Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson cover image

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

How to Change Your Personality with Olga Khazan

Apr 28, 2025
In this conversation with Olga Khazan, a writer at The Atlantic and author of 'Me, But Better', she shares her journey of transforming her personality traits. Olga discusses how intentional behavior changes led her to become more extroverted and agreeable. They explore concepts like the Big Five personality traits, the influence of mindfulness and meditation, and how external factors like psychedelics can reshape self-perception. Additionally, they dive into the dynamics of parenthood and its impact on personality evolution.
01:16:21

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Personality can change over time through life experiences and intentional behavior, offering hope for personal growth.
  • Engaging in activities like improvisational theater can effectively enhance extroversion and reshape one's social life.

Deep dives

The Nature of Personality Change

Personality is more malleable than commonly believed, as it can evolve over time due to life experiences. Individuals often notice changes in themselves as they transition through various life stages, such as from adolescence to adulthood. Research indicates that people can intentionally change their personality traits by consistently engaging in new behaviors and habits. This flexibility offers hope for those seeking to alter aspects of their personality that they find unappealing or detrimental.

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