Embrace Your Brain

Is there an instinct driving the brutality toward migrants, the focus on revenge and the attacks on valued programs?  Is our anxiety one of the goals?

Cognitive neuroscience can shed some light on Trump's and Musk's minds. If you like this fresh lens for tracking the chaos, I hope you'll pass it on.

Today may be ok, but do you still live under a cloud of dread? Is your mind filled with negative storylines about tomorrow? What's going on?

There's one brain app that triggers all these behaviors. It's an ancient design that worked for 200 million years. But it wasn't meant for humans!

I've been exploring rage behavior, and my quest just kept growing. It even connects to suicide and eating disorders! Finally, I'm ready to begin.

To let the outside world come to us, we must awaken our bodies to help us get the message. These messages come in as gestures!!  Here's how it works!

Faith-based literalists and reason-based pragmatists need a third place to stand. Let's consider a higher ground that asks each of them to stretch.

As stress levels rise, communications can break down. Let's look at the gridlock two key mindsets are facing today. Then we can look for a solution.

When giving up moves beyond depression and anxiety, it can settle into apathy. Why is that so hard to shake?  And how can we stop it from spreading?

When we feel helpless, it can trigger depression, anxiety, or apathy. Learn some remedies for depression and anxiety.   Next podcast looks at apathy.

We all give up sometimes.  But if you are caught in anxiety or despair, one or more brain layers has shut down, and another is running the show.

Our brain layers don't have to fight for dominance.  They can rise above that and become a dream team!  Here's how.

Despair and apathy suggest one or more brain layers has given in to "learned helplessness". What are these layers? Next time we'll explore remedies.

Are you a list maker?  Is it a mix of important, trivial, easy and dreaded tasks? Lists can run our lives if we let them.  Here's how to take charge.

We can choose to play or to think in metaphors.  Then we feel those gestures.  But some gestures originate from within and seem to choose us. 

Think back from 12th to 1st grade.  Did your education include teaching your mind to play with gestures?  Are you still using those gestures today?

Think back from 12th to 1st grade.  Did your education include teaching your mind to play with gestures?  Are you still using those gestures today?

Think about the motions involved in your favorite play activities. Those motions may have influenced how your mind plays now.

Think about the motions involved in your favorite play activities. Those motions may have influenced how your mind plays now.

Typical biographies tell it forward and track what we have DONE in life. But only looking backward can we tell the story of what we have BECOME.

Typical biographies tell it forward and track what we have DONE in life. But only looking backward can we tell the story of what we have BECOME.

Even great teachers can have a rare student that just shuts down. Offering micro-steps without novelty may succeed when all else fails. But why?  

Even great teachers can have a rare student that just shuts down. Offering micro-steps without novelty may succeed when all else fails. But why?  

Society seems as likely to become enflamed and our planet has. Can we learn to lower our emotional temperature and interrupt our explosive emotions?

Society seems as likely to become enflamed and our planet has. Can we learn to lower our emotional temperature and interrupt our explosive emotions?

When disruptive events knock us down, we usually recover easily.But sometimes the illness, grief or chronic pain needs a miracle to stop spiraling.

When disruptive events knock us down, we usually recover easily.But sometimes the illness, grief or chronic pain needs a miracle to stop spiraling.

What does it mean to go too far, to go past the tipping point.  And what does that have to do with spiraling? Can that lead to chronic pain?

What does it mean to go too far, to go past the tipping point.  And what does that have to do with spiraling? Can that lead to our chronic pain?

What drives chronic pain?  Why does it happen to some of us? Is there any way to break that cruel pattern once it starts?

What drives chronic pain?  Why does it happen to some of us? Is there any way to break that cruel pattern once it starts?

It's only one lens for looking at life's journey but it's a remarkable one. Here's a first look at these 7 year milestones and how to track them.

It's only one lens for looking at life's journey but it's a remarkable one. Here's a first look at these 7 year milestones and how to track them.

As adults, our brains could find the brain states to do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. But the aging brain takes more skill to operate well!

As adults, our brains could find the brain states to do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. But the aging brain takes more skill to operate well!

Our brain automatically switches connections as we take on different tasks. As we age, this can break down. But we can shift onto manual control.  

Our brain automatically switches connections as we take on different tasks. As we age, this can break down. But we can shift onto manual control.  

Aging well can mean getting wiser, until it doesn't.  Sooner or later the deficit view can creep in, throwing our competency into question. See the handout for this podcast here.

Aging well can mean getting wiser, until it doesn't.  Sooner or later the deficit view can creep in, throwing our competency into question. See the handout for this podcast here.

Ever wonder where new ideas come from and how to invite them? One great way is to “drop it” – to erase the blackboard in your mind, and just wait.

Ever wonder where new ideas come from and how to invite them? One great way is to “drop it” – to erase the blackboard in your mind, and just wait.

Has your life become a race against time? Is it harder to truly enjoy being with friends? Let's look at how we can really show up more often.

Has your life become a race against time? Is it harder to truly enjoy being with friends? Let's look at how we can really show up more often.

We've been exploring co-regulation for decades and just didn't know it!  Now that we have the science to document it, let's see what it can explain!

We've been exploring co-regulation for decades and just didn't know it!  Now that we have the science to document it, let's see what it can explain!

We'll explore the dramatic impacts of puberty on thinking and feeling. And we'll discuss why some subject areas backslide so much more than others.

We'll explore the dramatic impacts of puberty on thinking and feeling. And we'll discuss why some subject areas backslide so much more than others.

Between first and sixth grade, kids go through two major brain changes. If they miss out on school during one of those times, it's quite a setback.

Between first and sixth grade, kids go through two major brain changes. If they miss out on school during one of those times, it's quite a setback.

What did they need during those two years? The brain, body and social growth have different timelines. Let's track those timelines from birth to 7.

What did they need during those two years? The brain, body and social growth have different timelines. Let's track those timelines from birth to 7.