
The Adversity Advantage with Doug Bopst
Why You're Not Stuck Being "You" Forever & How To Change Your Personality | Olga Khazan
May 8, 2025
Olga Khazan, a staff writer for The Atlantic and author of 'Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World', dives into how personality can be transformed. She discusses recognizing when change is necessary, common traits people want to alter, and practical steps for reinvention. Khazan highlights the influence of environment on personality and shares techniques for managing anxiety and neuroticism. Intriguingly, she explains why introverts may find happiness through extroverted behaviors, encouraging a journey of self-awareness and personal growth.
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Quick takeaways
- Recognizing feelings of isolation and disorganization can signal a need for personality change and improvement in life satisfaction.
- Consistent engagement in social activities can help build confidence and facilitate significant personality transformations over time.
Deep dives
Recognizing Signs for Change
Significant signs indicating a need for personality change often include feelings of isolation and an inability to cope with minor inconveniences. Individuals may find themselves feeling lonely, disorganized, or hard to get along with, which reflects underlying personality traits that can negatively affect daily life. Acknowledging whether these feelings stem from permanent personality traits or temporary life struggles is crucial; lasting feelings may point to deeper issues. Understanding these signs can lead to the desire for change and improvement in one's overall experience of life.