In a recent episode of Deep Talks, host Kate Furmanova sits down with Gunnar Habitz—a speaker, writer, and traveler based in Sydney—to explore one of humanity's most persistent struggles: why changing your life is so difficult.
Habitz argues that the biggest obstacle to personal transformation is not a lack of willpower, but a lack of awareness. Most people operate on autopilot, repeating the same patterns without questioning them. True change, he says, begins when we become conscious of our habits and the stories we tell ourselves.
External triggers—such as a major life event or a sudden crisis—can jolt us into awareness, but they are not always necessary. Habitz suggests that we can cultivate awareness through intentional practices like journaling, meditation, or simply taking time to reflect.
Travel, he notes, can act as a powerful catalyst for self-discovery. Stepping into an unfamiliar culture forces us to see ourselves and our assumptions from a new perspective. But the real transformation happens when we bring those insights back home and integrate them into daily life.
Changing life often means going against the norm—choosing a path that friends or family may not understand. Habitz encourages viewers to embrace that discomfort, because growth rarely happens inside the comfort zone.
The conversation also touches on cultural insights and food as a connector, but the core message remains: change is hard because it requires us to let go of the familiar, even when the familiar is no longer serving us.