How to Rewrite the Beliefs Trapping You with Nir Eyal - E159
4/7/202653 min
What if the limits you believe about your life… aren’t actually true?
In this episode of Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick, New York Times bestselling author Nir Eyal returns to unpack the core ideas behind his latest book, Beyond Belief. Known for Hooked and Indistractable, Nir now turns his focus to the deepest layer of human behavior, the beliefs that shape how we see reality itself.
We explore why the brain operates as a prediction machine, how feelings can mislead us when mistaken for facts, and why overthinking often reinforces the very patterns we’re trying to escape. Nir breaks down how many of our beliefs aren’t actually ours—but inherited, rehearsed, and rarely questioned.
Dr. JC introduces the concept of becoming a Free Thinker, someone willing to stay open, remain curious, and not be immediately attached to their beliefs—and together they examine both the power and the potential downside of that mindset.
You’ll also learn practical tools like Nir’s third-person technique for interrupting negative thought loops, and how to begin rewriting the internal “software” that’s quietly running your life.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or limited by your own thinking, this conversation will challenge you to ask a better question:
Is this actually true… or is it just a belief I’ve never questioned?
Watch until the end to learn a simple technique you can use immediately to break rumination and take control of your attention.
Connect With Nir Eyal:
Beyond Belief: https://amzn.to/41hgzg4
Website: https://www.nirandfar.com/
IG: @nireyal
Dr. JC Doornick Links:
Website - www.makessensebook.com
YT - / @drjcdoornick
IG - / @drjcdoornick
FB - / @makessensepodcast
Makes Sense Book - https://tinyurl.com/makessensepurchase
MAKES SENSE PODCAST
Welcome to the Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick Podcast. This podcast explores topics that expand human consciousness and enhance performance. On the Makes Sense Podcast, we acknowledge that it's who you are that determines how well what you do works, and that perception is subjective and an acquired taste. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at begin to change. Welcome to the uprising of the sleepwalking masses. Welcome to the Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick Podcast.
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0:00 - Intro
1:42 - What I like about Nir Eyal
3:07 - What's it like to be Nir Ayal These Days?
5:40 - The Power Of Beliefs - Curing Chronic Pain - Hypno-sedation
10:05 - Do we need to believe in ourselves in order to take action?
15:37 - The space between fact and faith.
19:20 - Where do beliefs come from
23:04 - Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction - The Turn Around
30:20 - What does it take for someone to decide to challenge their beliefs?
38:14 - Is there danger in believing you can do anything you put your mind to?
42:14 - Inherited Beliefs and Prayer
47:12 - FreeThinker
51:08 - Rewriting Beliefs
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
There's a fire inside you you can't ignore. Stand still? Not a chance. You're a lifelong learner who's come this far. Now, we're here to help you keep going further. Capella University, what can't you do? Visit capella.edu to learn more.
Speaker 10:15
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JC Doornick· Host0:25
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Speaker 10:26
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JC Doornick· Host0:34
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Speaker 10:35
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Nir Eyal· Guest0:45
Why do people fail at their goals? Whether it's getting in shape, whether it's writing that book, whether it's starting that business, whether it's repairing that relationship, whatever it is, why do people not achieve their goals? It's pretty simple. The number one reason is that we quit. Persistence doesn't guarantee success, but quitting guarantees failure.
JC Doornick· Host1:01
Have you noticed that the world that we live in has been doing most of the thinking for you? That your beliefs, perceptions, reactions, fears, and doubts have been shaped by unsolicited outside noise? How easy it's been for you to slip into that default sleepwalking mode and label it as life and reality. Yeah, that ends here. Welcome to the Make Sense with Dr. JC podcast. This is your opportunity to start thinking for yourself, reclaim