The Psychology of Limiting Beliefs | Nir Eyal

About this episode

Nir Eyal discusses how limiting beliefs can hinder our potential and the importance of understanding the difference between beliefs and truths.

What if the biggest barrier between you and your potential isn’t talent - but a belief you’ve never questioned? Nir Eyal is a behavioral design expert and the bestselling author of Hooked , Indistractable , and his newest book, Beyond Belief . In this conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais, he explores a deceptively powerful idea: that beliefs operate like the hidden software of the mind, shaping what we notice, what we feel, what we attempt, and what we assume is possible. At the center of the conversation is a problem most of us know very intimately:  If we already know what to do, why don’t we do it?  Nir argues that motivation is not simply about knowing the right behavior or wanting the right outcome. Holding it all together is belief, the often invisible layer that determines whether we think change is possible, whether our effort is worth it, and whether we believe we are capable of following through. Nir breaks down the difference between facts, faith, and beliefs, and offers a compelling reframing: beliefs are not truths, they are tools. From there, he explores the difference between limiting beliefs and liberating beliefs, why the mind defaults toward safety…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Gervais

Guest: Nir Eyal

Topics covered

• limiting beliefs
• behavioral design
• motivation
• beliefs
• mental health

Keywords

• belief systems
• change
• agency
• pain
• suffering

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Hooked, Indistractable, Beyond Belief

Books & works: The Psychology of Limiting Beliefs |, Hooked , Indistractable, Beyond Belief

Places: California

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