Episode 521: Dr. Shadé Zahrai, PhD: The Science of Acting Through Self-Doubt
Habits and Hustle
Action orientation: ping-pong vs golf ball analogy
She contrasts detaching from doubt (ping-pong) with internalizing it (golf ball) and recovering lost self-trust.
Self-doubt is often mislabeled as a confidence problem, which causes people to hesitate instead of act. The real cost is momentum, because confidence is built through action, not something you wait to feel before moving.
We dive deeper into this in the Habits & Hustle with Dr. Shadé Zahrai. We also chat about why high performers still experience self-doubt, the ping pong ball vs golf ball analogy for detaching from doubt, and why self-image drives behavior more than motivation.
Dr. Shadé Zahrai is a behavioral researcher and peak performance educator with a PhD in organizational behavior. She has designed and delivered programs for Fortune 500 companies including Google, Microsoft, LVMH, JP Morgan, and McKinsey. Her work has reached millions through LinkedIn Learning, TEDx talks, and global leadership programs.
What We Discuss:
(03:10) Why the opposite of self-doubt isn’t confidence but self-trust
(08:42) Why high performers still experience self-doubt and act anyway
(14:25) The ping pong ball vs golf ball analogy and how doubt becomes identity
(21:30) Why affirmations backfire when the brain doesn’t believe them
(28:55) How self-image shapes behavior more than motivation or discipline
(36:40) The scar experiment and why we experience reality through expectation
(44:15) Why saying yes too quickly damages self-trust and decision quality
(01:21:26) How your partner’s dependability and discipline shape long-term career success
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Find more from Dr. Shadé Zahrai, PhD:
Website: https://shadezahrai.com
Instagram: @shadezahrai
Youtube: @shadezahrai
Tiktok: @shadezahrai
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