The Next Big Idea Daily Life Changes You. The Question Is How.
4 snips
Jan 20, 2026 
Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist and former Obama advisor, explores how uncertainty can trigger stress and identity loss during change. She shares insights on resilience, encouraging listeners to anchor their identities in core values. John Kaag, a philosopher interpreting the works of Emerson, Thoreau, and James, discusses coping with loss through nature and creative will. Together, they illuminate the transformative power of change and our capacity to navigate personal evolution, finding hope in life's disruptions.
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Why Uncertainty Feels Worse Than Certainty
- Humans strongly dislike uncertainty and often prefer a certain bad outcome to ambiguous risk.
- Big changes trigger identity loss and grief because they remove familiar ways of being.
Shankar's Personal Reframes After Loss
- Maya Shankar describes losing her violin career after a hand injury and later grieving pregnancy losses.
- She reframed both losses by identifying underlying motivations like human connection and finding new outlets.
Anchor Identity To Your Why
- Anchor your identity to your underlying motivations rather than specific roles or activities.
- Do a quick self-affirmation listing identities that are not threatened to create perspective and resilience.
