10% Happier with Dan Harris The Science of Handling Uncertainty | Maya Shankar
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Jun 20, 2022 
Maya Shankar, a former Senior Advisor in the Obama White House and a leading voice in behavioral economics at Google, explores the nuances of dealing with uncertainty. She discusses why human beings struggle with change and the pitfalls of seeking cognitive closure. Maya emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open mindset and how embracing flexibility can enhance resilience. Personal stories of transformation, including her own journey from musician to scientist, offer insights into navigating life's unpredictable transitions.
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Violinist to Cognitive Scientist
- Maya Shankar's career as a violinist ended due to a hand injury at 15.
- This led her to discover cognitive science through Steven Pinker's book, "The Language Instinct."
Power of Defaults
- The government used behavioral science to auto-enroll low-income kids in a lunch program.
- By changing it from opt-in to opt-out, 12.5 million more kids ate lunch.
Why We Dislike Uncertainty
- Humans dislike uncertainty, preferring certainty of a bad outcome over the unknown.
- Change is hard because it threatens our identities, leading to feelings of insecurity.
