This year, on NPR's ThruLine, Life, Liberty, The Pursuit of Happiness.

For centuries, America's pursuit has changed the world.

Now, 250 years later, who are we? Where are we headed?

Join us every Tuesday for a brand new series, America in Pursuit.

On ThruLine, listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

What do you do in a life-changing event?

Well, you make the best of the situation.

You go into it with a clear mind and you plan

the work and then work the plan. 20 years ago, my husband was indicted. I was not aware of these

things that were happening. And I decided that I needed to support myself. I had just quit my

full-time job to be a stay-at-home mom.

I decided to open up a business. The business 20 years later is successful. I adapted. I worked

hard. I had my focus, and more than anything, my children were my drive. They inspired me to be better, and everything happens for reason.

That's what it is. Danny, thanks for that message. Major life changes are inevitable. Even our

best lead plans can be upended, whether it's through illness and injury or accident or sudden loss.

And it's in those moments that our brains undergo

massive changes. Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar has spent years exploring these changes and

discussing the way life transitions affect us. She hosts the podcast, a slight change of plans,

where she talks through strategies to deal with upheaval. Her latest book

is called The Other Side of Change, Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans, and it's out now.

She joins us after the break to talk about her book and the neuroscience behind how we deal with change.

I'm Jen White. You're listening to the 1A podcast. Stay with us. We've got a lot to get to.

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