Nir Eyal
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Is it that our beliefs become our biology?
Is it changing the mitochondria because of the vibrations we're sending out through our beliefs?
No, nothing like that.
At least that's not what the science has shown.
What we're finding is that beliefs affect your biology because of an intermediary step.
So take the person who has a positive view about aging.
What does a positive view about aging sound like?
A positive view about aging might sound like growth is possible at any age.
A negative view of aging might be aging involves inevitable decline.
I'll say it again.
Aging involves inevitable decline or growth is possible at any age.
Now, which one of those statements is true?
Which is a fact?
Both.
They both are.
But what comes to mind first?
When you forget your key somewhere, is it, ah, I'm having a senior moment?
Right?
If that's what comes to mind, you are reinforcing a belief, an expectation, which lowers your agency and changes your behavior.
So when you have a belief like,