselves. >> I had a Harvard professor who said that. uh who didn't believe in God, but he.

said, "If you can If you can get. religion, do it, cuz it so highly. correlates with higher levels of. happiness." But what I find fascinating. is you started with the introduction. about believing that you are a child of. God. In 2000, 5% of people. claimed that they did not believe in a. God. Today, it's 24%. There's been a massive shift that's. occurred within our world. Maybe up to. 24% of people who don't believe. now that they're a child of God, when. they might have back in 2000. And it.

changes who we are. I My greatest hope is that there is. something uh greater than us and that. there is an afterlife, because I believe. justice. is impossible if this world gets the. last word. But also, I'm a scientist, and if I If I'm looking. at the sun and someone who's a scientist. who doesn't believe in God looks at the. sun, we both see a ball of burning. plasma. But when I see that sun, I also see. something that was created by, I.

believe, a loving God. And that belief. activates all of the other core beliefs. that we have in psychology. It changes. the belief that I am not alone, that I. matter, that my behavior matters, that I. have something to give, that I have. something to be grateful for. When we. believe that there's something greater. than us, it pushes us to become greater. than ourselves. >> Amen. >> [applause]. >> Amen. Amen. Amen.

Beautiful. >> [applause]. >> God's child. God's child. God's child. Thank you all. for being here for talking about. beliefs. I hope you think about it. I. hope you think about it. I hope it makes. you think about your life differently. and look at what you believe in to let. that propel you. to become everything that you know you. deserve to be. Cuz I believe that we're. all created to. to do exactly what you said, to serve. And you know, since I was a little girl.

speaking in the church when I was like. 3, 4 years old, my used to used to first. Easter speech people used to say, "Oh, Hattie Mae." That was my grandmother. "This is a talking child. This child can. talk.". This child can talk. But what I realized. I was really doing, I was being an. inspiration. My role is to be an inspiration. To be a. sweet inspiration. And that is the. thread that's carried me my whole life. And so, that is true for me. Everybody. has one. You have whatever you were as a.

little girl that showed up for you, whatever showed up for you as a young. boy. And that thread has carried you to. this day. And if you were to die. tomorrow, the people who know you the. best would say, "Oh, that's why you were. here." But it's really your job to know. that that's why you're here. And when. you know that's your job, you let every. step move you in the direction. You just. don't let anything take you off the. course of who you were meant to be. Cuz every one of us is here.

for the offering that we have to give to. each other. And it shows up in in in in. in different ways for all of us. So, thank you for being here. >> [applause]. >> Thank you for that. THANK YOU FOR THAT. BEAUTIFUL. Thank you for the power of beliefs, Shawn Achor. Thank you. It's been. wonderful to see you again. >> to see you. >> hear what a great dad you are. >> [laughter]. >> Power of beliefs.

>> [applause]. >> Thanks, everybody. Thank you. >> Shawn Achor's new book, The Power of. Beliefs, >> [music]. >> highlights how consistent, healthier. choices today can lead to more vibrant, happier life down the road for people. Our friends at The Farmer's Dog are. doing the same for dogs. Their fresh. [music] food is clinically shown to help. dogs age well, giving you more good. years together. I've been feeding The. Farmer's Dog to my Cocker Spaniel,

Sadie, for some time now, so I know how. beneficial it is for our [music] pups. Our thanks to The Farmer's Dog for. presenting today's episode. If you're ready to challenge the limits. of what you believe is possible for your. life, get a copy of Shawn Achor's new. book, The Power of Beliefs: How. Strengthening [music]. Seven Core Beliefs Predicts Greater. Success. >> [music]. >> and a Better Life. The QR code is right. there on your screen. It's the kind of. book that can shift [music] your mindset. and inspire you to dream a little.

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