Olga Khazan

Yes, people who did change their personality traits in the desired direction tend to be happy with the results. So, you know, you might be surprised by how good it feels to act against your nature sometimes.

Yes, people who did change their personality traits in the desired direction tend to be happy with the results. So, you know, you might be surprised by how good it feels to act against your nature sometimes.

Yes, people who did change their personality traits in the desired direction tend to be happy with the results. So, you know, you might be surprised by how good it feels to act against your nature sometimes.

Hi. Thanks so much for having me.

Hi. Thanks so much for having me.

Hi. Thanks so much for having me.

Yeah, that's one theory, and that was a prominent theory about personality several decades ago. William James famously said it was set like plaster by the age of 30. But actually, newer research has shown that it is possible to change your personality. You do have to really work at it. It's not just something you can snap your fingers and make happen.

Yeah, that's one theory, and that was a prominent theory about personality several decades ago. William James famously said it was set like plaster by the age of 30. But actually, newer research has shown that it is possible to change your personality. You do have to really work at it. It's not just something you can snap your fingers and make happen.

Yeah, that's one theory, and that was a prominent theory about personality several decades ago. William James famously said it was set like plaster by the age of 30. But actually, newer research has shown that it is possible to change your personality. You do have to really work at it. It's not just something you can snap your fingers and make happen.

But researchers who have asked people if they would like to change their personality traits and then given them little assignments or tasks or behaviors to do every day that would put them closer in alignment with the personality trait they'd like to have, they then found that those people actually did change their personality traits.

But researchers who have asked people if they would like to change their personality traits and then given them little assignments or tasks or behaviors to do every day that would put them closer in alignment with the personality trait they'd like to have, they then found that those people actually did change their personality traits.

But researchers who have asked people if they would like to change their personality traits and then given them little assignments or tasks or behaviors to do every day that would put them closer in alignment with the personality trait they'd like to have, they then found that those people actually did change their personality traits.

Yes. People who did change their personality traits in the desired direction tend to be happy with the results.

Yes. People who did change their personality traits in the desired direction tend to be happy with the results.

Yes. People who did change their personality traits in the desired direction tend to be happy with the results.

So personality, according to most researchers, is sort of the thoughts and behaviors and mindset that come most reflexively to you. They're the things that you kind of do automatically without thinking about it. Now, Nathan Hudson, who is one of the researchers, he kind of adds onto that by saying that personality is like a tool that helps you get what you want.

So personality, according to most researchers, is sort of the thoughts and behaviors and mindset that come most reflexively to you. They're the things that you kind of do automatically without thinking about it. Now, Nathan Hudson, who is one of the researchers, he kind of adds onto that by saying that personality is like a tool that helps you get what you want.

So personality, according to most researchers, is sort of the thoughts and behaviors and mindset that come most reflexively to you. They're the things that you kind of do automatically without thinking about it. Now, Nathan Hudson, who is one of the researchers, he kind of adds onto that by saying that personality is like a tool that helps you get what you want.

there's five traits of personality. And for example, the trait of agreeableness, which is sort of like warmth and empathy, that can help you make more friends. It can help you deepen your relationships. It can help you become more enmeshed in community. And so that is actually, you can think of it as almost like a tool in your toolkit for living the kind of life you'd like to live.

there's five traits of personality. And for example, the trait of agreeableness, which is sort of like warmth and empathy, that can help you make more friends. It can help you deepen your relationships. It can help you become more enmeshed in community. And so that is actually, you can think of it as almost like a tool in your toolkit for living the kind of life you'd like to live.