How Your Beliefs Shape Your Happiness, Success, and Future | Shawn Achor – EP 831
What if the beliefs you hold about yourself, your future, and the world around you are shaping what happens next more than you realize?
Shawn Achor, bestselling author and one of the leading voices in positive psychology, joins John R. Miles to explore the science behind The Power of Beliefs. Drawing on research in psychology, medicine, education, and human performance, Shawn explains how the way we interpret our circumstances can shape how we respond to them, what we attempt, and what becomes possible.
But this isn't a conversation about pretending everything will work out. Shawn explains the difference between a belief that creates real possibilities and wishful thinking, including a practical method for grounding beliefs in evidence and connecting them to the actions that make change more likely.
The conversation takes a deeply personal turn when Shawn shares how the premature birth of his daughter led him to step away from work, only to later feel that he was being replaced. A chance encounter with a stranger reminded him that his work had made a difference. That moment opens the door to a bigger question: What happens when we stop believing that we matter?
Together, John and Shawn explore how the beliefs that shape our lives are connected to belonging, meaningful work, social connection, and the environments we create for one another.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- Why pursuing success first and expecting happiness to follow can leave you perpetually dissatisfied.
- How beliefs can influence outcomes, from the placebo effect to the home-field advantage in sports.
- The difference between grounded optimism and wishful thinking.
- How to strengthen a belief by connecting it to evidence and specific actions.
- The seven core beliefs Shawn explores, including whether your behavior matters, whether you matter, whether you're alone, and whether your work is meaningful.
- Why Shawn's experience as a father changed his understanding of success, identity, and mattering.
- Why feeling that your work matters can be as important as compensation.
- How small acts of recognition, connection, and kindness can create feedback loops that change behavior.
- What leaders, parents, teachers, and individuals can do to help others see evidence that they matter.
The takeaway is simple but powerful: you don't have to pretend the odds are easy or the world is perfect to believe your actions can make a difference. You can build beliefs that acknowledge reality while helping you move toward a better future.
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- Website: https://johnrmiles.com
- Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
- Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
- Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/
Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.
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The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.
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