1A How Change Affects Our Brains And Identities
10 snips
Jan 15, 2026 
Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist and author known for her work on decision-making and change, dives deep into how life’s unexpected shifts affect our brains and identities. She shares her own fears of uncertainty and explores how to adapt to upheaval. Maya emphasizes the importance of reframing change as a revelation and cultivating openness to ambiguity. She discusses the role of nature and awe in gaining perspective, and how building community can support us through transitions, all while challenging traditional views on trauma and identity.
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Brains Hate Uncertainty
- Our brains dislike uncertainty and prefer cognitive closure, making change feel especially stressful.
- Maya Shankar began exploring change to collect science-backed strategies to "do change better."
Change Alters Who We Become
- We mispredict how changes will feel because we forget that change transforms who we are.
- Early reactions to "good" changes often miss unforeseen psychological shifts.
Use Awe To Calm Rumination
- Invite awe through music, art, nature, or moral beauty to quiet self-focused rumination.
- Use awe to gain perspective and become more comfortable with uncertainty during change.
