Why Your Brain Hates Change And How to Beat It With These Habits

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In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Andrew Abela—founding dean of the Busch School of Business and author of Super Habits—to show you how to forge your character with practical, science-backed habits. We tackle the lie of an unchangeable personality, dive into the brain science behind cultivating gratitude, courage, and self-control, and share hands-on tools—from a simple night-time gratitude ritual to the split-second virtue that guided Sully on the Hudson. Plus, discover why leaning into God’s grace always wins over raw willpower.

Timestamps:

1:52 - Debunking Your Brain: Why “Wired This Way” Doesn’t Fly  

5:47 What makes a habit “super” and how to create one that sticks.  

39:05 Tame your anger with a velvet glove, not a chain.  

33:48 Four virtues that power every choice—discipline, courage, justice & temperance.

48:43 Crash landing—a real-time lesson in virtue that saved lives. ✈️

1:09:17 Why sailing on God’s grace beats rowing with your own strength. ⛵

Crash landing—a real-time lesson in virtue that saved lives. ✈️ Why sailing on God’s grace beats rowing with your own strength. ⛵

Resources Mentioned:

Download the Grow Virtue App and pick your first habit: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/growvirtue/id6740114810

Grab Super Habits by Andrew Abela: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/super-habits/?srsltid=AfmBOoqsp2im0nAsccrVmYJtnpys47gQhhwTNLceb97Rqy5WrAOYlJQX

The Anatomy of Virtue: https://superhabit.substack.com/p/the-anatomy-of-virtue?r=457iow&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

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