Your personality is set in stone, right? Wrong! Countless research studies show that traits can and do change over time and that you can facilitate this process by taking intentional action. So, what if instead of telling yourself “I can’t do [insert activity] because I’m not [insert characteristic] enough, you imagined the life of your dreams and purposefully developed the traits that would help get you there. Shannon Sauer-Zavala, PhD, a clinical psychologist and personality change researcher, will use her own journal from messy and lazy to off the charts in conscientiousness to illustrate the principles of personality change. She will challenge the notion that you’re stuck with the personality you’re born with and empower you to use your dreams to determine the traits you develop. Dr. Sauer-Zavala is a licensed clinical psychologist and an internationally respected expert on personality change. As a researcher at the University of Kentucky, she runs clinical trials testing cutting-edge interventions that harness the power of personality change to alleviate common mental health conditions. She has co-authored over 120 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, along with treatment manuals and an academic book on personality. Her research has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Canadian Institute of Health Research, and the Templeton Foundation. Dr. Sauer-Zavala is passionate about helping others understand the science of personality change in order to cultivate the careers and relationships they want. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx