Today, Jay sits down with Dr. Shadé Zahrai to explore how self-doubt quietly influences our decisions, and what it takes to rebuild trust in ourselves. Shadé unpacks the psychology behind impostor syndrome, fear of failure, and the inner stories that convince people they’re not ready or not enough. Together, they examine how the brain’s need for certainty drives worst-case thinking, and why that protective instinct often keeps us stuck, even when opportunity is right in front of us.

Shadé offers grounded frameworks, from shifting “should” into “could” to create more possibility, to designing simple action plans that help regain a sense of control when things feel overwhelming. Shadé reflects on purpose, care, and leaving people better than we found them, while Jay highlights that trusting yourself doesn’t mean never experiencing doubt. Together, they explore how self-image is shaped by the feedback we internalize, why criticism tends to linger longer than praise, and how healing emotional “scars” allows us to move forward without self-sabotage.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Trust Yourself Again

How to Stop Letting Self-Doubt Inform Your Decisions

How to Reframe Impostor Syndrome as Growth

How to Turn Fear Into Forward Action

How to Shift From “Should” to “Could”

How to Take Action When You Feel Stuck

How to Heal the Self-Image Behind the Self-Doubt

Confidence isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the willingness to move forward even when fear is present. Every step you take, no matter how small, strengthens your trust in yourself and reminds you that you are capable of learning, adapting, and becoming more than you were yesterday.

Pre-order Shadé’s new book, Big Trust, to dive deeper into the framework for rebuilding self-trust and breaking free from self-doubt:

https://www.shadezahrai.com/bigtrust

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:47 What Drives Self-Doubt?

02:58 The Power of Your Self-Image

06:54 The Four Pillars of Self-Image

08:44 Struggling With Self-Acceptance

15:35 How Lack of Acceptance Fuels Perfectionism

20:50 Shifting From Comparison to Emulation

27:55 Becoming Before You Believe

32:14 Why the Brain Craves Certainty

38:00 Do You Ever Feel Like You’re Not Enough?

44:24 Learning to Detach From Labels

56:04 The Self-Talk That Keeps You Grounded

01:01:11 Believing You’re Capable

01:06:22 Everyone Experiences Self-Doubt!

01:08:56 What Actually Replaces Self-Doubt?

01:15:20 Getting the Job Even When You Feel Underqualified

01:24:13 Understanding Key Differences Between Men and Women

01:26:53 Why Constant Complaining Signals Low Self-Trust

01:37:12 Growth After Trauma

01:43:52 Why We Focus on What We Can’t Control

01:50:42 Learning to Adapt to Your Emotions

01:56:26 Creating Your “I Could, I Will” List

02:00:07 Shadé on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | Website

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | Instagram

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | YouTube

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | TikTok

Dr. Shadé Zahrai | Linkedin

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**This interview was filmed on November 29th, prior to the heartbreaking and tragic events in Bondi over the weekend. Our hearts are with everyone in Australia during this incredibly difficult time.

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Today, Jay travels to Australia to sit down with Chris Hemsworth at the Crystalbrook Byron, not the superhero the world knows, but the grounded, introspective man shaped by his upbringing in the Australian outback. Chris opens up about his early years living in an Indigenous community, the adventures that sparked his imagination, and the strong family roots that still keep him centered. Jay explores how those moments from Chris’s childhood laid the foundation for the man he is today.

Chris opens up about the pressure and anxiety he faced in the early stages of his acting career and how the pursuit of excellence often came at the cost of inner peace. He talks about the constant pull between ambition and being present, the balance of preparation and surrendering to the creative process and the grounding force of lifelong friendships.

In one of the most personal moments of the conversation, Chris talks about learning of his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and how it changed his relationship with time, family, and legacy. He reflects on the emotional experience of documenting their journey together, navigating memory loss, caregiving, vulnerability, and the urgency it created to slow down and show up fully for the people who matter most.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Stay Present in a High-Pressure Career

How to Reconnect With Your Childhood Self

How to Build True, Grounding Friendships

How to Be Fully There for Aging Parents

How to Slow Down and Be Intentional With Your Time

How to Balance Ambition With Inner Peace

How to Bring More Curiosity Into Relationships

We forget sometimes that the best parts of life aren’t about achievement or perfection. They’re about being present, staying connected, and having the courage to show up. Every challenge and moment of doubt is a chance to look inward and reconnect with what really matters.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:08 Discovering Gratitude in Childhood

05:10 First Encounters With Fame

08:24 Arriving Somewhere You Never Planned

13:40 Losing Yourself to the Role

15:34 The Weight of High Expectations

20:31 Managing Mental Overload

25:31 Naming Your Stressors

28:56 The Fear of Saying No

31:29 Passing Down Healthy Money Values

34:03 Navigating Your Way Through Grief

38:22 How Family Keeps You Grounded

41:39 What Makes a Real Friend?

44:48 The Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

54:11 Realizing How Precious Time Truly Is

57:41 Witnessing Your Parents Grow Older

01:01:55 Honoring the People Who Raised You

01:06:50 The Rare Feeling of Getting It Right

01:10:18 Messages for Your Younger Self

01:13:57 Staying Connected to Your Childlike Self

01:19:39 Lessons We Learn From Our Children

01:22:30 Being Fully Present With Your Partner

01:28:12 Helping Children Understand Alzheimer’s

01:31:18 Appreciating the Beauty in Life

01:34:24 Knowing When It’s Time to Slow Down

01:38:47 Who Takes Care of the Caregiver?

01:42:30 Chris on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Chris Hemsworth | Instagram

Chris Hemsworth | X

Chris Hemsworth | YouTube

Chris Hemsworth | TikTok

Chris Hemsworth | Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Jay explores the pressure of the “social clock,” that unspoken timeline that tells us when we should reach certain life milestones. He unpacks research revealing that we’re never truly “late,” we’re simply measuring our progress against someone else’s schedule. Jay explains that the fear of falling behind is really a fear of losing control, and he shares how reclaiming that sense of control is far more important than hitting every milestone on time.

He also unpacks the career anxiety so many people are experiencing today. With frequent job changes and a longer phase of “emerging adulthood,” he reminds us that feeling lost or stuck isn’t a sign of failure, it’s a sign that you’re still exploring. Jay reflects on what purpose truly means, and why your purpose isn’t a job title or income level but the deeper reason behind everything you do.

Finally, Jay explores age, growth, and possibility, reminding us that the brain can rewire itself at any stage of life and that happiness often follows a U-shaped curve. If you feel like you’re in a low point, you may actually be standing right before the rise.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Stop Living by the Social Clock

How to Feel In Control of Your Life Again

How to Navigate Career Changes with Confidence

How to Redefine Purpose Beyond Your Job

How to Build Relationships That Truly Support You

How to Grow Even When You Feel “Behind”

You’re not late. You’re not off track. You’re simply arriving on your own timeline and that timeline is right on time.

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Introduction

01:04 The Societal Pressure Of The "Social Clock

02:30 Deviating From "The Social Clock"

06:42 Redefining Success On Your Terms

08:42 You're Not Lost, You're Experimenting!

13:05 Don't Measure By Goals From The Past

15:27 The Illusion Of Late Marriage

19:47 Close Relationships Lead To Better Health

24:26 You're Not Late, Start Now!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.