Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning

Welcome to episode 361 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we reconnect with Dr. Sui Wong, a leading neuro-ophthalmologist, for an enlightening discussion on her new book, Sweet Spot for Brain Health: Why Blood Sugar Matters for a Clear, Fog-Free Brain. Join host Andrea Samadi as she dives deep into Dr. Wong's research that unveils the powerful link between our blood sugar levels and brain health. Discover practical tips and a 12-week challenge designed to help maintain optimal brain function by stabilizing blood sugar. This episode sheds light on Dr. Wong's holistic approach to patient care and her dedication to sharing knowledge that empowers individuals to enhance their health and well-being through informed lifestyle choices. Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/MoQT39pXHhE  Welcome back to SEASON 13 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 6 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. For today's episode #361, we meet with a returning guest, Dr. Sui Wong, a Leading Neuro-Ophthalmologist, who we met on EP 343[i], last August where we looked at: ✔ Dr. Sui Wong's career path in medicine, that led her to write 4 books to help her patients (and the world) improve their brain health. ✔ How understanding our eye health can help us to prevent neurological disorders (like Alzheimer's Disease) in the future. ✔ What common neuro-ophthalmology cases she sees. On today's EP 361, we will dive deep into her NEW book, Sweet Spot for Brain Health: Why Blood Sugar Matters for a Clear, Fog-Free Brain.[ii] ✔ What is the brain-glucose connection? ✔ How does glucose impact cognitive performance? ✔ How can we better prepare to eat food that we know will spike our blood sugar levels? ✔ What health problems can too much sugar lead to? ✔ Helpful tools to create a brain-healthy diet. ✔ Supplements that are important for brain health and cognition. Just a reminder: Dr. Sui H. Wong, is a Neurologist and Neuro-Ophthalmologist based in London, United Kingdom. In addition to her clinical work as a medical doctor and physician, Dr. Wong is an active neuroscience researcher, who translates pertinent and clinically relevant questions into research, to improve person-centered patient outcomes. Additionally, she has the qualifications and experience to consider a broader spectrum of lifestyle-specific interventions. Dr. Wong's holistic approach in empowering patients has been recognized with many awards, and this is just the beginning for her. When I was introduced to Dr. Wong, an active neuroscience researcher with a mission of translating important clinically relevant questions into research for improved person-centred patient outcomes, I knew I had to speak with her. She is a widely-published author and researcher with over 110+ peer-reviewed publications in medical journals, chapters and conference abstracts, to date.  Let's meet Dr. Sui Wong, for the second time on our podcast, and see what we can learn together about what she has uncovered with her research of the importance of understanding our blood sugar levels, for a fog-free brain. Welcome Dr. Sui Wong! It's wonderful to see you again. What's been going on with you since we met last August? Well, let's get straight to your new book, Sweet Spot for Brain Health: Why Blood Sugar Matters for a Clear, Fog-Free Brain. I absolutely love this topic, and I've covered a few episodes where we looked at the impact of sugar on our health and wellness, with EP 275[iii] The Damaging Effects of Sugar on the Brain and Body. I'm open that while I will eat chocolate, (sparingly) I watch the sugar content in EVERYTHING I eat, because it just doesn't make me feel good to have a sugar-rush to the brain. Besides chocolate, I'd say I live a sugar-free lifestyle, (since around 2005, so for the past 20 years) and it's not something I even think about anymore. So when I see just how damaging sugar is to our health, I want to do what I can to help others to try this lifestyle, and see how they feel. INTRO Q: What was it for you that made you want to cover this topic, even with tips for a 12-week challenge at the end of the book? Q1: In the very beginning of your book, you ask the question “have you ever wondered about the hidden connection between what you eat and how your brain works” and I honestly had not, until I was at my foot doctor, telling him that my feet were going numb with exercise, and he had just written a book, called Sugar Crush: How to Reduce Inflammation, Reverse Nerve Damage and Reclaim Good Health[iv] and he handed me a piece of paper that would involve my pathway to a sugar-free diet. When was it that you began to connect the dots with how our brains work, connected to sugar? What is the brain-glucose connection? Q2: Just thinking back to my sugar-free diet, that began 20 years ago, my doctor had me stop eating high glucose fruits like pineapple, and replace them with low glycemic fruits. I remember us both laughing as we realized that bananas were not on the list, and I remember thinking “what can I eat?” and it was a massive mindset shift. You've broken your book into Themes and theme 1 that covers Chapters 1-4 covers how glucose helps your brain to work, as well as how your body breaks down food to give us energy. Can you tell us what we should all know about glucose, how it impacts cognitive performance, and how we can balance the sugar we ingest so it's not too much, or too little? Q2B: Is the only way to REALLY know this, to measure what we eat with a blood glucose monitor to see how what we are eating impacts our blood sugar levels? Q2C: How can we better prepare to eat foods we know will spike our blood sugar? Q3: Then you cover Theme 2, in chapter 5, When Things Go Wrong with what happens when you blood sugar levels aren't right. We all have heard this, but can you tell us the problems too much sugar can lead us to? (like diabetes, insulin resistance, deteriorating vascular health, in addition to the impact on our brain health and overall well-being)? Q4: Then you cover Theme 3, what to do about it, in chapters 6-11 with practical tips to keep your blood sugar steady, and our brain in top shape. It's here that you cover diet, and this is a huge one, as many of us like eating, or cooking things in a certain way. I remember my doctor asking me to write down EVERYTHING I was eating, and what was in the sauces I was cooking things in. For example, I remember I liked this Fajita sauce, that was really high is sugar. So I had to find a replacement for it. Or learning what food were high glycemic. Or don't even get me started when I realized how bad alcohol is for the brain, especially when I had cut out so many things. I remember thinking “what is left for me to eat/drink” until I found replacements for everything that we know to be bad for the brain. What are the most helpful tools you have found for getting our heads around a brain-healthy diet? Q5: What natural remedies or supplements are important for brain health and cognition? Q6: What is your goal for us with this book? Q7: What are some challenges you see with people in your practice, or obstacles that get in the way? Q8: What have I missed that's important? Dr. Sui Wong, I want to thank you for coming back on the podcast for a second time. It was wonderful to catch up, and learn more about ways to improve our brain health and cognition, by finding this Sweet Spot for Brain Health. I will link your information for people to learn more about you in the show notes. What is next for you? FINAL THOUGHTS I couldn't end this episode without really thinking about this topic of the importance of finding our own “Sweet Spot for Brain Health.” I know that during the recording, I could think of a few ways that I can improve my own habits immediately, (like by making sure I am taking fish oil, and as well, will add some flax seed to my shakes or morning breakfast) or like Dr. Wong mentioned, to improve ourselves just a little bit, make a shift that's only about 1-3% and we can make a significant change in our future health. I hope you enjoyed this episode, and have written down some ideas to improve your health in ways that these small shifts will over time, help us all to keep our brains sharp, and fight off cognitive decline. And with that thought, I''ll close out this episode and will see you in May, with more interviews that will dive deeper into brain health and wellbeing. RESOURCES AND CONNECT WITH DR. SUI WONG Sweet Spot for Brain Health Book books2read.com/u/br2l8z Thursday Tips-Bitesize brain health tips to thrive:  bit.ly/drwongbrainhealth Website for Dr. Wong's books: https://www.drsuiwongmd.com/books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsuiwong.neurologist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sui-wong-neurologist/ Mindfulness for Brain Health (in paperback/ hardcover/ Kindle/ audiobook) https://books2read.com/u/4XNXAg Break Free from Migraines Naturally (in paperback/ hardcover/ Kindle/ audiobook) https://books2read.com/u/bwgG5Z Sleep Better to Thrive (in paperback/ Kindle/ audiobook) books2read.com/u/mv0XQ2 Quit Ultra-Processed Foods Now (in paperback/ Kindle/ audiobook) https://books2read.com/u/m27M21 Email office@neuroeye.co.uk   RESOURCES Freestyle Libre Patch https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/home.html   Attia's Rule https://podclips.com/c/attias-rule-avoid-arguing-about-supplements-nutrition-until-you-can-deadlift-your-body-weight-for-10?ss=r&ss2=hubermanlab&d=2022-08-15&m=true REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #343 with Dr. Sui Wong https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-brain-health-insights-from-a-leading-neuro-ophthalmologist/   [ii]Sweet Spot for Brain Health: Why Blood Sugar Matters for a Clear, Fog-Free Brain by Dr. Sui Wong, Published Nov 11, 2024 https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Spot-Brain-Health-Well-being/dp/1917353855   [iii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #275   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-the-damaging-impacts-of-sugar-on-the-brain-and-body/   [iv]  Sugar Crush: How to Reduce Inflammation, Reverse Nerve Damage and Reclaim Good Health by Dr. Richard Jacoby (April 2014)  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KPVB4OA/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1  

Welcome to Season 13 of Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning. Join Andrea Samadi as she wraps up a year-long exploration of Grant Bosnick's book on self-leadership, diving into the final chapters focused on the neuroscience of resilience, authenticity, and bias. Discover practical strategies and insights from the latest neuroscience research to enhance your self-awareness, build authentic relationships, and overcome biases for personal growth and improved well-being. Don't miss this final installment filled with expert knowledge and actionable steps to transform your daily life. And we will now resume PART 4, the final part of our review, to sum up last year, 2024, and our entire year studying one book, Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January 2024. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights this year. It honestly shocked me that this series took the entire year. We began with PART 1[ii] and the first 5 chapters of the book. PART 2[iii] we reviewed chapters 6-9 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, PART 3[iv], we reviewed chapters 10-13, and finally, today, we will finish with PART 4, Chapters 14-16.                                                                                         ((On today's EPISODE #360 PART 4 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we will cover)): ✔ EP 344 Chapter 14[v] “The Neuroscience of Resilience” ✔ EP 345 Chapter 15[vi] “Unlocking Authenticity: The Neuroscience of Relationships” ✔ EP 347 Chapter 16[vii] “The Science of Bias” If you have not yet taken the leadership self-assessment, or if you would like to re-take it to see if the results are different for you than last year, you can click the link here to find the quick test. I re-took the assessment for 2025, and did notice some similarities and some differences from last year. If you can, retake the assessment and see what you notice about yourself. I noticed that pathways 2 and 3 are my high areas of focus this year, and that I can drop pathway 6 from my focus. What about you? If you have a few minutes to spare, take this leadership self-assessment again, and see if you notice any changes in your areas of focus for 2025. This is an incredible way to remain laser focused on pathways that will move the needle of success for YOU this year. EP 344 Chapter 14 “The Neuroscience of Resilience: Building Stronger Minds and Teams” If you were to ask me which episode is my favorite out of the 16 chapters, I would have to say this topic is at the top of the list, even though this pathway came out as a 0% for me to focus on in 2025. It's not because I'll be brushing resilience under the rug this year, as it's an area of focus I work on daily, without even thinking about it. Who doesn't want to become more resilient, or understand how to build a stronger mind, and then translate this strength to others for predictable results in 2025? What drew me to this episode was learning about the fascinating new neuroscience behind the part of our brain called the anterior mid cingulate cortex that becomes bigger when we use our will power to do those things we just don't want to do. Scientists believe this ability to use our will power to do difficult things, which builds our resiliency, is what's really behind the will to live. Stop and think for a minute here. Does this resonate with you? If you enjoy doing difficult things, and you would describe yourself as being “resilient” doesn't it make your mind spin to think that you are actually building a bigger, and stronger brain with this trait? Dr. Amen from Amen Clinics does remind us that when it comes to our brain, that bigger is better and that “a larger, more active brain is associated with better cognitive performance and overall well-being.”[viii] On this episode we also covered: A review of EP 74 and 286 where we covered the Neuroscience of Resilience with Horacio Sanchez's work reminding us that our protective or risk factors in our lifetime, will determine how resilient we will be throughout our life. While 25% of the population are naturally resilient, Horacio asserts that “if you have little risk, it takes less to be resilient. But—if you have a lot of risk, it takes a lot more protective factors to offset the scale.” Horacio has dedicated his life to helping our next generation become more resilient. If you love Horacio Sanchez's work as much as I do, stay tuned, as we will be featuring him soon with his new book, Unlocking School Bias: Using Neuroscience to Improve Student Outcomes[ix]. Stay tuned for this episode that will be scheduled as soon as I finish reading his book. Next we looked at Grant Bosnick's book, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership (Chapter 14) where he gave us the analogy of the donkey who fell into the well, and demonstrated resiliency when he used the dirt shoveled on him, to climb out. This example taught us that we all will have dirt shoveled on our backs in our life, and “that we can either get buried in the dirt or shake it off and take a step up. Each adversity we face is a stepping stone, and we can get out of the deepest wells by shaking off the dirt and taking a step up.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 160). Another analogy we learned was through the mother and daughter story, and that when adversity faces you, Bosnick asks us to reflect. “Are you the carrot that seems strong but with pain and adversity (wilted) and became soft, losing its strength? Are you the egg that starts with a soft heart, but hardens with the heat? Or are you like the coffee bean that actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that (brought) the pain?” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 161). I'm hoping that we all desire to experience change with the adversity we face, like the coffee bean and use our difficult experiences in life to build a better, and stronger version of ourselves. After learning about building resiliency in ourselves, we learned about building resiliency within our teams, and looked at Patrick Lencioni's The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. The absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results. Then we learned to turn this around, using the five functions of a high performing team: trust, absence of fear of conflict, commitment, accountability and attention to results.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 170). Finally, we looked at how we develop resiliency, using our Will Power from EP 294 where I shared an activity to strengthen this faculty of our mind either through meditation, or with an activity of staring at a candle flame, and with time, effort and sheer will power, blocking out everything else around you, until you and the candle flame become one. REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH EP 345 Chapter 15 on “Unlocking Authenticity: The Neuroscience of Relationships“ we covered:  ✔ Author Mo Issa's definition of authenticity from his book The Shift: How to Awaken the Aliveness from Within. We met Mo Issa on EP 346[x]) We learned that Mo believes that “true authenticity means being ourselves—not an imitation of what we think we should be or what others want us to be. We all have a unique gift, and we must find and nurture it.” (Mo Issa, The Shift). ✔ Andrea's reflection from 2021 when Mo Issa asked her “what does authenticity mean to you?” What's authentic for me—it's living life according to my values. Living who I am by design. If I'm not putting health first, (for myself and my family) or learning, growing, researching, and then disseminating/sharing what I've learned, I'm not living my true authentic self. It will hurt my productivity if I compromise who I am, at this granular level. ✔ We ask the reader to consider: What makes YOU authentic? ✔ How do you know when you are living a truly authentic life? ✔ Have you identified your unique gifts or talents that make you stand out from others? ✔ Do you know what might be holding you back from being truly authentic? ✔ The Neuroscience of Our Social Brain “We have two systems in our brain: the X-system and the C-system. The X-system (or reflexive system) is automatic, responsive, like/dislike, reward/threat. The C-system (or reflective system) is controlled, conscious, with executive function and executive control.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). Motivation and effort are required to engage this part of the brain. The story of Phineas Gage who destroyed the C-system, in his brain and was operating on X-system only. In other words he had no control over his automatic, reflexive system, and his behavior became unbearable as a result. The C-system, (that requires motivation and effort to activate) we learned, is important for self-reflection and understanding self/other. We know this part of our brain as the Default Mode Network[xvi], and the part of our brain where we take breaks for creativity, thinking and learning to occur. “When the brain is at a resting state, this specific system kicks in, which is focused around social understanding (thinking about yourself, others' thoughts, others' actions etc.).” We learned to get into this resting state by “staring out of a window and do nothing (except reflecting on what else we can do to improve our relationships) and this knowledge that we uncover will help us to build more authentic relationships. We learned to slow down the conversation with people, truly listen to them empathetically and be fully present with them. This will build the relationship to be deeper…go slow with the conversation and communication in order to go fast with the depth of the relationship.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). ✔ 4 Steps to Building More Authentic Relationships Think of a person in your business, or personal life, that you would like to build a more authentic relationship with. Get to know them on a deeper level. How would you describe them? Are they introverted/extroverted? How do they approach authenticity and relationships? Let your brain go into your Default Mode Network. Stare out of a window and think: what could you do to build a more authentic relationship with each of the people you are thinking of? How can you go slow with your conversation to go fast with the depth of the relationship? And finally, we looked at the quote from Mo Issa that suggests that once we have done the work ourselves, and know what makes us truly authentic, once we know our own unique gifts and talents, and we continue to nurture and grow them, next, we can look outward, and recognize the unique talents and gifts in others. REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH Finally, we covered EP 347 Chapter 16 “The Science of Bias“  where we ✔ Reviewed past episodes where we covered this topic of cognitive biases. ✔ Chapter 16 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership on The Neuroscience of Bias. ✔ A review of our two types of thinking (X-system=reflexive/automatic and C-system=reflective/intentional). ✔ 3 Steps to Understand and Manage our Biases from Grant Bosnick's book: Accept and admit we are all biased. It's a natural part of being human. The exercise from Daniel Kahnaman's book showed me how quickly I reverted back to system x, reflexive, automatic thinking. This self-awareness has helped me to consider where else I make quick judgments, without thinking reflectively. Label the Bias. While Bosnick covered three examples, similarity bias (making quick conclusions about people similar to you), urgency bias (where we put non-urgent tasks on hold to push through to do something that requires our immediate attention), or experience bias (where we believe our perception is the truth and that others who see things differently from us are wrong, knowing there are close to 200 different biases, it's a start to be aware that our thinking could possibly be flawed. Mitigate the Bias. We aren't going to solve all of our biases at once, but once we are aware that's it's human to have them, we can begin with looking at strategies to mitigate each. I'm looking forward to diving deeper into the neuroscience of Biases with Horacio Sanchez's new book. Stay tuned for this interview coming this Spring. ✔ 4 Strategies for Mitigating our Biases SLOW DOWN: Bosnick goes into detail on how to mitigate the top three biases that he listed. The strategy that he used was to step back, slow down and access your Systems 2 reflective thinking to see what you notice. The maze exercise showed me I could benefit from slowing down my thinking and not jump to conclusions. BE MINDFUL: When talking to others, work on “engaging our System 2 (reflective) thinking…the more mindful we are, the more we can engage our mental brakes, increase self-awareness, reduce emotional impulses, and reduce our susceptibility to unconscious bias.” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick, Page 212). Being mindful of others will help us to learn to appreciate different perspectives, as well, other people will connect more to us when they can sense we are thinking from their point of view. LEARN FROM OTHER PEOPLE: Talk to others so you can learn “how to get out of our own experience bias and appreciate other people's perspectives. This will help us to get out of our autopilot, easy route thinking of the urgency bias to have deeper, more robust and deliberate thinking.” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick, Page 212). ASK FOR OUTSIDE OPINIONS: Find others you can brainstorm with to come up with fresh ideas to help you to think in a different way. Ask for feedback to gain a new perspective. This is just the beginning of this topic for us here on the podcast. While writing this episode, I had a message from our good friend Horacio Sanchez, third time returning guest from EP 111[vi] and we will have him back on for a 4th time, to dive deeper into this topic. REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH REVIEW and CONCLUSION: To review and conclude this week's episode #360, PART 4, our final piece of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, where we covered a review of the final chapters of his book, with strategies that can help us to implement each concept, from chapters 14, 15, and 16. EPISODE #360 PART 4 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we covered: ✔ EP 344 Chapter 14 “The Neuroscience of Resilience” ✔ EP 345 Chapter 15 “Unlocking Authenticity: The Neuroscience of Relationships” ✔ EP 347 Chapter 16 “The Science of Bias” We will see you next time, with some returning guests, Dr. Sui Wong (coming up in April) and Horacio Sanchez. See you next time. REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #355 Mastering Self-Leadership REVIEW PART 1 (Grant Bosnick) https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-self-leadership-with-neuroscience/   [iii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #356 Mastering Self-Leadership REVIEW PART 2 (Grant Bosnick)https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-the-secrets-of-self-leadership-chapters-6-to-9-review/   [iv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #357 Mastering Self-Leadership REVIEW PART 3 (Grant Bosnick) https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-the-power-of-persuasion-time-management-and-change/   [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #344 “The Neuroscience of Resilience”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-resilience-building-stronger-minds-and-teams/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #345  “ Unlocking Authenticity” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-authenticity-the-neuroscience-of-relationships/   [vii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #347 “The Science of Bias”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-the-science-of-bias-mastering-self-leadership-and-cognitive-awareness/   [viii] https://www.amenclinics.com/conditions/brain-optimization-peak-performance/   [ix]Unlocking School Bias: Using Neuroscience to Improve Student Outcomes by Horacio Sanchez published Feb. 12th 2025 by Corwin Press https://www.corwin.com/books/unlocking-bias-292586   [x]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #346 with “Mo Issa: The Midlife Shift: Discovering Authenticity and Vulnerability”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-midlife-shift-discovering-authenticity-and-vulnerability-with-mo-issa/  

In this illuminating episode of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, host Andrea Samadi sits down with Dr. Shad Helmstetter, a best-selling author renowned for his work in personal growth and self-talk. Dr. Helmstetter shares his profound insights into the science of self-talk and neuroplasticity, revealing how the language we use with ourselves can radically transform our lives. Watch our interview of YouTube here https://youtu.be/zaVGEjVj__Y Listeners will discover how Dr. Helmstetter's research connects age-old principles of success with cutting-edge neuroscience. The episode delves into practical strategies for reprogramming the brain through positive self-talk, the significance of learning the language of success, and the steps anyone can take to improve their mindset. Whether you're an educator, a parent, or simply someone seeking personal improvement, this episode offers valuable lessons on how to harness your inner dialogue for greater achievement, fulfillment, and happiness. Welcome back to SEASON 13 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 6 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's EPISODE #359 we will cover: ✔ Dr. Shad Helmstetter's background that led him to create an APP that teaches how to reprogram the brain with positive self-talk ✔ Where our self-talk originated from, and how we can change it, rewire our brain, and put our lives on a trajectory for success. ✔ What is the language of success vs the language of those who are deemed to fall short of their goals? ✔ How can we teach this language to ourselves, our children, students or large groups, to permanently rewire their brain for success? For today's EP #359, we meet with the best-selling author of more than twenty books in the field of personal growth, Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. What caught my attention with our next guest was NOT this huge list of books he has written, or that he had appeared on over 1200 radio and television programs, including repeat appearances on Oprah Winfrey, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN News, or even that his self-talk audio programs are listened to thousands of individuals and families worldwide. There was something else that set our next guest apart from the others. What caught my attention was when I saw a passage in his book, The Power of Neuroplasticity, that described the EXACT mission or quest that I have been on, since looking back at the days I worked for motivational speaker Bob Proctor[i], and always wondered like our next guest “why do some people fail while others succeed?” I even wrote this question on the back of my first book, The Secret for Teens Revealed, and have been on a mission to connect science to these age-old principles that I have witnessed change many people's lives. We have covered Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich[ii] book on this podcast, as well as Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich[iii], and after looking at this question, I always came to the SAME conclusion. It HAS GOT to come down to the fact that successful people “think and act” in a certain way. So when I came across Shad Helmstetter, I wanted to learn what he has discovered that connects the age old books that we have covered on this podcast, to science. I wondered what he has discovered about “why are some people, day to day, happier, more productive, more fulfilled than others? What makes the difference? It is kismet, a kind of fate” he asks in his classic book, What to Say When You Talk to Yourself. Or has he discovered something important about the way we talk to ourselves that could possibly change the course of our lives? Let's meet Shad Helmstetter, a pioneering dean in the field of self-talk, and see what we can learn from his decades of research, that could possibly take us to NEW heights in 2025 and beyond. Welcome Dr. Helmstetter, it's an honor to meet someone who has accomplished so much in a field that I've been immersed in since the late 1990s. Thank you for being here today. INTRO Q: I've got to start how did you first get interested in self-talk and programming? Can you give us some background of where your career began? 1. We have covered self-talk before on this podcast, and ways to control those automatic negative thoughts, but can you explain what is self-talk and why is it so important? Are there certain words we shouldn't say, or think? Is there a difference in the brains of successful people compared to the brains of people who struggle or fail? I ask this question, as working in the seminar industry in the late 1990s, I saw all types of people, from all walks of life. I definitely noticed some people did things (took action) or showed me that they “thought” in a “certain way” that projected them on a pathway of success. What is the difference that you see? 1B: What are some words that can put us on a trajectory for success? What are some of the areas of life that are directly affected by our self-talk and how the brain is wired? I can guess our careers, but what else would you say? How does social media shape our self-talk, and can we override that influence through conscious effort? 1C: How do you see neuroscience being integrated in our lives, and classrooms of the future? What is the best way to listen to self-talk, and how often should you listen to it? 2: We can go deep here, but beyond our life experiences, where would you say exactly our programming comes from? 2B: How do we stop doing something we might not even be aware of? 2C: The importance of who we surround ourselves with, and ways to impact larger groups of people with positive thinking. 3. When did you first realize the importance of studying the brain with your work? What is your vision for where your work will go? Dr. Helmstetter, I want to thank you for taking the time to meet with me, and share your fascinating work that has been helping people globally for decades. For people to get started with your work, is the best place through your app?  What are the best places for people to connect with you? CONNECT with Shad Helmstetter GET THE APP https://www.selftalkplus.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/drshadhelmstetter/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drshadhelmstetter/ Website https://shadhelmstetter.com/     RESOURCES   The Secret Words of Success: The Life-Changing Words Successful People Use Most Published by Shad Helmstetter PH.D. January 8th, 2020 https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Words-Success-Shad-Helmstetter/dp/1734498218       REFERENCES:   [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #66 with the Legendary Bob Proctor  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast PART 1 of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich Book Study https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/think-and-grow-rich-book-review-part-1-how-to-make-2022-your-best-year-ever/   [iii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast PART 1 of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/  

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast. In today's episode, we delve deep into the transformative world of practical neuroscience with our special guest, Craig Polsfuss, a pioneering psychologist and author. Polsfuss introduces us to his groundbreaking book, Reality Shattering Insights, and shares his unique journey of integrating psychology, spirituality, and brain science to enhance mental well-being, performance, and spiritual insight. Join us as we explore how understanding and tapping into deeper consciousness can lead to life-changing insights and self-discovery. Learn to listen to your inner whispers and discover how to transform mental and emotional landscapes from within, moving from the intellect into the heart and beyond. Watch interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/2Hu6_poYLn8 Welcome back to SEASON 13 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 7 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's EPISODE #358 we will cover: ✔ How licensed psychologist and former clinical social worker Craig Polsfuss, (among the pioneers of the Three Principles movement in the 1980s) bridged psychology, spirituality, and brain science to help people achieve mental well-being, top performance and spiritual insight. ✔ Uncover the formula to create your own Reality Shattering Insights. ✔ Learn how tap into a deeper consciousness that can lead to life-changing insights and self-discovery. For today's EP #358, we meet with a pioneering psychologist and author of the book published just last November, Reality-Shattering Insights[i], the first in a 4-book series entitled VoLT: The Vortex of Living Truth. Today's guest, Craig Polsfuss, a licensed psychologist and former clinical social worker, who pioneered the Three Principles movement in the 1980s after a powerful awakening. With nearly five decades of experience, he integrates psychology, spirituality, and brain science to help people achieve mental wellbeing, top performance, and spiritual insight.  The "reality-shattering insights" that he shares inside his book will open your eyes, if you are looking for answers, to questions you might not have even known that you were asking yourself. Before we meet Craig Polsfuss, and begin our journey of self-discovery: A discovery that will take us from our head to our heart, and from our heart, into the depths of our soul. I've got to say that this episode is not like ANY I have done before, as Craig covered questions I have had for a very long time. Questions that came up when I first studying Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich book, 25 years ago, that we covered on EP 315[ii] with a 7-PART series. This book was one of the seminars that I sold in the late 1990s when I worked with speaker Bob Proctor.  I always wondered “what is that thinking stuff that Wattles describes in his syllabus?” If you signed up for this seminar, you would have been given this syllabus to take home with you laminated. I've got at least 10 of them still today in my office. Back then I had no idea what Wattles was describing. That stuff he says “permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.” And that “a thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.” I always thought it was some sort of “intelligence” but it wasn't until this past January, while studying this book series with Paul Martinelli, who also sold this seminar, and presented it years ago. I learned Paul's point of view that Wattles is saying this “thinking stuff” is God. And he goes on to say that we might all have our own interpretation of what we call this, (some might call it God, others a Higher Power, and others something entirely different) but I think we can all agree that there is something much bigger than us in the world. Something that keeps us connected to others, and can help us. I had to look to see what scientist Dr. Andrew Huberman would say on this topic and he goes on the record to say that he is “in absolute awe of Biology, believes in God” and elaborates by saying if you look at “the magnificence of biology, and the magnificence of nature (he says) it's impossible for (him) to conceive it could have come about any other way.”[iii] So coming back to this episode, if you have EVER wondered like me about this topic, I'm not trying to sell you in what I believe, but just asking you to keep an open mind as you listen. This episode is about: Learning how to Listen to the whispers of your deep knowing… It's about how exactly to pay attention to what comes up when you listen to your breath. We will cover how to drop from your mind and move into your heart… And Just Listen. This is where our next guest, author Craig Polsfuss explains is how you'll uncover your true answer. Just keep an open mind, and you'll see the beauty that exists when we can open our hearts  …Reality Shattering Insights. INTRO: Welcome Craig, it's wonderful to meet you today. Where have we reached you this early Monday morning? Are you in St. Paul, MN? I've got to say that when I first saw your work, that I jumped a bit in my chair. Those who know me well, know I have quite a spiritual side, but we all see the world through different lenses. Can you first of all share where this journey (of the mind) began for you, bridging psychology, spirituality and brain science to bring you to where you are today? Q1: You write about "reality-shattering insights" in your new book, and the "proven" human ability to completely transform in an instant.  Can you explain what you mean by “reality shattering insights?” and give some examples of people who have transformed their lives with these insights? Q1B: What does a complete personal transformation actually look like, and is instant change truly possible? Q2: I find this topic fascinating, and wrote about a book The Eureka Factor: Aha Moments, Creative Insight and the Brain (by John Kounios and Mark Beeman) on a recent EP330[iv]. Are Reality Shattering Insights like AHA Moments? Q3: What neuroscience component did you discover that contributed to your own personal awakening? How have others taken advantage of this? Can you talk more about this and add some brain science insight?  Q3B: What about listeners who are tuning into this podcast episode, and they are curious to learn how to create “reality shattering insights” at will. What are the first steps to begin this transformative journey?   Q3C: What is the core formula or method for radical personal transformation?  Q3D: What are the different levels of personal and spiritual enlightenment? Q4: What IS this infinite intelligence? Q4: In your book, you mention it's a journey from your “head to your heart” and from your “heart to your soul.” Can you explain this a bit more? How do we “feel” our “soul?” Q5: How does co-creation work? Q6: How does this connect to social and emotional learning?  Q7: Where do we go from here?  For those who are interested in learning more, where should they begin?   Craig, I want to thank you for your time today, sharing your book, Reality Shattering Insights, and  decades of research. For people who want to connect with you, what is the best way?   FOLLOW Craig Polsfuss LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigpolsfuss/ EMAIL Craig@Craigpolsfuss.com RESOURCES: Piezoelectricity: Why Hitting Crystals Makes Electricity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcJXA8IqYl8 REFERENCES [i] Reality Shattering Insights by Craig Polsfuss published November 1, 2024 https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Shattering-Insights-Begin-Journey-ebook/dp/B0D92GMKGR/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #315 PART 1 of Wallace D Wattles and The Science of Getting Rich: Prosperity Consciousness https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/   [iii] Dr. Andrew Huberman's Faith in God https://www.youtupsbe.com/watch?v=Z7GVf8nD7SQ   [iv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #330  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/understanding-self-leadership-and-the-neuroscience-of-goals/      

Welcome back to Season 13 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast! In this episode, we explore Part 3 of our review of Grant Bosnick's book on self-leadership, focusing on Chapters 10 to 13. Discover how the latest neuroscience research can enhance your skills in persuasion, time management, change, and agility. Dive deep into the nuances of persuasion and influence, learn effective time management techniques, understand the brain's response to change, and enhance your mental and physical agility. Join us as we uncover insightful strategies to apply in your leadership journey. And we will now resume PART 3 of our 4-PART review, to sum up last year, 2024, and our entire year studying one book, Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January 2024. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights this year. It honestly shocked me that this series took the entire year. We began with PART 1[ii] and the first 5 chapters of the book. PART 2[iii] we reviewed chapters 6-9 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, and today, PART 3, today, we will review chapters 10-13. We will finish with PART 4, Chapters 14-16 after we release our FIRST interview of 2025, coming next weekend.                                                                                  ((On today's EPISODE #357 PART 3 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we will cover)): ✔ EP 336 Chapter 10[iv]“The Neuroscience of Persuasion and Influence” ✔ EP 337 Chapter 11[v] “The Neuroscience of Time Management” ✔ EP 339 Chapter 12[vi] “The Neuroscience of Change” ✔ EP 342 Chapter 13[vii]    “Mastering Mental and Physical Agility” If you have not yet taken the leadership self-assessment, or if you would like to re-take it to see if the results are different for you than last year, you can click the link here to find the quick test. I re-took the assessment for 2025, and did notice some similarities and some differences. See what you notice about yourself. I noticed that pathways 2 and 3 are my high areas of focus this year, and that I can drop pathway 6 from my focus. What about you? If you have a few minutes to spare, take this leadership self-assessment again, and see if you notice any changes in your areas of focus for 2025. Did any of your pathways shift for you, since last year? This is an incredible way to be laser focused on pathways that will move the needle of success for YOU this year. ✔ EP 336 Chapter 10 “The Neuroscience of Persuasion and Influence” On this episode, we looked at Jack Carew's classic book from 1987 called You'll Never Get No For an Answer that was covered on EP 176.[viii] Carew looked at the unique strategies that American Author and Salesman Og Mandino encouraged us all to read to improve our communication and influence with others and I noticed that Strategy 2 was to stop looking out for number one and always look for how you can help others first. So, after noticing this, I went straight to Chapter 10 of Grant Bosnick's book, on “Persuade and Influence” to see what he had to say on this topic. Right off the bat, in the opening of this chapter, Bosnick asks us to think about how we would persuade someone else to do something, like give you a pen you would like to have, for example, or ask for a promotion, or ask someone to do something you would like them to do. Then he differentiates the word persuade that he says “we can think of as quick, more direct, more for short-term or immediate gain” (Chapter 10, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership) while influence he says “is softer, more subtle, much more for longer term and lasting gain.” (Chapter 10, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership) Persuasion Bosnick says is “more tactical, whereas influence is strategic.”  He gives us the history of persuasion, explaining its origin from the early Greek Philosophers, and that Aristotle wrote about three modes of persuasion: logos (that's about logic and reason), pathos (that's about emotion and inspiration) and ethos (that's about the speaker's own character and credibility). Thinking of Jack Carew's second tip in his book to improve our influence with others (by putting other people first) I think is a good example of a strategy that builds this concept for long-lasting gain (influence) versus persuading someone to give me something that I need for short-term, or immediate gain (like, to pass me their pen, so I can write down something important that I'll need to remember).  I want to build influence with others, that's long-term, that I think includes logic and reason (logos), emotion and inspiration (pathos) and a person's character and credibility (ethos). All 3 of the modes of persuasion, to me, make up longer term influence with someone. We learned on this episode that “There are 6 short cuts to increase the chances that someone will be persuaded or even better, influenced by us” (Robert Cialdini) We covered the first three is Robert Cialdini's book: 1. Reciprocity: We are obliged to give back, if we have been given something. Use the neuroscience of influence and persuasion, and think of ways to help others first, instead of thinking what you can gain from other people, think of what you can give to them. Always be the first to give and take the time to make sure what you are giving is actually useful to that person. This way, what you will give will have meaning to that person. 2. Scarcity. If something is scarce, we want it more. Use this by highlighting the Benefits, Uniqueness and Possible sense of Loss. Take the time to find out how what you are offering to someone else, will help them. You will need to find out what they are looking for to do this, by asking questions, and listening. Then you can “frame what you are saying/offering, so others will find it to be valuable”[ix] especially if it is something that is difficult to come by, or scarce. 3. Authority. We are more likely to comply with a request if it is coming from a perceived authority/expert. Being introduced by others FIRST is a fast way to have others learn about your expertise, making you instantly more influential and persuasive, rather than you introducing yourself. My take-away from this episode: If I want to improve my influence, it begins with understanding the wants and needs of others first (how can I help them) and then being able to say what I mean, and mean what I say. The words I speak do matter when I'm working on gaining influence.  If I'm speaking with someone, and not being completely honest, or not meaning what I say, I know that this can be felt by the other person, and it will hurt my ability to gain trust, rapport and influence. Our brains really can detect “benefits and threats”[x] and I want to be sure that I'm drawing those I want to interact with towards me, not away from me. Once I have gained influence with someone I am speaking with, then I can take my persuasion skills to the next level, and we can begin to work together on our common goals. REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH ✔ EP 337 Chapter 11 “The Neuroscience Behind Effective Time Management” This topic we covered early on our podcast, with a video from author Kent Healy, who wrote Success Principles for Teens[xi] that he co-authored with Jack Canfield. Kent created a video for me (many years ago) that we used with students in the classroom, and I featured this video on EP 33[iv] of our podcast that was called “Time Management, the Greatest Asset We Have” and Kent gives a perspective to the amount of time we have, in a way that 15 years later, I've still not forgotten his words in this video recording. You can watch Kent's explanation of “time management”[xii] with the visuals that he provided, reminding us that “we all have the same amount of time” and he even breaks it down and tells us how many seconds we have every day (84,600 seconds to be exact) every day. While ALL the experts agree that we can't create more time, or change this number, some will say we can use our time to generate more of something else (like energy) but Kent's message was about using this time (these 84,600 seconds we have each day wisely) and focus on what we can control, and that's our personal growth. He gives an example of adding just 15 extra minutes a day towards learning something new, and that adds up to 3.8 full days a year, and asks us to think of what value we put on 15 minutes of time. I loved Kent's point of view, and always respect people who use their time wisely. Then we looked at the Neuroscience of Time Management and learned that our chronotype “the natural inclination of your body to sleep at a certain time or what people understand as being an early bird versus a night owl”[xiii] should be factored into our Time Management Strategy. We learned that “For those people who go to bed around 9:30pm-11:30pm and wake in the window of 6am-8am that there tends to be an increase in (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, 0-8 hours after waking, which leads to increases in alertness, attention and focus that are great for analytical work, great for implementation of strategies that you already understand.” Dr. Andrew Huberman with Guest Dr. Adam Grant As we are thinking about the best strategies to manage our activities, projects, the extra time that Kent Healy thinks should go to self-improvement, or even the roles we have in our personal and professional lives, in order to have access to this extra energy, and creative thinking, we will want to plan our “deep” work 0-8 hours after waking (if our chronotype is the wake up early type). So, be sure you understand your own chronotype, and factor the science into your time management strategy. This made me think of Grant Bosnick's Top Energy Drainers: Procrastination Saying Yes to Everything The Perfectionist With this extra energy, and creative thinking, (from better managing our time) I suggested to put it all into creative prolific quality work (the perfectionist in me). I thought, why not use the extra energy to combat against procrastination, while protecting our time by saying no to everything, (at first). I know we can always come back to projects that you would like to do, that have meaning to you, but by truly managing our energy and activities, we are protecting this commodity that we all have in the same amounts: time. This episode also make me think that those 84,600 seconds that Kent Healy reminded me that we all have each day, and how 15 minutes a day (that adds up to 3.8 days/year) can be used even more wisely with this understanding of The Neuroscience of Time Management. Think About These Questions: Do you value your time? Do you value other people's time? Do you think 15 minutes of time really matters? I will also add, have you ever thought of the impact of counting time, down to the amount of seconds that we have each day? How important is 20 seconds of your time? OR, 20 seconds of someone else's time? REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH EP 339 Chapter 12 “The Neuroscience of Change” On this EP we looked at two examples of what happens to our brain when we see something our brain wasn't expecting, like a breathtaking view, or when we land the promotion we worked so hard to achieve, Bosnick explains “we feel like we got a reward. It's a rush. We get a sensation in our brain and a hit of the big neurochemicals” dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, norephinephrine, adrenaline.” (Page 132, Ch 12, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). However, on the other hand, when we see a bear in the woods, (or snake on the hiking trails), or we are overlooked for a promotion at work, our brain actually sees this “like it's a threat. We feel tense, stressed, pressure…our body physically feels it.” We learned that “Neuroscience has shown us, that the feeling we get from a social or emotional threat (like being passed over for the promotion) is the same as the feeling we get from a physical threat (like seeing a bear or a snake). When we see how our brain interprets “everything and everyone we meet as either a reward or a threat” we can better understand “how our body reacts, (and) our brain and mind think, (leading) to the decisions, behaviors and actions we make.” (Page 132, Ch 12, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). Next on this EP, we reviewed Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that led to “Self-Determination Theory” around the year 2000 where researchers found that there were “three physiological needs: the need for Competence (feeling valued for our knowledge, skills and experience), the need for Relatedness (collaborating, connecting or serving others) and the need for Autonomy (being able to exercise self-regulation…to achieve our goals.” (Page 133, Ch 12, Bosnick). We learned that when our ACRES are being met, (our autonomy, competence, relatedness, equity, and sureness) it will put us in a toward state and we will fully embrace everything ahead of us; (but) if our ACRES are threatened, it will put us in an “away state” and will then resist or block things ahead of us. Looking at Bosnick's ACRES example, we examined a work experience in our past, that we did not enjoy, to see where it went against the ACRES Model of Needs. With brain science in mind, we can gain more understanding of why we either enjoyed, or didn't enjoy this experience. It all led back to how our brain either interprets the experience as a reward, or a threat. We also looked at triggers to be aware of to mitigate threat, during times of change. Finally, we looked at how to change our nervous system, to change our actions and behaviors, so we can leave behind a legacy (or fossil record as Dr. Huberman calls it) that we are proud of. We learned that “Agitation and strain is the entry point to neuroplasticity” Dr. Huberman This is when lasting CHANGE is happening at the brain level, and impacting our entire nervous system. So when we are working on something, (like trying to learn something new…like understanding the neuroscience of change for this episode) and that limbic friction feeling comes up, (and I'm annoyed or agitated) when something just doesn't click.  I now have a deeper understanding of what's happening at the brain level after this EP. I will now push forward, stay positive and lean into the change that I know is happening in my brain, as I embrace the change that comes with doing difficult work. The Neuroscience of Change is an exciting topic, and it's only going to be strengthened with the next two topics, Agility and Resilience.   REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH EP 342 Chapter 13   “Mastering Mental and Physical Agility” Which leads us to the final EP of our review today. “Mastering Mental and Physical Agility” Before I even review this EP, I thought of something I saw on Twitter/X this morning that caught my attention. It was a post from Chris S Cornell whose handle is @BiggestComeback and he was talking about his first attempt to run a mile, with a kettlebell. He faced some criticism for this post, as some said it was “dangerous” but mentioned that he thought that “spending your life on the couch with a remote in one hand and a beer in the other is far more dangerous.”[xiv] (Chris Cornell) While this pathway came out as a low priority for me last year, and this year, I have to say, it's definitely NOT an area I leave off to the side. I'm always looking to see how I can push my mind or body, just a bit past where I'm comfortable, and when life is difficult, this is actually where I thrive. While I don't think I could run a mile with a kettle bell, I did run 7 miles today with a 16 pound weighted vest. I really do believe in the mind/body connection and that by doing things that are difficult, we strengthen the brain. We did dive deeper into this concept on EP 344[xv] with “The Neuroscience of Resilience” that we will review next time, but we uncovered that by doing difficult things, we increase the size of a part of our brain called the anterior midcingulate cortex. (Dr. Andrew Huberman). I do difficult things because I want to improve my mental and physical strength, and in turn, increase the size of this important part in my brain that Dr. Huberman says “is not just the seat of willpower…but scientists think it holds the secret in the will to live.” If you are like me, and enjoy doing difficult things, you will enjoy when we looked at three terms from the book Antifragile by N Taleb[xvi] where the author says there are three types of systems, organizations or people. The fragile: which is like an egg and breaks under stress. No one wants to be labeled as fragile. The robust: which is like a phoenix, when destroyed comes back exactly as it was before. This is a step in the right direction, but who wants to emerge from challenge the same as before? The antifragile: gets stronger from uncertainty—like the Hydra from the Greek myth where you cut off one head, two grows back in its place. It gets stronger from the sudden change. We learned that when we face challenges, changes and stressors, we want to become antifragile in the process so that we grow from adversity, and become stronger in the process. While we did go deep into the stressors and triggers that can stop our course of action, Bosnick suggested that we rate our stressors (from a list he provided to jog our minds), on a scale of 1-5. Then he reminds us of the three types of people, showing us how we can and most definitely will grow from adversity, sustaining our peak performance, and finally what we want to take away from this chapter is how to “train our brain to be antifragile in order to be more agile in the moment when we face challenges or stressors.” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Page 149) I don't think that running a mile with a kettle bell is for me (even if a part of me wonders how far I could go before I would lose the grip of something that heavy), I will continue to challenge my mind, as we learned from our most downloaded series, The Silva Method that “Once we learn to use our mind (to train it) it will do some astounding things, as you will soon see.” REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH   REVIEW and CONCLUSION: To review and conclude this week's episode #357 on PART 3 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we covered a review of the strategies that can help us to implement each concept, from chapters 10, 11, 12, and 13. EPISODE #357 PART 3 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we will cover: ✔ EP 336 Chapter 10[xvii]“The Neuroscience of Persuasion and Influence” ✔ EP 337 Chapter 11[xviii] “The Neuroscience of Time Management” ✔ EP 339 Chapter 12[xix] “The Neuroscience of Change” ✔ EP 342 Chapter 13[xx]     “Mastering Mental and Physical Agility”   We will see you next time, with our PART 4, our final part in this review. Stay tuned as we launch our interview series, with NEW inspiring interviews with experts who are working deeply with the most current neuroscience research. See you next week!   REFERENCES:   [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #355 Mastering Self-Leadership REVIEW PART 1 (Grant Bosnick) https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-self-leadership-with-neuroscience/   [iii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #356 Mastering Self-Leadership REVIEW PART 2 (Grant Bosnick)https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-the-secrets-of-self-leadership-chapters-6-to-9-review/   [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #330 “The Neuroscience of Persuasion and Influence” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-the-science-of-persuasion-and-influence/   [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #337 “The Neuroscience of Time Management”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-time-the-neuroscience-behind-effective-time-management/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 339 “The Neuroscience of Change”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/embracing-change-the-neuroscience-behind-thriving-in-2024/   [vii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 342  “Mastering Mental and Physical Agility” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-mental-and-physical-agility-strategies-for-self-leadership/   [viii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #176 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-communication-why-our-brain-doesn-t-like-the-word-no/   [ix] The Neuroscience of Influence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-5CZ2AXT1o   [x] The Neuroscience of Influence Leadership Coaching by Dean Newlund https://mfileadership.com/2021/01/27/the-neuroscience-of-influence/   [xi] Success Principles for Teens by Jack Canfield and Kent Healy April 15, 2008 https://www.amazon.com/Success-Principles-Teens-Where-Want/dp/0757307272   [xii] Author Kent Healy on “Time Management: Our Greatest Asset” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_ibHzu751I   [xiii] Chronotypes Definition https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/chronotypes#:~:text=Chronotype%20is%20the%20natural%20inclination,bird%20versus%20a%20night%20owl.   [xiv] https://x.com/BiggestComeback/status/1895906308785615336   [xv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #344 “The Neuroscience of Resilience: Building Stronger Minds and Teams” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-resilience-building-stronger-minds-and-teams/   [xvi] Antifragile by Nassim Taleb Published Jan. 28, 2014 https://www.amazon.com/Antifragile-Things-That-Disorder-Incerto/dp/0812979680   [xvii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #330 “The Neuroscience of Persuasion and Influence” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-the-science-of-persuasion-and-influence/   [xviii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #337 “The Neuroscience of Time Management”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-time-the-neuroscience-behind-effective-time-management/   [xix] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 339 “The Neuroscience of Change”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/embracing-change-the-neuroscience-behind-thriving-in-2024/   [xx]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 342  “Mastering Mental and Physical Agility” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-mental-and-physical-agility-strategies-for-self-leadership/  

Welcome to Part 2 of our in-depth review of Grant Bosnick's 'Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership.' In this episode, we delve into the significance of hydration for brain health, discovering 'aha' moments through creative insights, and the influential power of expectations on our well-being and success. We also explore the neuroscience behind staying mentally strong and regulate emotions effectively through improved sleep patterns. Join us as we unravel these fascinating research-backed strategies to enhance your self-leadership skills. Welcome back to SEASON 13 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 6 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. And we will now resume PART 2 of our 4-PART review, to sum up last year, 2024, and our entire year studying one book, Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January 2024. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights this year. It honestly shocked me that this series took the entire year.  Last week, we began with PART 1[ii] and the first 5 chapters of the book. Today we will review chapters 6-9 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership. ((On today's EPISODE #356 PART 2 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we will cover)): ✔ EP 327 Chapter 6[iii] “The Hydrated Brain” ✔ EP 330 Chapter 7[iv]“Aha Moments, Creative Insights/the Brain” ✔ EP 333 Chapter 8[v] “Exploring the Power of Expectations” ✔ EP 335 Chapter 9[vi] “The Neuroscience Behind Staying Strong and Clear-Headed” If you have not yet taken the leadership self-assessment, or if you would like to re-take it to see if the results are different for you than last year, you can click the link here to find the quick test.   Self-Assessment Results 2024 vs 2025 I re-took the assessment for 2025, and did notice some similarities and some differences. See what you notice about yourself. I noticed that pathways 2 and 3 are my high areas of focus this year, and that I can drop pathway 6 from my focus. What about you? If you have a few minutes to spare, take this leadership self-assessment again, and see if you notice any changes in yourself for 2025. Did any of your pathways of focus shift since last year? REMEMBER: We are either moving forward into growth, or backwards to safety. (Abraham Maslow). EP 327 Chapter 6 “The Hydrated Brain”   For this episode, I remember wondering how on the earth can we narrow the focus of this topic of health and wellness that Bosnick covers thoroughly in Chapter 6? Dr. Peter Attia[vii], a Canadian-American physician, known for his medical practice that focuses on the science of longevity, says that “exercise might be the most potent “drug” we have for extending the quality and perhaps quantity of our years of life.” He created a rule that he thought would help narrow this focus and it was called “Attia's Rule”[viii] where he suggests that can't even talk about this topic, unless you have reached a certain level of health yourself. I agree, as this is one area we have been focused on this podcast, and I notice that as I strengthen one area, I lose sight of another. It's an ongoing quest for balance, and I wouldn't say I've mastered the balance yet. We dove deep into Attia's Rule on our EP back in October 2022, “Using Neuroscience to Improve Fitness, Longevity and Overall Health.”[ix] Dr. Attia says that nutrition and health arguments are a waste of your time until you've completed a certain set of criteria. He says don't bother defending this topic unless you can: Dead hang for a minute (try this! I honestly thought I was going to die when I did this 2 years ago). I'm not sure I could do it today with the signs of osteoporosis showing up in my fingers (and noticeable when I type). Wall sit for two minutes. (This wasn't difficult for me the fact that I regularly hit the hiking trails). Have a VO2 max of at least 75th percentile for your age group. (Mine is showing 37 right now which was the same as it was in 2022. Interesting that I'm hiking less these days, but have kept the same VO2 max). I think it's important to notice just how vast this topic of health and wellness really is. We mentioned the Top 6 Health Staples[x] on our last episode, that we created back in 2020 when our podcast took a turn towards mental and physical health and wellness, (that we just can't escape) and I wasn't surprised to see Stanford Professor Dr. Andrew Huberman post on Twitter/X that he would like to see a Superbowl Commercial promoting healthy habits. The time for mental and physical health is here, and we cannot deny the connection between the two. We met Dr. Bruce Perry on EP 168[xi] where we dove into his famous book What Happened to You, that he co-authored with Oprah, and the last Kindle book I purchased was Gabor Mate's When the Body Says No: The Hidden Costs of Stress[xii] When I look back at why I chose to highlight “The Hydrated Brain” I honestly think it was because this topic is so vast. Hydration is something that might be emphasized with athletes, but it wasn't something anyone had emphasized with me (unless they were connected to the sports world). To narrow this topic of health and wellness down a bit, did YOU know that keeping our brain hydrated helps us with: Improving concentration and cognition Helping to balance our mood and emotions Maintaining a good memory Boosting our brain's reaction time Increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain Preventing and relieving headaches Reducing stress Grant Bosnick shared with us in this chapter: “That our brain is 75% water and when our brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, we will be able to think faster, be more focused and experience greater clarity and creativity?” (Chapter 6, Bosnick). Grant reminds us that “everyone is unique and needs different amounts of water per day (but suggests) an adequate intake for men is roughly around 3 liters (100 fluid ounces) a day, (and) for women it's about 2.2 liters (74 fluid ounces) a day. What do you think? Could you improve your water intake? Just by thinking about ways to improve our brain health, we will over time begin to move the needle in the direction of physical health and wellness, which was the concept that Grant wanted us to uncover in Chapter 6. This is just one small idea, (in this HUGE topic) but if we can tackle one idea at a time, we will move in the direction of health and wellness. REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH EP 330 Chapter 7 “Aha Moments, Creative Insights/the Brain” This pathway #3 came out as MEDIUM importance (orange score) for me, alongside mindfulness and flow last year, but this year, this is my second highest pathway of focus. Look to see where pathway 3 showed up for you last  year, and if it's different for you this year. What I loved about Grant Bosnick's book is that he opens up chapter 7 with a story of how insight was used by an organization to help solve the problem with the high number of babies that were dying within a month of their birth, specifically in developing countries.  This organization he wrote about, solved this specific problem using a thought process that took insight using “materials and human resources that could be used to address this issue” (Chapter 7, Bosnick) by building incubators made out of Toyota cars that were readily available in these developing areas. Instead of using their analytical mind and thinking “how do we get more incubators to these areas” someone on their team used insight and creativity to come up with the best solution to use the resources they had readily available to them, locally. So how do we think up these creative ideas? Grant asks us to ponder where we have our best ideas. In the shower? While exercising? At your desk while doing work? Just before falling asleep or waking up? While walking or hiking? While taking with a friend? Grant suggests that few people will come back with “at their desk while working” since this type of creativity involves breaking away from the analytical, thinking mind, and tapping into our “nonconscious” (Chapter 7, Bosnick) part of our brain. It was here I had to look deeper into how this type of thinking happens, and I found the fascinating book, The Eureka Factor: AHA Moments, Creative Insight and the Brain by John Kounios and Mark Beeman. If you want to dive deeper into the science behind insight and creativity, I highly suggest reading this book. I wanted to know HOW to create these “AHA” Moments at will, not by chance and this is what these two cognitive neuroscientists who wrote this book, set out to do. Their goal of writing this book was to “explain how these Eureka experiences happen—and how to have more of them to enrich our lives and empower personal and professional success.” (The Eureka Factor). In the very beginning pages of The Eureka Factor, we learn that “insight is creative” (Page 9, The Eureka Factor, Kounios and Beeman) and when the authors went on to define “what creativity is” they suggest to not define it (yet) since “everyone intuitively recognizes creativity when he or she sees it” (Page 9, The Eureka Factor, Kounios and Beeman). I thought back to when we covered “Improving Creativity” on PART 4 of The Silva Method[xiii] on ((“Improving Creativity and Innovation in our Schools, Sports and Modern Workplaces”)) and we tapped into Dr. Andrew Huberman's research on creativity here. Dr. Huberman explains that “when we see something that's truly creative, it reveals something to us about the natural world and about how our brains work….It must reveal something that surprises us” for it to be truly creative. So, going back to The Eureka Factor, John Kounios suggests that “creative insight is not an exotic type of thought reserved for the few. In fact, (he says) it's one of the few abilities that define our species….most humans—have insights. It's a basic human ability.” (Page 11, The Eureka Factor, Kounios and Beeman). While reading further into The Eureka Factor, I came across an image that helped to explain this idea so we can ALL improve our ability to generate new and creative insights that will empower our personal and professional lives. IMAGE CREDIT: The Eureka Factor (Kounios, Beeman) Page 24 If someone were to ask me “Where do I begin to improve my ability to create NEW insights in my life?” I would say, start here: STEP 1: Go somewhere quiet and think.  We've mentioned a few times on this podcast that “Every man has the natural and inherent power to think what he wants to think, but it requires more effort to do so”[xiv] (Wallace D. Wattles). I recently heard Professor Hod Lipson[xv] from Columbia University, speaking about the future with AI, and while his whole presentation was forward-thinking, eye opening and brilliant, what caught my attention the most was when he mentioned that while working with students with AI and robotics, the hardest part for them was to come up with a name for their robot, because he said “it takes a lot of effort to be creative.” Take the time needed for this process. STEP 2: You might think you are stuck, and like the image suggests in the show notes, you might see a brick wall in front of you, metaphorically speaking, but know that there is always a solution to every problem. You just haven't figured it out yet. It's here that I share ways I've moved past where I'm stuck, and that's by using The Silva Method. I'm reminded daily that many of our current listeners found us from the first episode we did with this 4-part series that ended with an episode on “How to Be More Creative and Innovative”. When you feel stuck, take a break. STEP 3: Keeping your mood positive, break away from where you feel stuck, and do something that makes you happy. It could be going for a walk, or a hike, or playing tennis like the image from The Eureka Factor. Just break away and divert your attention away from the problem. If you are in a meditative state, just be sure to have positive, elevated emotions flowing through you. Looking at the image in the show notes from The Eureka Factor, we see a person playing tennis. You can use whatever method you want here (The Silva Method of Meditation, your own mindfulness practice, going for a walk) or whatever it is for YOU where you access those feelings of calmness and peace. STEP 4: Be open to new ideas that might pop into your head. Be prepared for ideas that might be completely opposite to how you were originally thinking of solving the problem. We are all different here. Think back to the beginning of this episode, when Grant Bosnick asked us to consider where our creative ideas flow into our minds. Mine come in that time just before I go to sleep, or just as I'm waking up. Others might come in the shower, or while exercising. Be open to NEW ideas coming into your mind, and be ready to write them down. STEP 5: Know that there is much work going on from your unconscious mind. You'll will become more self-aware in this process. Grant Bosnick lists a few inventions that were developed this way, in chapter 7 on Insight, and I found an article that lists “Great Eureka Moments in History: From Issac Netwon to Sir Paul McCartney, (where) inspiration arrived suddenly”[xvi] to help these inventors move forward with their famous AHA Moments. I personally think it's amazing how we acquire wisdom. When we suddenly “see” something that escaped us for so long. I can only imagine the room from Grant Bosnick's opening story when that one person said “why don't we make incubators out of Toyota cars?” completely shifting what EVERYONE was thinking. We ended this EP with one of my favorite poems from Stewart Edward White who explains how AHA Moments of Learning can change us forever. He writes: “Curious how we acquire wisdom! Over and over again, the same truth is thrust under our very noses. We encounter it in action; we are admonished of it; we read it in the written word. We suffer the experience; we gradually assent to the advice; we approve, intellectually, the written word. But nothing happens inside us. Then, one day, some trivial experience or word or encounter stops us short. A gleam of illumination penetrates the depth of our consciousness. We see! Usually it is but a glimpse; but on rare occasions a brilliant flash reveals truth fully formed. And we marvel that this understanding has escaped us so long.” REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH EP 333 Chapter 8 “Exploring the Power of Expectations” where we will dive into a topic that I mark as high importance in my life, right up with breathing. When I took my self-assessment last year, the topic of expectations showed up as low priority for me to focus. Not because it's not important to me, but because I've already made this topic of high importance. Expectations came out for me in the RED category, with a low score of 8% (last year) along with goals and time management, that I also put high importance with on a daily basis.  This year, pathway 1 came out as an area of MEDIUM focus for me, and I can tell right now, that the area I need to work on is “time management.” If you've taken the self-assessment, look to see if Expectations (in pathway 1) are of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. Before looking at Grant Bosnick's thoughts about the topic of expectations, where he begins chapter 8 by asking us “what did you expect?” I had to do some research first, to see what is already out in the world, and there was a lot out there, on the science behind expectations. DID YOU KNOW: That when our expectations are met or exceeded, this “increases our dopamine levels, which leads to increased happiness and well-being, which helps maximize our performance by setting up the conditions of flow and insight, which leads to more productivity and increased confidence?” (Chapter 8, Grant Bosnick) Conversely, did you know that “if our expectations are not met, that it dramatically decreases our dopamine levels, we feel disappointment and stress, resulting in poor performance and decreased confidence?” (Chapter 8, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 84/85). On the EP we went deep into the Science of Expectation, and we looked at a book by David Robson called The Expectation Effect where this author showed us how “our beliefs, in themselves, shape your health and well-being in profound ways, and that learning to reset our expectations (about these issues) can have truly remarkable effects on our health, happiness and productivity.” (David Robson) SOME TIPS ON HOW TO USE THE NEUROSCIENCE OF EXPECTATIONS IN OUR DAILY LIFE: KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M EXPECTING (of myself and others): Understanding the science, helps me to keep my expectations tied to myself, and not others, to avoid disappointment and stress.  I expect to achieve my goals, (by putting in the necessary work) keep myself in good health (physical and mental) and will not just THINK about these expectations, but will do the hard work, take the action necessary to achieve them. This way, I'm not just “thinking” of what I expect to occur, I'm actually doing something with those thoughts. If I'm ever feeling “disappointed” with something in my life, a good question to ask is “what did you expect?” and see if I can backtrack to my thoughts. Was I using the science to flood my brain with dopamine, (with something within my control-that I could take action towards) or not. USE POSITIVE EXPECTATION TO BUILD RESILIENCE FOR A HEALTHIER VERSION OF MYSELF: Understanding the science behind our expectations, and especially David Robson's work, where we learned that “people with a more positive attitude towards their later years are less likely to develop (certain age-related diseases)” (David Robson, The Expectation Effect) making a strong case for expecting exceptional mental and physical health in the future. Again, it goes without saying that we can't just “think” ourselves into good health. We need to do the work here in order to expect results to occur. CONTINUE TO EXPECT GOOD THINGS (for myself and others) Knowing that “expectations and beliefs can influence—indeed are already influencing your life in many other surprising and powerful ways. (David Robson, The Expectation Effect) makes me believe in some of the rituals I've heard of over the years, like lucky charms. I learned from David Robson's The Expectation Effect, that “superstitions and rituals can boost perseverance and performance across a whole range of cognitive tasks, and (that) the advantages are often considerable.” (Page 198, The Expectation Effect). Whether you are a professional athlete, singer, public speaker, or someone like me who just wants improved results, there is a science to having a lucky charm, or something that brings you the promise of success, to help you to create a feeling of control during those high stress times we all face. Don't dismiss the power of a lucky rock with a goal written on it, or whatever it is that holds significance to you with your future goals, or something that has meaning to you, that you expect to occur in your future. REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH EP 335 Chapter 9 “The Neuroscience Behind Staying Strong and Clear-Headed” Chapter 9, covering “The Neuroscience of Emotion Regulation” which showed up on my leadership self-assessment (in pathway 4 last year AND again this year) as a low, RED score, of 20%. This is not because it's not something I don't need to pay attention to, this is something I pay attention to daily, right up there with physical health that's also listed in Pathway Four of Grant's Self-Leadership Map. Look to see if Emotion Regulation (pathway 4) is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. EMOTION REGULATION AND SLEEP: In a world where we are hit daily by external stimuli, how on the earth can we be proactive to stay mentally strong and clear-headed so we have improved executive control to manage our emotions and regulate them? This took me straight to the work of Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Dr. Matthew Walker who recorded an episode called “Improve Sleep to Boost Mood and Emotion Regulation.”[xvii] It was here where I learned just how important sleep is for keeping a strong, clear mind, so we can use this strength to acknowledge and regulate our emotions, like Bosnick suggested in chapter 9 of his book. Dr. Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and the host of The Matt Walker Podcast, gave example after example that proved that when you've NOT had a good night's sleep, things that wouldn't bother you (when you've slept well), begin to aggravate, or grate on you more. Here's what I found to be remarkable on this topic, something I had not ever heard before. DID YOU KNOW THAT “the greater amount of REM sleep you are getting, (where our dreams occur) the greater amount of emotional detox you will get the next day.” Matt Walker and Dr. Andrew Huberman. Dr. Walker went on to explain that “the brain chemical noradrenaline (that's responsible for our stress reaction) completely shuts off during REM sleep, and serotonin (that plays a role with our mood) decreases, while acetyl choline (that carries messages from our brain to our body through nerve cells) increases by up to 30% in some parts of the brain (and can be even more active than when we were awake).  Dr. Walker concluded that the decrease of stress related brain chemicals is what makes “REM sleep was the perfect condition for overnight therapy.” If we want to improve our emotion regulation, the science is pointing directly to improving our sleep. On this episode, we dove deep into the 4 stages of sleep and suggestions to improve our sleep is something I've been working on for the past 5 years. There is a lot to this, and I'm still working on improving ALL the macroingredients of a good sleep (suggested by Dr. Walker), that include QQRT, or knowing the quantity (amount of sleep), quality (fragmented vs continuous), regularity (sleeping/waking around the same time) and timing (sleeping in alignment with my chronotype).  Dr. Walker explains these areas with Dr. Huberman, and if you do wonder where you can improve, I highly suggest their 6-part series on sleep. TIPS FOR IMPROVING EMOTION REGULATION BY IMPROVING OUR SLEEP: Here are three tips that I took away from the neuroscience of self-regulation, that I've been working on, to see if improving my sleep in these areas, could possibly improve emotion regulation. 1. KNOW HOW MUCH DEEP RESTORATIVE SLEEP WE ARE GETTING EACH NIGHT:  We all know the importance of knowing how much sleep we are getting to be well-rested the next day, (how many hours or the quantity) but it's also important to keep an eye on the QUALITY or amount of DEEP RESTORATIVE sleep we are getting each night. When I looked at the graphic I included when I wrote this EP back in June 2024, using the WHOOP wearable tracker, I can tell you that with focus and effort in this area, I've been able to improve the number of hours of restorative sleep I was getting last year, to this year, by 14%, hitting most nights with sufficient restorative sleep. Do you know how many hours of restorative sleep you are getting each night? 2. KNOW HOW MUCH REM SLEEP WE ARE GETTING: Keeping an eye on how much REM sleep we getting, is my next tip, since we know it's important for consolidating new memories, learning and motor skills. We also just learned that the more REM sleep we are getting, we can say we are getting some good overnight therapy, restoring ourselves mentally. You can find sleep trackers that can help you to measure and track these important ingredients of a good sleep for yourself, and see how much REM sleep you are getting each night, while keeping in mind that “the greater amount of REM sleep you are getting, the greater amount of emotional detox you will get the next day.” (Dr. Walker) Remember, we are working on ways to help with our emotion regulation, and it seems to me, that an easy way to do this, would be to see how we can improve our REM sleep.   3. APPLY THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP TO IMPROVE EMOTION REGULATION: Since “during REM sleep the stress chemicals are turned off” helping us to “strip away the emotion from the memory” we can take this understanding a step further, and see if we are able to solve any of our problems during sleep. Dr. Huberman and Dr. Walker went into great detail about this concept[xviii] that I've actually witnessed first-hand. They described what happens in REM sleep to be like “Behavior-Desensitization” and I had the opportunity to see the stages of this process, done by someone skilled and trained in trauma and the brain, working with someone I know well, who has experiences significant trauma in their life, starting at an early age. Using a series of techniques, the trained therapist took the client safely from talking about a traumatic memory from their childhood, (with extreme emotion attached) to where they could say out loud that the memory had lost its emotional load and no longer gave them an emotional reaction. This is exactly what happens to our brain during REM sleep and why it's mentally restorative. Putting these tips all together, and knowing that improving the quality, and quantity of sleep is linked to improving emotion regulation, I'm working hard to improve restorative sleep and REM sleep, each month.  It's all just a balancing act, though, and working on one part of our health at a time. REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH REVIEW and CONCLUSION: To review and conclude this week's episode #356 on PART 2 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we covered a review of the strategies that can help us to implement each concept, from chapters 6, 7, 8, and 9. ✔ EP 327 Chapter 6[xix] “The Hydrated Brain” ✔ EP 330 Chapter 7[xx]“Aha Moments, Creative Insights/the Brain” ✔ EP 333 Chapter 8[xxi] “Exploring the Power of Expectations” ✔ EP 335 Chapter 9[xxii] “The Neuroscience Behind Staying Strong and Clear-Headed” While listening to each episode can be a helpful review, so can revisiting your leadership self-assessment to see what might have changed for you this year from last. I hope this review of chapters 6-9 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership have helped you to think of NEW ways of thinking and taking the necessary action, that will drive you towards whatever it is that you are working on this year. With that thought, I do want to thank you for tuning in, and we will see you next time, with a review of the next 4 chapters. See you next time. REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #355 Mastering Self-Leadership REVIEW PART 1 (Grant Bosnick) https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-self-leadership-with-neuroscience/   [iii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #327 “The Hydrated Brain” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/neuroscience-meets-social-and-emotional-learning-podcast-episode-327-recap/   [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #330 “AHA Moments, Creative Insights and the Brain”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/understanding-self-leadership-and-the-neuroscience-of-goals/   [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #333 “Exploring the Power of Expectations” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/exploring-the-power-of-expectations-in-episode-333/   [vi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #335 “The Neuroscience Behind Being Strong and Clear Headed” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-emotion-regulation-the-neuroscience-behind-staying-strong-and-clear-headed/   [vii] Peter Attia https://peterattiamd.com/   [viii] Attia's Rule https://miloandthecalf.com/2023/02/08/the-attia-rule-some-tests-of-strength-for-longevity/#:~:text=Awhile%20back%20longevity%20expert%20Peter,a%20person%20fit%20for%20longevity.   [ix]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast “Using Neuroscience to Improve Fitness, Longevity and Overall Health.”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-using-neuroscience-to-improve-fitness-longevity-and-overall-health/   [x] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast BONUS EPISODE Recorded for Podbean's Wellness Week “The Top 5 Health Staples” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-a-deep-dive-into-the-top-5-health-staples-and-review-of-seasons-1-4/   [xi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EP 168 “Dr. Bruce Perry and Steve Graner: What Happened to You?”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-bruce-perry-and-steve-graner-from-the-neurosequential-network-on-what-we-should-all-know-about-what-happened-to-you/   [xii] Gabor Mate When the Body Says No: Understanding the Stress-Disease Connection Published https://www.amazon.com/When-Body-Says-No-Hidden/dp/178504222X   [xiii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 264 “The Neuroscience Behind The Silva Method: Improving Creativity and Innovation in our Schools, Sports and Modern Workplaces”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-silva-method-improving-creativity-and-innovation-in-our-schools-sports-and-modern-workplaces/   [xiv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 315 “Thinking and Acting in This Certain Way PART 2 Review of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich book https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/   [xv] https://www.me.columbia.edu/faculty/hod-lipson   [xvi] “Great Eureka Moments in History: From Issac Netwon to Sir Paul McCartney, inspiration arrived suddenly” by Dan Falk, Published September 2, 2005 https://magazine.utoronto.ca/research-ideas/culture-society/great-eureka-moments-in-history-famous-inspirational-moments/   [xvii] Dr. Matt Walker: Improve Sleep to Boost Mood & Emotional Regulation | Huberman Lab Guest Series  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_SrHS8FvMM   [xviii] Dr. Matt Walker: Improve Sleep to Boost Mood & Emotional Regulation | Huberman Lab Guest Series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_SrHS8FvMM   [xix]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #327 “The Hydrated Brain” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/neuroscience-meets-social-and-emotional-learning-podcast-episode-327-recap/   [xx] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #330 “AHA Moments, Creative Insights and the Brain”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/understanding-self-leadership-and-the-neuroscience-of-goals/   [xxi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #333 “Exploring the Power of Expectations” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/exploring-the-power-of-expectations-in-episode-333/   [xxii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #335 “The Neuroscience Behind Being Strong and Clear Headed” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mastering-emotion-regulation-the-neuroscience-behind-staying-strong-and-clear-headed/  

Welcome back to Season 13 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. In this episode, join Andrea Samadi as we delve into practical neuroscience applications for self-leadership in 2025. Discover how to balance various aspects of life through insights from Grant "Upbeat" Bosnick's book, 'Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership.' We explore strategies from four key chapters, focusing on leveraging neuroscience to level up your goals, the inspiration behind motivation, the benefits of mindfulness, and the art of achieving flow states. Learn actionable steps for overcoming obstacles and using positive forces to drive personal growth. Whether you're implementing new habits or seeking motivation, this episode serves as a guide to harnessing the full potential of your mind and achieving greater heights. Welcome back to SEASON 13 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 6 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. Now, we are well into 2025, and if you are listening today, I want to congratulate you. Not everyone chooses to do the work that is needed for self-improvement. It's something I'm dedicated to working on each year, and like you, those who tune in each week, implementing the ideas we write down in our notebooks, and even the ones we highlight in yellow, this is the hardest work in the room. I just want to recognize you for showing up here, and tuning in to grab some ideas, do this difficult work, and take the ideas that you learn from the research, and put them into action. Like you, I am doing this as well. We interviewed Kristen Holmes, the VP of Performance Science from Whoop.com back in May 2021, on EP134[i] when I had first started using the wearable device to measure my sleep, strain and daily recovery. She told me something I already knew, and that was that my sleep needed work. She said it much sterner than this, but I heard it, loud and clear, especially since my brain scan from Amen Clinics, that we reviewed on EP 84[ii] came back and showed that I was sleep deprived. Changing behaviors, habits and daily routines, and changing the trajectory of our health is all possible, but actually sustaining the change—this is what I'm looking for. This is why I am doing these podcast episodes, and sharing what I'm learning along the way. It took me 4 years to finally improve my sleep, but to do this, I had to sacrifice something else important to me, and that was my early morning workouts. I'm sure if you are listening, you would understand and know exactly what I am saying here. While making improvements with one area of our life, we tend to do this at the expense of another area. I'm determined to prove that we can have it all, and hopefully, at the end of this review, we can all find a way towards improving the balance in the important areas of our lives. REMEMBER: “Mastering others is strength; mastering oneself is true power” - Lao Tsu Now wouldn't it be great to have a tool (like a map) that tells us what is important to focus on each year, based on what we say is important to us in our work or personal lives? Now sleep is not on the map we are covering today, as we will review the 19 chapters from Grant Bosnick's book, but I would put sleep right at the top of the list, along with the Top Health Staples that we covered back on a bonus EP we did in 2022[iii] where we first covered the importance of daily exercise, good quality sleep, eating a healthy diet, understanding how to balance our gut-brain axis, how to listen to our hunger cues with intermittent fasting, and the importance of stress reduction (that I think we could cover more in depth this year). ((If you took the leadership self-assessment[iv] last year, go back and take it again, and see if any of the areas have changed for you.))  NEW ASSESSMENT LINK WILL BE HERE-Stay tuned. And now we will begin PART 1 of our 4-PART review, to sum up last year, 2024, and our entire year studying one book, Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[v] the end of January 2024. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights this year. It honestly shocked me that this series took the entire year. Today we will review chapters 2-5 (the first chapter was an introduction to the book). ((On today's EPISODE #355 PART 1 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we will cover)): ✔ EP 323 Chapter 2[vi] “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Your Goals” ✔ EP 324 Chapter 3[vii] “The Neuroscience of Inspiration” ✔ EP 325 Chapter 4[viii] “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” ✔ EP 326 Chapter 5[ix] “The Neuroscience of Flow” We will go through each of the 19 chapters, and cover the action steps in this review. EP 323 Chapter 2[x] “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Your Goals” What I loved the most about this chapter on goals, was learning about Kurt Lewin's Field Theory that says “there is a force that drives us towards our goals.” (Chapter 2 on goals). The idea is that we learn to use this force to push us towards whatever it is that we want. Here's a REVIEW of 3 steps to implement Kurt Lewin's Field Theory to push us towards our goals this year. STEP 1 RECOGNIZE THE NEGATIVE FORCES THAT PUSH US AWAY FROM OUR GOALS: Know that whenever we are moving towards a goal, there will be a force that pushes us down from our current state of attaining that goal, (a negative force) and there's also a force that helps us to change (a positive force). Identify the forces that are pushing you down as you move towards your desired end result. In our schools: it could be limited time to study for a test. (as a negative force). In our sports environments: it could be our competition, or whoever is at the top of the league. Finally, in our workplaces: it could be a competitor charging lower pricing, and taking all the business in your area. STEP 2 RECOGNIZE THE POSITIVE FORCES THAT PUSH US TOWARDS OUR GOALS: Recognize that just as there is a negative force pushing us down, there are also positive forces that pushes us up, and can assist us to change. It's this force pushing us up that Grant talks about in his chapter on goals. He says that “the closer we get to our target (or perception of being closer to the target) the strength of the force increases.” (Page 20, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Leadership). STEP 3 FIND THE MOMENTUM THAT TAKES YOU TO A NEW LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE:   It's here in the diagram where I drew a RED arrow, showing a person moving from their current state, leveling up to a new, heightened level of performance, when there are MORE positive forces pushing us up, than negative pushing us down. BEFORE we can get to our new heightened level of performance, we must overcome the forces against whatever it is we are moving towards, (like by overcoming our competition) and create as many positive forces to help us to move towards our NEW end result. Revisiting this concept this year, I suggest we all create a plan for how we will overcome our resistances, while building up positive forces for change (like through study, identifying ways to improve our mental and physical health so we can use these forces to push up against the negatives, or from understanding our “why” so this internal force drives us forward when times are difficult.      Another thought here, is to find ways to increase our capacity to handle stress. I recommend listening to EP 228[xi] where we reviewed “HRV (heart rate variability) The Most Important Biomarker for Tracking Health, Recovery and Resilience” as this episode gives examples of how to build more capacity to handle these day to day negative forces, and create healthy ways to push us towards our goals.          REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH EP 324 Chapter 3[xii] “The Neuroscience of Inspiration” This chapter on inspiration and motivation came up as a high level of importance for me last year, and I'm always looking to deepen my understanding on where I find inspiration from, and why, with the idea that “what we find inspiring (people or things) produces oxytocin (that facilitates trust)in the brain while also producing dopamine the neurotransmitter that's associated with motivation and reward.” There's a lot at play when we find what motivates and inspires us day to day. PUTTING THE NEUROSCIENCE OF INSPIRATION INTO PRACTICE: WRITE: Write a list of: Who inspires you, and why? Do you feel trust with this person that could be a performance multiplier? Think about this. Why, or why not? What inspires you, and why? Do you feel motivation from places that we know can rewire our brain and make new neural connections? THINK: Think of your brain being bombarded by oxytocin (the neurochemical that facilitates the feelings of trust) and then dopamine (the neurochemical associated with motivation and reward) and then the NEW neural pathways that are being rewired into your brain with whatever it is that you are drawing inspiration from. LEARN: What does this mean to you? Does it help you to make sense of your world in a new way?  Does this connection to science help to motivate you in a NEW way, perhaps pushing you past some of the obstacles that once held you back? Does this NEW understanding energize you in some new way, or give you more self-awareness towards your goals? My goal with these bite-sized chapters connecting Neuroscience and Self-Leadership to our daily practice, is that we begin to see how simple it is to connect an understanding of how our brain works, to our best practices, that we tap into daily, taking us to new heights. Applying the Neuroscience of Inspiration to my life, I can clearly see what's most important to me, why I'm drawn to certain people or places, and how important it is for me to keep learning, and applying what we uncover together on these episodes.   EP 325 Chapter 4[xiii] “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” I loved this episode because I learned something new, and made a deeper connection to our past episodes. I learned: That there is a concept called PQ Reps, coined by Positive Intelligence Founder, Shirzad Chamine who used fMRI scanners to discover that by doing these PQ Reps we can actually build our mental muscles by activating this PQ Region in the Brain.  For those who have a mindfulness practice in place, putting PQ Reps into practice helps to reaffirm the benefits that come along with building your mental muscles, and for those who have found it difficult to begin a mindfulness practice, PQ Reps is a proven way to bridge the gap for you to begin. HOW DO WE PRACTICE THESE IMPORTANT PQ REPS? By rubbing our finger and thumb together, and involving any of our 5 senses for 10 seconds. I suggest that we feel the touch of our fingers on each other. By doing this, we are shifting our attention to our body and focusing on the sensation. It is this activity, that build up the PQ Area of our brain, while the survival part goes quieter. If you next listen to Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness Meditation[xiv] you will see how Dr. Siegel's Mindfulness Practice is essentially teaching you to do PQ Reps involving every part of your body and feeling the sensations from your head to toe. Start small, practicing PQ Reps one day at a time, and eventually you will learn to focus your attention for longer periods of time, building your mental muscles and resilience in the process.   REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH   EP 326 Chapter 5[xv] “The Neuroscience of Flow” I learned that “when we are in flow, we are 5X more productive” and of course, who doesn't want to be 5X more productive? We covered this topic back on EP 27[xvi] with Friederike Fabritius who first taught me the recipe for peak performance. What I remember loving the most about Friederike's first talk that I found back in 2017 that she did for high level executives in Barcelona, Spain, was that she accurately described what the psychologist, researcher and “father of flow” (known in his work environment as Mike C) that he devoted his entire lifetime to. And that is, what constitutes a happy life. “Mike C,” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (from Claremont Graduate University in CA) along with Professor Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania (who we've mentioned before on this podcast “set out to develop a focus on happiness, well-being, and positivity with a goal to create a field focused on human well-being and the conditions that enable people to flourish and live satisfying lives.”[xvii] Friederike explained this concept of “flow” or “peak performance” as an optimal state that occurs when our brain releases three chemicals: noradrenaline (released with a challenge), dopamine (released with anything that gives you pleasure), and acetylcholine (released when you have focused attention). She reminded us about learning to find our “optimal level” of performance by knowing thyself. Some people she says, need challenge to perform optimally (I'm like this for sure), and other people, you must take the challenge or pressure away for them to perform at their best.  One person performs better with an element of “threat” that they perceive as a “reward” and this motivates them, while another person shuts down with this “threat.” To reach peak performance levels with YOUR work, it helps to know how you reach your optimal levels best. In Chapter 5, Grant gives us tips for getting into this flow state. PICK A GOAL: Think of whatever it is you are working on a decide on the goal. Finish the presentation, or write the proposal or for me, finish writing this episode so I can record, edit and release it today. PRIME YOUR BRAIN FOR FLOW: Next he suggests bringing in mindfulness, that takes us back to our last episode where we learned about PQ reps. Use mindfulness to filter out your distractions and maintain control with your attention. I found it does help to let others around you know you've blocked off a time where you cannot be interrupted. THINK ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE GOAL: Why do you want to complete the thing you are working on. For me, with each podcast episode I write, record and release, it helps me to not only implement these new ideas into my own life, but I know I'm gaining skills that help me far beyond the content. Hosting this podcast, writing and recording these episodes, helps me to improve my presentation skills, communication, which improves my overall levels of confidence, let along what I'm gaining from implementing these ideas myself. I also hear from listeners like Tor Carberry from LinkedIn, who let me know he was looking forward to this episode. I don't want to let others down, so this also motivates me to do my best work. What about you? What benefits do YOU receive from whatever it is that YOU are working on? PUT YOURSELF ON THE EDGE: Ask yourself, is this challenging me? If it's not, it might not get you into the flow state. If it is, then keep working, and see how far you can get. How long can you stretch your flow state. I've stretched my flow state this morning from the minute I sat down at my desk. There's always lots of distractions, but with practice, it becomes easier to block them out, and keep moving forward, with your end goal in mind. There's nothing like the feeling of knowing you gave something your full attention, and effort. REVISIT THIS EPISODE TO REVIEW THIS CONCEPT IN DEPTH REVIEW and CONCLUSION: To review and conclude this week's episode #355 on PART 1 of our review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, we covered a review of the strategies that can help us to implement each concept, from chapter 2, 3, 4 and 5. ✔ EP 323 Chapter 2[xviii] “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Your Goals” ✔ EP 324 Chapter 3[xix] “The Neuroscience of Inspiration” ✔ EP 325 Chapter 4[xx] “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” ✔ EP 326 Chapter 5[xxi] “The Neuroscience of Flow” While listening to each episode can be a helpful review, so can revisiting your leadership self-assessment to see what might have changed for you this year. I did notice the leadership self-assessment link was not working for me to retake it this year, so I have reached out to Grant Bosnick and will update it as soon as he shares it with me. In the meantime, I hope this review of the first 5 chapters of his book have helped you to think of NEW ways of thinking that will drive you towards whatever it is that you are working on this year. With that thought, I do want to thank you for tuning in, and we will see you next time, with a review of the next 5 chapters. See you next time. REFERENCES:   [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #134 with Kristen Holmes from Whoop.com  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/kristen-holmes-from-whoopcom-on-unlocking-a-better-you-measuring-sleep-recovery-and-strain/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #84 “ How a Spect Image Brain Scan Can Change your Life PART 3” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/how-a-spect-scan-can-change-your-life-part-3-with-andrea-samadi/   [iii] https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-a-deep-dive-into-the-top-5-health-staples-and-review-of-seasons-1-4/   [iv] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/ [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #323 on “The Neuroscience of Goals”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-season-11-of-the-neuroscience-meets-sel-podcast/   [vii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #324 “The Neuroscience of Inspiration”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-self-leadership-series/   [viii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #325 “The Neuroscience of Flow”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-peak-performance-and-happiness/     [x] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #323 on “The Neuroscience of Goals”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-season-11-of-the-neuroscience-meets-sel-podcast/   [xi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #228 “HRV: The Most Important Biomarker for Tracking Health, Recovery and Resilience” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-review-of-heart-rate-variability-the-most-important-biomarker-for-tracking-health-recovery-and-resilience/   [xii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #324 “The Neuroscience of Inspiration”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-self-leadership-series/   [xiii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #325 “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insight-from-grant-bosnicks-tailored-approaches-to-self-leadership/       [xiv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #60 “The Science Behind a Meditation Practice with a Deep Dive into Dr. Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-science-behind-a-meditation-practice-with-a-deep-dive-into-dr-dan-siegel-s-wheel-of-awareness/   [xv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #326 “The Neuroscience of Flow”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-peak-performance-and-happiness/   [xvi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #27 with Friederike Fabritius on “The Recipe for Peak Performance”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/pioneer-in-the-field-of-neuroleadership-friederike-fabritius-on-the-recipe-for-achieving-peak-performance/   [xvii] https://www.cgu.edu/people/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/   [xviii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #323 on “The Neuroscience of Goals”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-season-11-of-the-neuroscience-meets-sel-podcast/   [xix] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #324 “The Neuroscience of Inspiration”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-self-leadership-series/   [xx]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #325 “The Neuroscience of Flow”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-peak-performance-and-happiness/      

Welcome to Episode 354 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast! Join host Andrea Samadi as she concludes the 18-week self-leadership series with Grant Bosnick's revolutionary insights into the neuroscience of presence. Discover how your internal thoughts, external behaviors, and interactions shape your presence, and learn practical strategies to enhance your mindfulness and connection with others. This episode dives into Dr. Dan Siegel's 'Wheel of Awareness' meditation, offering three actionable tips to strengthen your presence in daily life. Uncover how to elevate your relationships and productivity by integrating mindfulness practices into your routine. Whether you're striving to be the most interesting or the most interested person in the room, this episode provides valuable guidance. Prepare to close the year with heightened awareness and step into 2025 with a new perspective on leadership and personal growth. On today's episode #354 we continue with the final topic of our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January 2024. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights this year. It honestly shocked me that this series took the entire year. Our final topic today, will be the neuroscience of presence, and then stay tuned for a review of the entire series to help us to move forward in 2025 with a new lens.  ((On today's EPISODE #354 “The Neuroscience of Presence” we will cover)): ✔ Chapter 19 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership with the topic of presence. ✔ Grant Bosnick's Presence Framework with examples of subtle and direct presence. ✔ The Neuroscience of Presence using Dr. Dan Siegel's book Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence ✔ Three Tips to Develop More Presence in our Day to Day Life. ✔ Reflections for using Mindfulness and Meditation to Improve Our Presence. If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[ii], look to see if Presence (in Pathway 2), along with inspiration and motivation, persuade and influence, is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. I was not surprised to see this pathway is a high area of focus for me as I'm always looking for new ways to motivate, inspire and influence, and presence is something I know I need to work on daily, bringing my attention back to the present moment or you might catch me daydreaming. It made me laugh when Masati Sajady mentioned he noticed this with me, back on EP 348[iii] last year. Our presence is something that can be felt, that's for sure. Now let's take this deeper with Grant's book. Grant opens up chapter 19, his final chapter, by saying that presence “is a product of our internal thoughts, external behaviors and interactions with others. It's something (he says) that we carry with us at all times, whether we're walking into a meeting room (or walking anywhere I might add) or sitting at a bus stop.” (Ch 19, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 252). I can demonstrate this one easily because we have all been there. I'll never forget Dr. Dan Siegel, who we interviewed way back in our early days of this podcast, on EP 28[iv] talking about this topic, as he watched a mother with a young child walking, and the mother was on her cell phone, not present at all. He talked about the many opportunities for connection that were lost in this instance, and I never forgot it, as I've been guilty of doing exactly the same thing and potentially losing out on opportunities to make meaningful connections with others. Or think about this. In a conversation, someone is talking to you, and you notice the void. They've left the conversation. They are standing right in front of you, they could be looking you straight in the face, but they are no longer present mentally. You don't need to ask them where they have gone, you can just feel it, and they eventually come back, but you know they gave you half of their attention. Has this ever happened to you? Of course, it has. Bosnick says that our presence “can be direct or subtle presence; and it can be controlled or uncontrolled. With direct controlled presence, we can be the most interesting person in the room—being assertive, measured and engaging (he says). With subtle controlled presence, we can be the most interested person in the room—being observant, connected and attentive.” (Ch 19, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 252) and he says “both add value in different situations.” Whether you're striving to be the most interesting or the most interested person in the room, this episode provides valuable guidance. Prepare to close the year with heightened awareness and step into 2025 with a new perspective on leadership and personal growth. Bosnick says that our presence “can be direct or subtle presence; and it can be controlled or uncontrolled. With direct controlled presence, we can be the most interesting person in the room—being assertive, measured and engaging (he says). With subtle controlled presence, we can be the most interested person in the room—being observant, connected and attentive.” (Ch 19, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 252) and he says “both add value in different situations.” IMAGE CREDIT: Chapter 19 Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership When I think about the most interested person in the room, my mind goes to our company Zoom meetings, where there is one person, Nikki, who always has her camera on, and she is always listening to the conversation actively, showing she is truly interested. She's an incredible role model for the rest of us, and I find her attention to be motivating. This past Christmas holiday, we did a Secret Santa at our work, and Nikki was one of the organizers. I thought it would be fun to participate, so I signed up for this chance to get to know some of my work colleagues in a different way. When my box arrived at my house, and we all met on a call to open our gifts together, I was blown away with the items that were bought for me. The person who was my Secret Santa knew me well! They found out I enjoy hiking in my spare time, and bought me some items that I can really use, when I'm out on the hiking trails. This person demonstrated they were “interested” in me, with a subtle presence, by being observant, connected and attentive. Wouldn't you know it, that my Secret Santa was Nikki! And her presence made me want to do the same thing for others. What about the most interesting person in the room? We all know this one. With direct, controlled presence, they become “assertive, measured and engaging” and it's hard to take your eyes off of them. They are impossible to miss. I'm sure we can all close our eyes and think of an example of someone who uses their direct, controlled presence, really well. No one wants to be “invisible” or on the other hand “overwhelming” so this idea of presence takes practice. Bosnick says that while “some people are naturally skilled at controlling and flexing between levels of presence (like my coworker Nikki), “most of us need to consciously work at it to bring it into our control and use it to our best advantage.” (Ch 19, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 253) So how can we improve our presence?  Let's go straight to the expert on this topic, Dr. Dan Siegel, whose book, Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence,[v] dives deep into a meditation practice, called The Wheel of Awareness, that uses science and psychology to “strengthen your capacity for presence.” (Aware, Dan Siegel).   What is the Neuroscience of Presence? This is what Dr. Dan Siegel helps us to understand in his book, Aware that outlines why the meditation he created (The Wheel of Awareness) begins with helping us to become more mindful, but the byproduct of this mindfulness, is that “people seem interested in exploring how they might cultivate more presence in their lives so they can be healthier, happier and kinder to themselves and others.” (Dr. Siegel, Aware). Of course at the end of our interview, 6 year ago now, Dr. Siegel asked me what I was learning from doing his Wheel of Awareness Meditation every day. I shared what I learned in an extensive review of Dr. Siegel's Wheel of Awareness Meditation, on EP 60[vi] “The Science Behind a Meditation Practice with a Deep Dive into Dr. Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness.”  It took me some time to uncover what I learned, but not only does this scientifically proven meditation change the structure and function of the brain in these fascinating ways: There's an integration of structure and function of the brain (integration means well-being). There's a reduction of the stress hormone cortisol. There's an enhancement of immune function. Improvement in cardiovascular risk factors. Reduction in inflammation via epigenetic changes. An optimization of telomerase—which is fascinating as it repairs and maintains the ends of chromosomes which slows aging. In addition to these brain changes, I noticed an increase of ability with my 5 senses, also, with increased sensations within my body, and most importantly, what Dr. Siegel was looking to see if I noticed, was that it helped to increase my connection to people around me, expanding my “presence” far outside of myself, and into the world around me. If you type the word “presence” into Dr. Siegel's book, Aware, you will find it's listed 85 times. Within his Wheel of Awareness Meditation he shares “is about monitoring with stability whatever is arising as it arises (when you do this practice day after day). It's this awareness that (he says) we are calling presence.” (Aware, Siegel, Page 29). How to Develop More Presence in Our Lives? “How can we become more mindful (or present) in our day-to-day living so that we are aware of what's happening?” (whatever is arising day to day)? Dr. Dan Siegel suggests that we “do a regular practice that trains the mind…That training of the mind is sometimes called meditation. (Where he says) we learn to strengthen (our) focused attention.” (Aware, Dr. Siegel, Page 14). Here are three tips to start to become more present (with whatever it is that arises) in our day to day life: MEDITATE TO STRENGTHEN OUR MIND: Find a meditation where you must be active (not just sit, listen and drift off). It could be Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness[vii] or even our most downloaded episode series of all-time, The Silva Method.[viii] Find the best time of day to practice strengthening your mind, and stay consistent. NEXT PRACTICE BEING MINDFUL: Once we have strengthened our mind, now we've got to put this mental strength into practice. Like Nikki on Zoom calls, she increased her presence by being the most interested person in the room. Or what about when we are in a conversation with someone else, and our mind wanders. Are you able to mindfully bring it back? Dr. Siegel reminds us that “mental presence is a state of being awake and receptive to what is happening, as it is happening in the moment, within us, and between the world and us.” ( Aware, Siegel, Page 14). FINALLY, NOTICE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS INCREASED PRESENCE: As we work on strengthening our own presence in the world, and as we are observant, connected and attentive to others (or present) Dr. Siegel would say that we go from the state of “I” to a more integrated self that he calls “MWE.” This is where you/me connect together and like I noticed with the Wheel of Awareness practice, it increased the importance of expanding my presence outside of myself, to include others around me, in the world. When we can be truly present in our work or personal lives, we will begin to notice the connections around us, and how important they are. It takes some time though, to put this into practice, as we are bombarded with distractions daily, that take us away from this much-needed presence. In chapter 19 of his book, Grant Bosnick asks us to reflect on his Presence Framework, image 19.1 and asks us: Have you ever felt uncontrolled, direct presence where you might be overdoing it and unintentionally overwhelming others? How to use empathy and emotional intelligence to direct yourself back to being more mindful of how you are showing up to others. Think of someone who has controlled direct presence, making them the most interesting person in the room. Think of someone who has controlled subtle presence who appears to be the most interested person, on a consistent basis. Once you know which quadrant you typically show up in with Bosnick's Presence Framework, you can begin the work to train your mind to become more present in your daily work and personal life. I guarantee this will help you to build stronger, more effective relationships with others. You will start seeing how your connections go from thinking about ME…to MWE (or you and me together). To review and conclude this week's episode #354 on “The Neuroscience of Presence” we covered: ✔ Chapter 19 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership with the topic of presence. ✔ Grant Bosnick's Presence Framework with examples of subtle and direct presence. ✔ The Neuroscience of Presence using Dr. Dan Siegel's book Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence ✔ Three Tips to Develop More Presence in our Day to Day Life. ✔ Reflections for using Mindfulness and Meditation to Improve Our Presence, and expand our connection with others in the world. I hope this episode has been as helpful to you as it was for me. Being more present in my daily life (work and personal) is something that takes effort for me, even after implementing Dr. Siegel's Wheel of Awareness Meditation. Distractions come fiercely, every second of the day and it takes a trained mind to divert our attention to what matters the most for us. This takes practice, and effort, but the results are well worth it. With that thought, we will close out this episode, and next time, we will review ALL 19 chapters of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, in one place. See you next time.   REFERENCES:   [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #348 with Masati  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unveiling-exponential-intelligence-transform-your-life-by-shifting-frequencies/   [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #28 with Dr. Dan Siegel   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/clinical-professor-of-psychiatry-at-the-ucla-school-of-medicine-dr-daniel-siegel-on-mindsight-the-basis-for-social-and-emotional-intelligence/   [v] Dr. Dan Siegel, Aware: The Science and Practice and Presence (Published August 21, 2018) https://drdansiegel.com/book/aware/   [vi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #60 “The Science Behind a Meditation Practice with a Deep Dive into Dr. Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-science-behind-a-meditation-practice-with-a-deep-dive-into-dr-dan-siegel-s-wheel-of-awareness/   [vii] https://www.drdansiegel.com/resources/wheel_of_awareness/   [viii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #322 A Deep Dive into Applying The Silva Method for Improving Creativity, and Innovation  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/transforming-minds-and-paving-the-future/  

Join Andrea Samadi in Episode 353 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast as we explore the intricacies of empathy, guided by Grant Bosnick's tailored approaches to self-leadership. Delve into the foundation of empathy as a vital leadership tool, capable of strengthening relationships and achieving better outcomes. Learn about the neuroscience behind empathy, focusing on the role of mirror neurons and the three different types of empathy: cognitive, emotional, and empathetic concern. We also reflect on personal experiences where assumptions led to misunderstandings, highlighting the importance of seeing through another's eyes. Discover practical tips for deepening empathy, cultivating empathetic concern, and applying these insights both personally and professionally to make meaningful connections. This episode calls us to consciously choose empathy, fostering trust and compassion in our interactions. Prepare for our final chapter on the Neuroscience of Presence in the upcoming episodes as we continue to enhance our understanding and application of neuroscience in our daily lives. Welcome back to SEASON 13 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 6 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's episode #353 we continue with the second last topic of our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January 2024. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights this year. It honestly shocked me that this series took the entire year. Our final topic will be the neuroscience of presence, and then stay tuned for a review of the entire series to help us to move forward in 2025 with a new lens.   Now we have not yet covered empathy as an entire topic on this podcast, (yet) but we did mention it on EP 340[ii] with mediation expert John Ford on “Navigating Workplace Conflicts” with his “The Empathy Set”[iii] Card Program. I also included the topic of Empathy within the Character Education program I created for schools, so I know why Grant would think this topic to be important enough to include on his “roadmap” for success. When I looked back to what I had written over 15 years ago on empathy, I found an image that said “empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another” which is right in line with how Grant Bosnick opens up Chapter 18 of his book. Grant reminds us that “empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from their frame of reference, the capacity to place ourselves in another person's position, to put ourselves in their shoes, see it from their eyes, their perspective, their way of thinking and feeling.”. ((On today's EPISODE #353 “The Neuroscience of Empathy” we will cover)): ✔ A review of previous episodes where we covered empathy. ✔ The Neuroscience of Empathy ✔ Three Kinds of Empathy (Cognitive, Emotional and Empathetic Concern). ✔ Tips for becoming more empathetic in our daily life to deepen our relationships and improve our outcomes personally and professionally. If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[iv], look to see if Empathy (in Pathway 6, our final pathway in this book study) along with biases, relationships/authenticity and trust is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. I was not surprised to see this pathway is a high area of focus for me. I often think “I wonder what this person is thinking and feeling” and try to see a situation from their viewpoint. Do you do this? Think and feel from another person's point of view? That's the first step at putting empathy into action in our daily life. Now let's take this deeper with Grant's book. In Chapter 18 of Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, he asks us to remember a time we felt conflict or tension with another person, and asks us to look at the problem from the other person's perspective. I remember Dr. Maiysha Clairborne from EP 289[v] talking about the “3 Positions of Listening” where she informs us we can look at the conflict through our own eyes first, and then step out of our shoes, and into someone else's (she calls this position 2 to see what they see, hear what they hear, and feel the feelings they might be feeling. And finally, the third position, which she says is the most valuable, is the observer position where you can go above and look down at the conflict, outside of each person involved, to see the entire dynamic, or bigger picture. Grant talks about the importance of stepping into another person's shoes, the minute we sense tension or frustration coming up with another person. Feeling empathy for others is an important leadership tool Grant reminds us, as it will help us to “build trust, develop relationship(s) and achieve better outcomes” but he cautions us against making assumptions that can influence our decisions and actions. (Chapter 18, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 235) REFLECTION QUESTION: Grant asks us to reflect on when we might have been wrong about the thoughts or motivations of another person, and what behavior did you take, intentionally, or unintentionally?  I always go back to an example that I would share in the classrooms, working with teens on this topic, as this has happened to all of us in some capacity. I'm going back now to when I was in high school, (Don Mills Collegiate in Toronto, Canada) and I was walking along a pathway, outside of my school, and saw my good friend Yolanda (real name). I waved at Yolanda, and looked forward to catching up with her on our way to our classes, but Yolanda didn't wave back to me. I went straight in my head to “hmmm…I wonder why Yolanda is angry with me” and I went another route, so we would miss each other and didn't end up walking together. I had made the assumption that Yolanda was angry with me, and the action I took, was that I avoided her. I can think of countless other times in my life where I've made assumptions like this, and missed opportunities with friends. At a later date, Yolanda asked me why I was avoiding her, ( I was surprised she noticed) and I told her about how I had waved and that she hadn't waved back, and it was then that she told me she wasn't wearing her glasses that day, and never saw me. In fact, she didn't see anything at all that day (the chalkboards included)! I was disappointed that I had made this assumption, and it was a valuable lesson to see through Yolanda's eyes, with how incorrect I was when I made this assumption. The Neuroscience of Empathy So how does empathy work in our brain? Grant reminds us of “the activation of mirror neurons in our brain which help to explain the process of empathy.” In our brain, “empathy is a spontaneous sharing of a person's feelings or thoughts by witnessing and being affected by their emotional state” (Chapter 18, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 236) and that “we mirror or mimic the emotional response that we would expect to feel ourselves if we were in that same context.” I always think of those emotional Hallmark Card commercials that get me every time, or movies where I relate to the character, and wipe away tears, reminding myself “it's just a movie.” The movie Ghost with Whoopi Goldberg, comes to mind, with a memory I'll never forget, from many years ago. As the movie ended, one of my friends wasn't ready to leave the theater, and I remember him not wanting to talk about it, as he wiped tear away from his eyes, hoping none of us would notice. The movie had triggered his mirror neurons and like Grant Bosnick mentioned in his book, movies can do this to us! Grant gives us the origin of these mirror neurons by sharing that “they evolved in the human brain to facilitate and understand the actions we need to take in response to others as, at least in human history (he says) our survival would depend on it.” (Chapter 18, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 237). My friend didn't want to “feel” what Patrick Swayze was feeling in the movie, Ghost, but his mirror neurons wouldn't give him much choice. I remember reading in National Geographic, about the origin of our “mirror neurons” and learned that “humans communicate through facial gestures. Control of these expressions lies in the brain stem and amygdala, beyond consciousness.”[vi] This makes sense to me, since when you try to control it, or not feel these emotions, (like my friend in the movie theater) it's very difficult, and almost impossible. Do you relate to mirror neurons, and feeling empathy for others in this way? Three Kinds of Empathy Bosnick goes on to share that there are three kinds of empathy: cognitive empathy, emotional empathy and empathetic concern. Cognitive Empathy is “taking another person's perspective and understanding the situation as they see it” (Chapter 18, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 237) like we learned from Maiysha Clairborne with the three positions of listening. “Through their words and body language, we process it logically, taking their perspective, without experiencing it.” The mirror neurons do not fire here. Emotional Empathy is “feeling someone's pain or emotion by seeing it in them and simulating/sensing it in ourselves.” (Chapter 18, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 237). In this case, mirror neurons fire as we experience the situation like it were our own, like my friend in the movie theater. Grant points out that “different parts of the brain are activated during emotional empathy and cognitive empathy. As a result, we process it differently within our brain. It has also shown (that we just mentioned from the quote from National Geographic) that we can control cognitive empathy much more than emotional empathy because it uses a logical part of our brain rather than an emotional center.” (Chapter 18, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 238). He does urge us to work on using both at the same time “to understand the other person's perspective AND experience their emotions” to come at the most accurate conclusion to how they are thinking and feeling. Grant pointed out that in the workplace, he usually defaults to using more cognitive empathy, and just by adding more emotional empathy, he is able to truly understand those he works with, and empathize with them on a deeper level. Empathetic Concern is “the feeling that if I can do something that can help you, I will…when I see you are in trouble, I want to help you out…It is being genuinely concerned with others and experiencing other-oriented emotions to help them.” (Chapter 18, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 240). This is “when we express care, tenderness, compassion…about another person, supporting them, showing trust, allowing them space.” Bosnick says empathetic concern takes “emotional empathy” to a deeper level. REFLECTION QUESTION: When have you experienced empathetic concern? Think of one personal and one business example where you have genuinely felt concern for another person and wanted to help them. Reflect on what how empathetic concern deepened the levels of trust, helped to develop a better relationship, with improved outcomes. Bosnick warns us that “although empathy is a natural biological process within our brains, it is not automatic” and shares that “feeling empathy is a choice we make.” (Chapter 18, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 241). His book does dive deeper into situations where people may consciously, or unconsciously choose not to be empathetic with tips on how to develop habits for effective empathy that include listening to others, standing up for others, reading more books, and even how to raise empathetic children. You can dive deeper into the topic of empathy in chapter 18 of Grant's book. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #353 on “The Neuroscience of Empathy” we covered: ✔ A review of previous episodes where we covered empathy (John Ford's episode and also with Dr. Maiysha Clairborne) that are excellent to review. ✔ The Neuroscience of Empathy, our mirror neurons, and a warning to watch making assumptions in this process. ✔ Three Kinds of Empathy (Cognitive, Emotional and Empathetic Concern). ✔ Tips for becoming more empathetic in our daily life, and practice Empathetic Concern where we can, to deepen our relationships and improve our outcomes personally and professionally.  I hope this episode has provided you with a deeper understanding of ways to practice being more empathetic in your personal and work life. I know that the world can be a better place if we all can learn to think and feel from another person's point of view, and finally, if we have solutions that can genuinely help others, to lean in and offer some ideas to support those that are close to you. It can only work to bring you closer. With that thought, we will close out this episode, and we will see you next time with our final chapter, The Neuroscience of Presence, before reviewing the entire book. Have a great week. REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #340 with John Ford  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/navigating-workplace-conflicts-insights-from-a-mediation-expert/   [iii] https://www.empathyset.com/about   [iv] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #289 with Dr. Maiysha Clairborne on “Getting to the Roots of our Doubts, Fears and Beliefs” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/maiysha-clairborne-md-on-what-holds-us-back-getting-to-the-root-of-our-doubts-fears-and-beliefs/   [vi] National Geographic “Your Brain: 100 Things You Never Knew” (4/19/19) https://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Your-Brain-Things/dp/B00AO70YGO          

Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series, where we delve into the fascinating topic of trust and its underpinning neuroscience. In episode 352, we revitalize our understanding of trust by revisiting our initial interview with Greg Link from episode 206 and exploring Grant Bosnick's insightful approaches. We unpack the concept of trust as presented in Bosnick's book, emphasizing the five C's for strengthening trustworthiness: Character, Competency, Credibility, Consistency, and Care. Each of these pillars serves as a foundation for building reliable relationships both personally and professionally. Further, we examine critical factors impacting trust, like responsiveness, authenticity, and empathy, shedding light on how these elements foster an environment of trust. This exploration is pivotal for anyone aiming to enhance their self-leadership skills and boost their interpersonal effectiveness. Join us as we push the boundaries of self-leadership, preparing to soar to new heights in the upcoming year with insights that are not only transformative but also actionable. On today's episode #352 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January 2024. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights this year. It's honestly shocked me that this series took the entire year, and we still have 2 chapters left. The Neuroscience of Empathy and Presence, and then stay tuned for a review of the entire series to take us to new refined heights, in 2025. ((On today's EPISODE #352 “The Neuroscience of Trust” we will cover)): ✔ A review of our FIRST interview where we covered trust with Greg Link,EP 206[ii] ✔ Ch. 17 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership book on “The Neuroscience of Trust.” ✔ The 5 Cs to strengthen trustworthiness from Grant Bosnick's work. ✔ Critical factors that impact trust. Review of the Neuroscience of Trust We first covered The Neuroscience of Trust on EPISODE #206, as I was preparing for an interview with Greg Link[i], the co-founder of the Covey Leadership Center. Greg was the one who orchestrated the strategy that led Dr. Stephen R. Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, (1989)[ii] to become one of the two best-selling business books of the 20th century according to CEO Magazine, selling over 20 million copies in 38 languages. Greg created the marketing momentum that helped propel Covey Leadership Center from a start-up company to a $110-plus million-dollar enterprise with offices in 40 countries.  You can go back to episode #207[iii] to learn more from Greg Link's incredible experience working with Dr. Covey, and with the fascinating individuals and companies around the world he reviewed with us, where we dove into the topic of “Unleashing Greatness with Neuroscience, SEL, Trust, and the 7 Habits.” While researching Greg Link, who I met when he came to work in the seminar industry in 2002, I was reminded of a topic that he thought was so important that he wrote a book about it with Stephen M.R. Covey (the son of the late Stephen R. Covey) called Smart Trust: The Defining Skill That Transforms Managers into Leaders.[iii] If you look up quotes from Stephen Covey on trust, you can see how important this skill or character trait was to him. He said, “trust is the glue to life” and “the one thing that affects everything else you're doing. It's a performance multiplier which takes your trajectory upwards, for every action you engage in, from strategy to execution.” It's the “shortest route to results” (Robert Allen, author of Multiple Streams of Income). “Trust is the highest form of human motivation. It brings out the very best in people.” (Stephen Covey). Greg Link confided in us in our interview, that it was when Dr. Stephen Covey extended trust towards him (to build his company) that his whole world shifted. If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[iv], look to see if Trust (in Pathway 6, our final pathway in this book study) along with biases, relationships/authenticity and empathy is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. I was not surprised to see this pathway is a high area of focus for me. Moving on to chapter 17 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Bosnick opens the chapter by saying that “trust is like a bank account: we can increase it with deposits or reduce it with withdrawals.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 215). He elaborates by saying that “when we are kind and respectful to others, we make a deposit and increase the levels of trust; when we are unkind or disrespectful to others, by contrast, we make a withdrawal and lower the trust. When we keep promises, we make a deposit; when we break promises, we make a withdrawal. When we apologize, we make a deposit, when we are selfish, proud, or arrogant, we make a withdrawal.” Every time we interact with someone, we have the opportunity to make a deposit, or a withdrawal, and if we make deposits and build this up over time, “we can have an abundance of trust.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 215) and Bosnick reminds us that this allows for when “we might have made a withdrawal, others can forgive us for this one time and still keep a high level of trust.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 215). But he warns us that “if we make multiple withdrawals, these will accumulate and drive the level of trust down, which is harder to come back from. It can, in fact, go into a negative balance, where we may distrust that person, and then interpret all of their behavior in a negative light, from which they may never come back.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 215). Bosnick does point out that “there is a strong correlation between trust and a person's willingness to acknowledge their own mistakes, apologize for them and encourage other to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 215). What is the Neuroscience of Trust? Bosnick points out that “when we trust and have trust with others, our brains release and build oxytocin: the neurochemical produced from the comfort of social trust either given or received…Oxytocin is produced in the human brain when we feel trust and trusted, and this molecule motivates reciprocation.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 219). Researchers found that this response signals that another person is safe, familiar and trustworthy, and can occur with strangers without face-to-face interactions.   In chart 17.1, Bosnick lists some behaviors that erode trust, like being inconsistent, lying or lacking transparency, lacking follow through, taking undue credit, passing blame, gossiping, not “walking the talk” or poor communication. IMAGE CREDIT: Chapter 17 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership. Have you ever met someone who eroded trust with you, using any of these examples? If you want to work on building rock-solid trust with others, (personally or professionally) here is what Bosnick suggests. How to Be Trustworthy Bosnick shares the 5 Cs to being Trustworthy. Character: To be trustworthy, we need to be a person of integrity. Integrity is when our thoughts, feelings and actions line up, and it can be felt from others. We've talked about this concept before on this podcast and have called this PRAXIS. To be sure that your thoughts, feelings and actions line up, (or that you are walking your talk) a good measure would be to look at your results. Your conditions, circumstances and environment in your life are a direct reflection of the actions that you take day to day. If you don't like the results you are attaining, (or your conditions/circumstances or your environment where you live) go back and look at your thoughts, feelings and actions, and see if you can uncover where it may be misaligned, and then correct where you are out of line. You might not think this is important, but it really is, as others will just “feel” something is off with you, until this alignment is corrected. Competency: What is your personal track record of success? Do you say what you are going to do, and then do what you say, successfully? Being honest with what we are capable of doing, increases our trustworthiness. This also goes for when we need additional help of support to complete whatever it is that we are working on. To work on strengthening this area, remember that it is not a weakness to ask for additional help when needed. Credibility: If we can “connect the dots between other people's problems or situations” Bosnick says that this adds to our credibility, and this increases our trustworthiness. He says that to do this properly, we cannot “make assumptions and predetermine the solution before fully understanding their needs. We must listen to the core issues and provide solutions that meet their specific needs.” Our ability to listen deeply to others, therefore, improves our trustworthiness. Consistency: Do you do what you say you are going to do with consistency? This creates stability, puts others at ease and builds trust. Bosnick says that “we need to create stability in the situations we face and with the people we interact with. This stability helps people to feel at ease and know what to expect” and this in turn, increases our trustworthiness. Care: Do you care about the people you interact with? Do you show them that they matter, or that you appreciate them? Doing this demonstrates emotional intelligence, Bosnick says, and this “builds human connections and enhances our trustworthiness with the people we engage with.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 222). I can think of examples in each of these areas, but the one that impacts me the most, is the first one, our character. It's how we behave when no one else is watching. When no one else is watching, are you of integrity with your thoughts, feelings and actions? Then think about the others. Are you credible? Do other people trust your abilities? Do you LISTEN deeply to others before offering solutions? What about consistency? Do those that interact with you know where you stand so they can anticipate your actions? Do you create stability? Or competency? Do we know our limits, and what we need for success to occur, and if in doubt, ask for help or support from others to hit our goals? Activity: Reflect on a person you work with where trust is important. Have you ever done something with this person that eroded the trust? How can you use the 5 Cs to build trust to a level where others trust in you without a shadow of a doubt? Remember what Greg Link taught us. For others to see us as trustworthy, it helps when we extend trust in others. The first time I realized that trusting others was not easy for me, was when I was in an experiential seminar in 2004 that showed me just how much trust I had in other people. I had to climb up high, (in this activity) and free fall backwards, and trust that my team mates (who I didn't know very well) would catch me, before I hit the ground. I remember looking at each of my teammates, and the big strong men, I trusted would catch me, (without a doubt) but the women, I wondered about. This was a huge lesson for me in self-awareness, as I've since learned to extend trust to the close women in my life, learning that strength comes in many different forms, but most importantly, it comes back to you, when it's given. Critical Factors That Impact Trust To close out this chapter, Bosnick covers critical factors that impact trust in figure 17.3 that I've added to the show notes. He explains “the most critical factor to build and maintain trust was responsiveness.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 230) and that the size of the team matters. IMAGE CREDIT: Chapter 17 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership Bosnick listed survey results that showed “having a good team makeup who work well together and are responsive in their communication engenders trust. Unresponsive, new teams need to work together to build a bit of cohesion.” Next he lists “authenticity and empathy” for building and maintaining trust which includes “showing genuine, positive regard for others, in our mind, intent and behavior.” It's PRAXIS again. Our thoughts, feelings and actions show up whether we think others can “see” it or not. This comes through with our authenticity that we covered thoroughly on EP 346[v] “Discovering Authenticity and Vulnerability with Mo Issa.” Another survey result he shared mentioned that “when people can bring their whole selves to work from a place of authenticity, while listening and providing their diverse point of views, it creates an environment of trust.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 230). He adds that “communication plays a key role in building and maintaining trust. We need to be open and honest because secretiveness and withholding information leads to distrust.” (Chapter 17, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 230). REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #352 on “The Neuroscience of Trust” we covered: ✔ A review of our FIRST interview where we covered trust with Greg Link,EP 206[vi] a were reminded that when we extend trust to others, it will be extended back to us. ✔ Ch. 17 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership book on “The Neuroscience of Trust.” The 5 Cs to strengthen trustworthiness from Grant Bosnick's work (character, competency, credibility, consistency and care) with tips for us to strengthen each area. Critical factors that impact trust with responsiveness, authenticity and empathy being at the top of the list. I hope this episode has added some insight for you as we launch a New Year, and work on closing out this 19 chapter series. Stay tuned for our final 2 chapters (empathy-chapter 18 and presence-chapter 19) before reviewing the entire series. See you next time and Happy New Year! REFERENCES [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #206 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-the-neuroscience-of-trust/   [iii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #207  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/co-founder-of-coveylink-greg-link-on-unleashing-greatness-with-neuroscience-sel-trust-and-the-7-habits/   [iv] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #346 Discovering Authenticity and Vulnerability with Mo Issa https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-midlife-shift-discovering-authenticity-and-vulnerability-with-mo-issa/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #206 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-the-neuroscience-of-trust/      

Welcome to the latest episode of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast, where we dive into the cutting-edge fusion of neuroscience and emotional intelligence training. Today, we are thrilled to host Dr. Gregory Kelly for the third time, exploring the science behind Qualia's newest supplement: Magnesium Plus. Join us as Dr. Kelly explains why magnesium is vital for our health, from its role in cellular function and stress management to its impact on aging and brain vitality. Discover the unique formulation of Qualia Magnesium Plus, and learn why it stands out in the crowded supplement market. As our understanding of wellness evolves, so does our need for tools that address modern challenges. Whether you're dealing with stress, seeking better sleep, or wanting to enhance your cognitive functions, this episode offers insights into how magnesium can play a crucial role in your daily regimen. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a leading expert in natural medicine and take a step towards better health and well-being. Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/lzee8WNZwU4 On today's episode #351 we meet with a returning guest, for the third time, Dr. Gregory Kelly from EP 285[i] where we first met him and covered Qualia Senolytic (something I have been taking ever since that interview to optimize aging, supporting cellular function, and then again on EP 305[ii] where we covered Qualia Symbiotic to optimize digestion and mood. On today's EPISODE #351 “Qualia Magnesium+ for Heart, Brain and Bone Health with Dr. Gergory Kelly” we will cover: ✔ Why magnesium is critical to every organ in the body (cellular function and stress management). ✔ The science behind Qualia's NEWEST supplement for brain health: Qualia Magnesium+ ✔ Why THIS supplement stands out from other brands on the market. Today we are covering their most recent product release, Qualia Magnesium+, that I have been taking for the past 2 weeks, so we can learn together WHY this specific product is unique and different from other brands of magnesium on the market, and what I have noticed since taking this supplement. A bit about Dr. Kelly: Gregory Kelly is Director of Product Development at Qualia Life Sciences, naturopathic physician (N.D.), and author of the book Shape Shift. He was the editor of the journal Alternative Medicine Review and has been an instructor at the University of Bridgeport in the College of Naturopathic Medicine, where he taught classes in Advanced Clinical Nutrition, Counseling Skills, and Doctor-Patient Relationships. Dr. Kelly has published hundreds of articles on natural medicine and nutrition, contributed three chapters to the Textbook of Natural Medicine, and has more than 30 journal articles indexed on Pubmed. His areas of expertise include nootropics, anti-aging and regenerative medicine, weight management, sleep and the chronobiology of performance and health. Let's meet Dr. Gregory Kelly and see what we can learn about the benefits of adding magnesium to our wellness protocol. Welcome back Dr. Kelly, it's awesome to see you again. How are things going? Interview Questions To open up here, I wonder if we could talk about magnesium, and why it's critical to every organ in the human body? Magnesium impacts all 12 hallmarks of aging, tell us more about how low magnesium levels can accelerate the aging process. What is the link between magnesium levels and brain health? Can you share studies to support this? How long can we notice the benefits of taking magnesium? Andrea measured using her Whoop device, and noticed a spike around the beginning of December. What are some signs of low magnesium levels and why is it safe to say that deficiencies often go unnoticed? Magnesium Facts & Myths At least half of Americans are deficient in magnesium and what contributes to the deficiency? Why is a comprehensive approach to magnesium supplementation vital and what does that mean? Is there redundancy when it comes to magnesium supplementation? Outside of supplementation can you share lifestyle tips to help us maintain healthy magnesium levels? Qualia Magnesium: Magnesium is a very saturated market, what makes Qualia Magnesium+ unique and innovative? Can you share some results from your pilot study? What's next for Qualia? Social Media Handles https://www.facebook.com/Qualialife Instagram https://www.instagram.com/qualialife/?hl=en    Links for Show Notes: Link: http://www.qualialife.com/andrea    Code: andrea (listeners get an additional 15% off any Qualia order)   RESOURCES: Magnesium Status Questionnaire https://ariya.health/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Magnesium-Status-Questionnaire.pdf REFERENCES:   [i] https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-gregory-kelly-from-neurohacker-collective-on-how-to-beat-aging-and-stress-with-qualia-senolytics/   [ii] https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/returning-guest-dr-gregory-kelly-on-qualia-synbiotic-optimizing-digestion-and-mood-with-prebiotics-probiotics-and-postbiotics/      

Welcome to Episode 350 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast! In this episode, Andrea Samadhi delves into an enlightening discussion with Dr. David Stephens, a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist renowned for his expertise in brain function and mental health. Discover groundbreaking insights into how glucose can be a game-changer in restoring brain function, mental health, and overall productivity. Dr. Stephens shares his compelling journey that led to the revelation of glucose as a crucial element in brain restoration. From understanding the perceptible differences between glucose and sugar to unraveling common myths about brain health, this conversation is packed with scientific insights that challenge traditional paradigms. You won't want to miss this fascinating exploration of how restoring glucose levels could revolutionize our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/T0R3uvBbHPE Welcome back to SEASON 12 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 6 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's episode #350, we meet with Dr. David Stephens[i], a clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, and consultant with extensive experience in brain function, restoration and mental health. On today's EPISODE #350 “Unlocking Brain Health with Dr. David Stephens” we will cover: ✔ Groundbreaking insights into how glucose can be a game-changer in restoring brain function, mental health, and overall productivity. ✔ Dr. Stephens shares his compelling journey that led to the revelation of glucose as a crucial element in brain restoration. ✔ The perceptible differences between glucose and sugar ✔  Unravel common myths about brain health, while challenging traditional paradigms. Some quick facts about Dr. Stephens. He was the Former Director of Mental Health for three state prison systems Overseen mental health services in jails throughout the US Academic dean of an accredited graduate school of psychology Correctional and architectural neuroscience consultant Provides brain restoration services to individuals What drew me to Dr. Stephens is that our podcast took a turn towards health and wellness after the Pandemic, and a huge part of this direction has been focused on brain health. We have met many experts along the way who have shared tips and strategies to give us hope in our journey of life, but Dr. Stephens will take this hope to new heights if we can keep our minds open. While the front page of his website features the headline “Humanity Restored” when I went to the research[ii] behind his work, I was taken back a bit. It was all about glucose and its restorative effects on the brain and body.  Then I went to the peer reviewed studies[iii] to learn more, and realized that my understanding of glucose (what it is, how is glucose different from sugar (that I consider poison), and how can glucose be used to restore brain function)? All of my questions, I realized needed to be addressed before this interview. So, I watched some interviews Dr. Stephens had with other podcasters, and learned about “How to cure depression with glucose”[iv] and also where his work began where he connects hard science, and neuroscience, to spirituality.[v] Let's now meet Dr. David Stephens, where I will ask him to share his work and research that he has felt divinely inspired to share, and see if we can take this new knowledge and understanding, to break through our current paradigms, and move towards improved “physical, neurological, mental, emotional, and spiritual functions” (Stephens) of our brain health. Welcome Dr. David Stephens, thank you for joining me today. Dr. Stephens, before I even get into your research, your books, and your mission with your work, can we begin with where this journey began for you? I want to acknowledge how you feel that you were divinely guided with this work as I think that is important to address. Q1: Can we talk about our brain, and the most important discovery you think has come about in recent years (that the brain must have fuel to function the way it does?) What is the science behind this important fuel for our body? Q2: What about ketones as fuel for the brain? I ask this from understanding the keto diet (not saying it's the best solution for everyone, but some people do well on it). Can we not just use ketones the same way you are saying we can use glucose? Q3: What parts of the brain are fueled first, to last with this energy, and why should we understand this if we want to optimize our performance? Q4: What are some problems that we know of, that result from low glucose or fuel to the brain? Q5: Can we talk about how fuel to the brain can become limited. I think I heard you say that there are symptoms that can lead us to guess we could have limited glucose in our brain, especially if it's causing all of these challenges for us, there has to be a cause behind this. Along with concussions that we see in the sports world, to merely bumping our heads? What should we know about injury and the correlation of our ability to provide enough fuel in our brain? Q6: How do these concussions (or traumas, or high stress in our lives) translate to the brain and activate our sympathetic nervous system and put us into this state where we are in survival mode? A place that we know is not a good place for us to exist in? Would you then say that all of the list of problems we spoke about, that are a result of low fuel to the brain, could also be attributed to the chemical process of concussions, or trauma, or high stress in our lives? I ask this as I have 2 daughters who are gymnasts. One has been diagnosed with a concussion, at the ER, and the other has hit her head enough times even though she has not been diagnosed. What should we be aware of about the origin of these mental/emotional/physical disorders that can be a result of a head injury? Q7: How have we not heard of this solution for brain health yet? Is it because the research is so new? Q8: At this point in writing these questions, I went to all the supplements I take for my brain health, to see if glucose was in them, and I couldn't see any. Then I remembered when my youngest daughter was sick when she was first born, she picked up a virus and had to stay a week at Phoenix Children's Hospital. I clearly remember them giving her a tube of something they said was sugar. Do you think this was glucose? She was too young to have any medicine.  This was the only thing they gave her, and she recovered thank goodness, after a week in hospital before she was 3 months old. Q9: I've actually done a few podcast episodes on “The Damaging Effects of Sugar on the Brain and Body”[vi] with research that came from my foot doctor, who had me change my diet in 2005, and my health turned around for the better. What should we understand about glucose, vs sucralose that is connected to weight gain and type 2 diabetes? What's important about understanding our blood sugar vs glucose levels in the brain? Q10: How do we treat low glucose then? Is it as simple as taking something over the counter for this? Do we need to have symptoms like you've mentioned to consider this treatment? Why would someone seek this out? Q11: What have you seen from treating people with low glucose levels in the brain? Q12: Is there anything important that I have missed? Thank you very much for your time today, to help us to all understand how we can improve our life and results by understanding the importance of glucose and our brain. For people to learn more about your work, is your website the best way? https://restoredhumanity.com/ CONNECT with DR. STEPHENS Email: DStephens@restoredhumanity.com RESOURCES: Sugar: The Bitter Truth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM Published on YouTube 15 years ago. REFERENCES: [i] https://restoredhumanity.com/s/home.php   [ii] https://restoredhumanity.com/s/research.php   [iii] https://restoredhumanity.com/s/science.php   [iv] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7sG-ePM6Hw   [v] https://restoredhumanity.com/s/seminar.php   [vi]  Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 275 “The Damaging Impacts of Sugar on the Brain and Body” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-the-damaging-impacts-of-sugar-on-the-brain-and-body/    

Welcome to today's enlightening episode of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. Join host Andrea Samadhi as she explores the insights of Dr. Laura Gallaher, an organizational psychologist and executive coach. Dr. Gallaher shares her earlier days at NASA, revealing how she tackled the challenges following the Columbia shuttle disaster to reshape organizational culture and highlight the importance of psychological safety. Through an engaging conversation, Dr. Gallaher discusses her personal journey towards radical self-acceptance and how it transforms career and personal relationships. Learn how leaders can foster vulnerability and courage to build more productive, aligned, and self-aware teams, and discover the contagious nature of authentic connections based on self-awareness and acceptance. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that blends neuroscience, psychology, and real-life experiences to encourage growth both at work and home. Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/b0Pc6bKKWwM On today's EPISODE #349 “Unlocking Radical Self-Acceptance with Dr. Laura Gallaher” we will cover: ✔  Where Dr. Gallaher's career began, leading her to work with NASA. ✔ How can radical self-acceptance transform our career, and personal lives. ✔ Uncover where YOU are on the self-acceptance quadrant, so you can blend science and psychology to take your results to new heights. On today's episode #349, we meet with Dr. Laura Gallaher, an Organizational Psychologist, Speaker, Facilitator, and Executive Coach. She is the founder and CEO of Gallaher Edge[i], which she started in 2013 where she works with busy executives to help you get your arms around the challenges in your organization. They work with you from the inside out, helping your executive team have conversations you didn't even know you needed to have. They help to increase self-awareness, team alignment, and shared accountability until your organization runs like a well-oiled machine. Organizations (she asserts) are just people. Her noteworthy career began after the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry in 2003. Following the tragedy, NASA hired Laura and a team of organizational psychologists to change the cultural influences that were deemed to play a role in the accident. She worked for 8 years to positively influence culture, develop leadership capacity, and improve organizational performance at Kennedy Space Center. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, and a Masters and PhD in Organizational Psychology. Laura is a Licensed Human Element® Practitioner, a Certified Radical Collaboration Trainer, and a Certified Coach. Let's meet Dr. Laura Gallaher, and learn together where we could possibly take our personal and work environments to new heights. Welcome Dr. Gallaher. Thank you for joining me today. Are you in Orlando now? I know that you have deep roots in the Phoenix area (and lots of places around the world).  INTRO Q: Dr. Gallaher, before asking you questions about your book, and your work, I have to say that there was something that drew me to you, before even looking at your bio. When you first meet someone, I think that what goes on inside us, (our mindset) shows on the outside, and I felt like you had a story to tell of where you began. When did you first learn about the importance of radical self acceptance, and how do you think that we can all use this skill in our personal and professional life? Q1: While coming up for some questions for you, I watched your TED TALK “How to Feel at Home Anywhere”[ii] where you talk about the ability to discover your inner confidence, and your ability to cope with the world (so that literally any place in the world) can feel like home. What drew you to create this TED TALK? Q2: It's interesting to me that your topic was “How to Feel at Home Anywhere” because I've thought about this concept often. While I've not worked and travelled to the places and countries that you have (other than via Google Maps) I have noticed that I've always been comfortable walking into a gym. Now I stopped going to a gym around the time of the pandemic, but I can recall always feeling a sense of belonging, and just the place that would fill me up with those feel-good vibes, when I was on the road, and would walk into a gym. Can you share what's important for us, as human beings, or the recipe that you've discovered, to feel comfortable…and make ANY place feel like home? Q3: Can we go to the questions that I think can open the door and help all of us, whether we are an employee in a company, a part of a bigger whole, or a teacher in a school, or a member of a team, how can we take this concept of radical self-acceptance to take us to new heights? Q4: We've been focused on taking our results to higher levels on this podcast. How important is what we think on the inside (our mindset with radical self-acceptance) to our results (on the outside)? Q5: Why are you so passionate about radical self-acceptance? How did NASA help you to uncover the gaps of where you were (actually) and where you wanted to go? Q6: What is psychological safety and how does it relate to how safe people feel to be vulnerable? Q7: Have you ever had a 360 Evaluation at work? How about asking your children how you are showing up as a parent? What can you learn from honest feedback from others? Q8: Dr. Gallaher helps Andrea to dig deeper into feedback that her children gave her. “What bugs me about you, is really about me.”[iii] Q9: How can we take radical self-acceptance into the workplace? Q10: Would you say the most critical leadership traits today would be vulnerability and courage? Q11: What are some stress reduction secrets you can share with us? Q12: How do we put this all together to become more self-aware? Dr. Gallaher, I want to thank you for your time meeting with me today. For people who would like to connect with you, I will put your contact information in the show notes. Do you have any final or closing thoughts? Take the Self-Acceptance Quiz Here  https://www.gallaheredge.com/sa-quiz-lp Andrea received the Pushing but Pressured quadrant that shows high on self-improvement, (which she would agree with) but low on self-acceptance (where she is right now) and she would agree this area could use some work.   Take the Self-Acceptance Quiz to see what quadrant you end up in, and see what you can learn about yourself. CONNECT with DR. GALLAHER Join her mailing list https://www.gallaheredge.com/leaders-journey-mailing-list Website: https://drlauragallaher.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-gallaher-phd/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drlauragallaher/ TED TALK Dr. Gallaher “How to feel at home anywhere” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUxT8wuDsG4 The Missing Links: Launching a High Performing Company Culture Published2021 https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Links-Launching-Performing-Company/dp/1637350880   REFERENCES:   [i] Dr. Laura Gallaher https://drlauragallaher.com/   [ii] TED TALK Dr. Gallaher “How to feel at home anywhere” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUxT8wuDsG4   [iii] https://blog.gallaheredge.com/what-bugs-me-about-you/    

Welcome to Episode 348 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where host Andrea Samadi explores the intersection of neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and social learning. In this enlightening episode, Andrea introduces us to Masati, a visionary thought leader and the CEO and founder of Exponential Intelligence Science. Masati delves into the transformative power of dimensional consciousness and frequency manipulation to eliminate human suffering and unlock human potential. With a unique blend of quantum physics and spiritual insight, Masati reveals how altering one's frequency can lead to profound changes in health, wealth, relationships, and spirituality. Drawing from his extraordinary near-death experiences, Masati shares how these events propelled him to discover a methodology that helps individuals redesign their blueprints for a more fulfilling life. Andrea and Masati discuss the science behind accessing higher dimensions of consciousness, the importance of frequencies in shaping our reality, and practical steps to achieve exponential intelligence. Join Andrea and Masati as they journey through the realms of quantum physics, altered states, and the profound impact of shifting frequencies on personal transformation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to elevate their life to new dimensions of success and fulfillment. On today's episode #348, we meet with Masati on "Unveiling Exponential Intelligence."  We will cover: ✔  What is Exponential Intelligence Science and how can we use it to unlock our human potential? ✔ What is Masati's story? How did three near-death experiences lead him towards new abilities like reading frequencies? ✔ What can we learn by blended quantum science with spirituality? Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/cXH6-mDO3S0 Masati is a visionary thought leader and the CEO and Founder of Xponential Intelligence Science, a groundbreaking field dedicated to the study and application of Dimensional Consciousness for the advancement of humanity. With a profound focus on eliminating human suffering and awakening consciousness, Masati leverages his unique understanding of quantum physics, space-time, and the power of frequencies to guide individuals toward profound transformation. Masati, like many we have met on this podcast, believe that when you can learn how to change your frequency, you can change your life. Through XI, (that we will dive deep into today) Masati works on the core frequency level, helping to redesign and reprogram one's blueprint to materialize fast, tangible results in all areas of life, including health, wealth, relationships, and spirituality.  When I first was introduced to Masati, I wondered “where has Masati gained his knowledge and understanding of these concepts we talk about often on the podcast, connecting science to the unknown spiritual world” and I understood the minute I saw his bio. After having experienced three near-death experiences, Masati emerged with extraordinary abilities and knowledge far ahead of our time. These experiences ignited his passion for exploring the deeper realms of human potential, leading him to develop Xponential Intelligence (XI), a transformative methodology that empowers individuals to achieve real-time life changes. If you've followed our podcast from the beginning, you will know that I first learned about ways to improve our life and results, through motivational speaker, Bob Proctor,[i] who was an expert at improving our thinking, to achieve new results, specifically with breaking through the paradigms that hold us back. He would always say “to reach new heights, you've got to go where you've never been…(and this starts) with your imagination first.” (Bob Proctor, The Paradigm Shift Seminar). When I saw that over the past 14 years, Masati has shared his expertise with a global audience, reaching over 100 countries through his speaking engagements, podcasts, and personal sessions, and that his work has consistently led to life-altering results, with countless testimonials attesting to his ability to clear layers of distortions, awaken latent potential, and manifest abundance effortlessly, I knew I had to meet him. Let's meet Masati, and learn together about what he means when he says “as you become more XI, or “exponentially intelligent.” Welcome Masati, thank you for joining me on the podcast today. You've reached someone who could spend the next week asking you questions, so I've had to narrow them all down, so that those who have not yet met you, will know where to begin, Intro Question: I've heard of people gaining different abilities after ONE near-death experience, and you've had THREE! Can you share what you noticed, how did you go from near death, to reading frequencies?[ii] Q1: The only person I've studied, who truly did understand levels of frequency (he called them vibration) was motivational speaker, Bob Proctor. He's not here anymore, but his teachings left an imprint on the world. He would describe the change in people that was possible over time (through study) by putting food coloring into water, and it's hard to see the change in the beginning (a few drops don't change the color of the water) but eventually, the water turns from clear, to red. Can you explain how you can see a person's ability (first of all) to change their frequency, I think faster than what doing the hard work that might take years? What do you see with a person (on a certain frequency) that can help them to switch to a better frequency, and have them stay there? I ask this, because I definitely can see what I've always thought of as the potential in others. I just never thought of it as that person existing in another dimension when they jumped to a new level of vibration or frequency. Q1B: Can we go into the different dimensions? I'm sure most of us here have heard of 3D (where we exist today in the physical world), 4D (I think is the dream world) and 5D (I think where our higher selves exist, in this loving world we go when pass over). Do I have this right? How would you describe the different dimensions in our universe? Q1C: I've got to tell you about this thing I lost once. I never forgot it, as it was the “tool” I use daily, for guidance. When I first moved to Arizona, in early 2001, I attended many classes out here, learning how to use different tools for guidance in life, and one of those tools that I still use today, is a pendulum. I have 2 on my desk, and my favorite one is a rose quartz one. Well, one day, years ago, I lost my pendulum. Now this was something I used to use daily, and it was no where. I searched everywhere, and my good friend Sandy was at my house at the time, and we looked where I usually kept it. We looked through the pockets in my jeans, on the floor, on my dresser. It was no where. We found it in my jeans (that I had checked at least 10x) and she said to me “Andrea, it must have gone to a different dimension.” Can you explain this? What does science say about these “other dimensions?” I never forgot this experience, because it was NOT in my jeans! Q2: Everyone is searching for the perfect way to stay young these days. There are creams, lotions, potions, and vitamins all geared towards this. Like you, I can see a marked difference in myself over the years. I saw a comparison you did of yourself where you look more youthful now, than you did years ago, and you attribute this to living life on a certain frequency now. I have actually mentioned this with certain guests on the podcast who have changed their lives radically. I mentioned it to a paranormal researcher, Ryan O'Neill, from EP 203[iii] who changed physically when his behavior matched his belief of himself. He agreed. Can you explain how we can physically change our appearance by the way we think, and using XI, create the best possible version of ourselves so when we look back at old photos of ourselves, we don't even see ourselves as the same person? Q3B: Mas, after running this podcast, since 2019, and it took a turn torwards health and wellness around the Pandemic time, in 2020, I couldn't ignore it. I started interviewing people on brain health and this became the focus, in addition to our social and emotional side. Over the years, it's easy to look at people and see who is “walking their talk” and who is not. It's taken me some time to get better at walking my talk, but I'm closer now than I've ever been. Can you share what you see with “reading people's frequencies” and when we clean up our own, how this affects how other people see us? Q4: When you first put your work out into the world in a big way, and launched XI, can you explain how this felt, and how did you find your way to connecting the science to these age-old success principles? I ask this, because I've been working on EXACTLY the same concept here, with this podcast. Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning. Someone told me recently, that I don't need to keep looking for the science. The science is evident with the results. What was your realization with connection science to your work that explains “this is why x happens?” Q5: What basic principles of quantum mechanics do you think are important for all of us to understand? Q6: Mas, I'm an open book. I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and think I'm easy to read. In the time we've spent here, what can you tell me about what you see with me? If I was to go to your website, and book a private session with you, how would that work? What can I expect from a public vs private session? Q7: For those who want to learn more about your work, I have put all of your links to your social media, your website, and podcast below. To bring this all together, how would you explain how we can become more XI? Mas, I want to thank you for joining me today, to share all the incredible, ground-breaking work you have done over the years to advance humanity. I'm grateful to have had this time with you. I know it's only the beginning….there's a lot more to learn, taking what our imagination can see to great heights. Thank you for being here today. Is your website thexicode.com the best place for people to find you? References: Dark Matter TV Series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Matter_(2024_TV_series) How to Use a Pendulum: Answer Questions, Heal Body and Mind and More by Ronald Bonewitz Jan 1, 2016 https://www.amazon.com/How-Use-Pendulum-Dowsing-Divination/dp/1578635896 CONNECT with MASATI LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ximasati/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/XImasati Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ximasati/ Website https://thexicode.com/ Podcast https://thexicode.com/podcast YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/massajady FREE Live Sessions with Mas https://www.youtube.com/user/massajady ANDREA'S NOTES: REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #66 with the Legendary Bob Proctor https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/ [ii] From Near Death to Reading Frequencies: Where it All Started  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2H5Ig3BsMo [iii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #203 with Paranormal Researcher, Ryan O'Neill “On Making Your Vision a Reality”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/case-study-with-paranormal-researcher-ryan-o-neill-on-making-your-vision-a-reality/    

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we bridge the gap between neuroscience and emotional intelligence to enhance well-being and productivity. In this episode, host Andrea Samadhi continues the 18-week self-leadership series, focusing on the neuroscience of biases as explored in Grant Bosnick's book, "Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership." Episode 347 delves into Chapter 16, examining cognitive biases through the lens of current neuroscience research. With insights from past episodes and experts like Jenny Woo and Howard Rankin, Andrea highlights the nearly 200 cognitive biases that influence our decision-making. The episode introduces Bosnick's strategies for identifying and managing these biases using Daniel Kahneman's dual-system theory of thinking. Listeners will learn practical steps to recognize biases, categorize them, and apply thoughtful approaches to mitigate their effects. This exploration aims to enhance self-awareness and improve decision-making processes by leveraging both reflexive and reflective thinking systems. Join us on this enlightening journey to understand the intricacies of human cognition and prepare for upcoming discussions, including the neuroscience of trust. This episode is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to refine their self-leadership skills and cognitive understanding. On today's EPISODE #347 “The Neuroscience of Biases” we will cover: ✔ A review of past episodes where we covered biases. ✔ Chapter 16 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership on The Neuroscience of Bias. ✔ A review of our two types of thinking (X-system=reflexive/automatic and C-system=reflective/intentional). ✔ 3 Steps to Understand and Manage our Biases ✔ 4 Strategies for Mitigating our Biases For Today, EPISODE #347, we are moving on to Chapter 16, reviewing “The Neuroscience Biases” that we first covered on EP 17[i] with Harvard Researcher, Jenny Woo. On this early episode on our podcast, I mentioned I had just learned that there “are almost 200 known cognitive biases and distortions that cause us to think and act irrationally.” (72 Amazing Brain Facts by Deane Alban). Then we explored cognitive biases even further with EP 146 with our FIRST interview with Howard Rankin, on “How Not to Think”[ii]  where he explains why "the more we know, the more we realize we know nothing at all." (Howard Rankin). If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[iii], look to see if Biases (in Pathway 6, our final pathway in this book study) along with relationships/authenticity, trust and empathy is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. I was not surprised to see this pathway is a high area of focus for me. I remember being surprised at how many common problems occur with our human thinking process, and wondered how to be aware of all of these cognitive biases. Learning is a continual process, and awareness that our thinking contains these biases, is the first step towards improving our thinking process. So what does Grant Bosnick have to say about biases in chapter 16 of his book, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership? He opens the chapter with an exercise that came from Daniel Kahneman's book, Thinking Fast, and Slow[iv] a book that sold more than 2.6 million copies.   IMAGE CREDIT: (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick). If you are listening to this episode, look at the image in the show notes, and don't forget how you went on to solve this puzzle. Read the instructions and then solve the puzzle. It says “spot the error.” We will come back to the solution at the end of this episode. Bosnick next goes on to define what cognitive biases are, reminding us they are “mental shortcuts that allow us to quickly sort, categorize and make decisions on pieces of information in order to navigate the world in an efficient way. They can be positive, negative or neutral, although most of us probably associate them with the more negative side.” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick). Biases Bosnick says “can be conscious” like when you can relate to someone who is similar to you, or they can be “unconscious: we all have them and unknowingly use them to make judgements every day.” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick). We did learn from Howard Rankin, that we need to be “careful about how we think” and Bosnick agrees, saying that biases can impact the quality of our thinking, judgements and decisions. (And Bosnick's advice to us is that) in order to make better judgements and reduce bias, label the biases and mitigate them using appropriate mental and behavioral processes” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick) that we will examine today. So What is the Neuroscience of Bias? Bosnick brings us back to the two systems in our brain that we first saw on EP #345[v] “The Neuroscience of Relationships and Authenticity” where we looked at the neuroscience of our social brain with the famous story of Phineas Gage, Neuroscience's Most Famous Patient.  With this example, Bosnick tells us that “we have two systems in our brain: the X-system and the C-system. The X-system (or reflexive system) is automatic, responsive, like/dislike, reward/threat. Since this part of our brain is non-thinking, it's not affected by our mental load. The C-system (or reflective system) is controlled, conscious, with executive function and executive control.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). Motivation and effort are required to engage this part of the brain, and it can be affected by our mental load. X-system (reflexive)=automatic C-system (reflective) =we need motivation and effort to activate Remember: Phineas Gage destroyed his C-system (system 2, reflective system) when the iron railroad rod went through his brain, (his controlled thinking was impacted) so he was left operating on X-system only. In other words, he had no control over his automatic, reflexive system, and his behavior became unbearable as a result. He treated everybody as an object for his own personal reward” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186) without control. So, going back to the neuroscience of bias, the X-System is where we think on auto-pilot (like Phineas Gage) and is “fast-thinking” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick, Page 193) and the C-System is “the more deliberate, slow-thinking, reflective system…and is much more demanging on our cognitive resources than the X-system.” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick, Page 193). Which means, it's easy to go to automatic reflexive thinking, and much harder to think with our reflective, “high road” intentional and controlled thinking.” Bosnick reminds us that we can't operate with System 2 all of the time, or we will burn out. We need some automatic thinking to navigate our world. We all know this. We've heard of productivity hacks, like what Steve Jobs did to make life easier by wearing the same clothes all the time. He said this reduced his cognitive load by eliminating the small decisions he had to make. He was putting the load of this small task thinking on his X-reflexive system, to make more space for his C-Reflective system. Now that we know how our brain operates, going back to these two systems of thinking, Bosnick asks us to think back to the problems he listed at the start of the chapter to see how we went about solving them. I gave one of the two examples of the maze, saying to “spot the error.” How did YOU solve this puzzle? I'll tell you what I did? I started looking at the maze, and was looking for where the maze had errors. I couldn't see any, so figured there was more to what I was looking at than I was seeing. Bosnick shares that the error is in the center of the maze where the instructions say “find the the error.” So I learned that while writing this episode, I'm cognitively busy and reverted back to my X-reflexive system to scan the diagram, and see if I could find the most obvious, easy to spot error. If I thought this way with this example, where else am I reverting back either consciously, or unconsciously to automatic thinking? Bosnick's chapter goes on to explore three out of the almost 200 known biases, and concludes his chapter on ways to manage these biases. He says that “biases are a natural part of the human condition. We cannot get rid of them. Therefore we need to understand them, and manage them.” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick, Page 193). He suggests these 3 Steps for Understanding and Managing our Biases: Accept and admit we are all biased. It's a natural part of being human. The exercise from Daniel Kahnaman's book showed me how quickly I reverted back to system x, reflexive, automatic thinking. This self-awareness has helped me to consider where else I make quick judgments, without thinking reflectively. Label the Bias. While Bosnick covered three examples, similarity bias (making quick conclusions about people similar to you), urgency bias (where we put non-urgent tasks on hold to push through to do something that requires our immediate attention), or experience bias (where we believe our perception is the truth and that others who see things differently from us are wrong, knowing there are close to 200 different biases, it's a start to be aware that our thinking could possibly be flawed. Mitigate the Bias. We aren't going to solve all of our biases at once, but once we are aware that's it's human to have them, we can begin with looking at strategies to mitigate each. 4 Strategies for Mitigating Biases: SLOW DOWN: Bosnick goes into detail on how to mitigate the top three biases that he listed. The strategy that he used was to step back, slow down and access your Systems 2 reflective thinking to see what you notice. The maze exercise showed me I could benefit from slowing down my thinking and not jump to conclusions. BE MINDFUL: When talking to others, work on “engaging our System 2 thinking…the more mindful we are, the more we can engage our mental brakes, increase self-awareness, reduce emotional impulses, and reduce our susceptibility to unconscious bias.” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick, Page 212). Being mindful of others will help us to learn to appreciate different perspectives, as well, other people will connect more to us when they can sense we are thinking from their point of view. LEARN FROM OTHER PEOPLE: Talk to others so you can learn “how to get out of our own experience bias and appreciate other people's perspectives. This will help us to get out of our autopilot, easy route thinking of the urgency bias to have deeper, more robust and deliberate thinking.” (Ch 16, Biases, Bosnick, Page 212). ASK FOR OUTSIDE OPINIONS: Find others you can brainstorm with to come up with fresh ideas to help you to think in a different way. Ask for feedback to gain a new perspective. This is just the beginning of this topic for us here on the podcast. While writing this episode, I had a message from our good friend Horacio Sanchez, third time returning guest from EP 111[vi] who let me know he is releasing a book on this exact topic, coming out March, 2025. We will have him back on for a 4th time, to dive deeper into this topic. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #347 on “The Neuroscience of Bias” we covered: ✔ A review of past episodes where we first talked about biases. ✔ Chapter 16 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership on The Neuroscience of Bias. ✔ A review of our two types of thinking (X-system=reflexive/automatic and C-system=reflective/intentional). ✔ 3 Steps to Understand and Manage our Biases ✔ 4 Strategies for Mitigating our Biases This is just the beginning, knowing there are close to 200 known cognitive biases that cause us to think and act irrationally, I know that I'm looking forward to learning more on this topic from Horacio Sanchez, whose forthcoming book will cover this topic. In the mean time, I'm working on ways to slow my thinking down, and hope that you have found it helpful to take a closer look at how we think. With that thought, I'll see you next time, with the Neuroscience of Trust. Have a great week! REFERENCES:   [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #17 with Harvard Researcher, Jenny Woo  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/harvard-researcher-jenny-woo-on-the-latest-research-brain-facts-and-myths-growth-mindset-memory-and-cognitive-biases/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #146 with Howard Rankin on “How Not to Think”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/expert-in-psychology-cognitive-neuroscience-and-neurotechnology-howard-rankin-phd-on-how-not-to-think/   [iii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iv] Daniel Kahneman, Thinking Fast and Slow October 25, 2011    [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #345 on “The Neuroscience of Relationships and Authenticity” #17https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/unlocking-authenticity-the-neuroscience-of-relationships/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #111 with Horacio Sanchez https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/resiliency-expert-and-author-horacio-sanchez-on-finding-solutions-to-the-poverty-problem/    

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast, where host Andrea Samadhi connects the dots between neuroscience and emotional intelligence for improved well-being and productivity. In this episode, we dive into a transformative journey with Mo Issa, an inspiring author known for his authentic writing and motivational talks. Join Andrea as she reconnects with Mo, a long-time supporter of her work, to explore his latest book, The Midlife Shift. Mo shares his personal journey from living a life of success and prestige to finding deeper meaning and authenticity. Through candid conversations, Mo reveals how vulnerability and self-discovery have reshaped his life, offering invaluable insights for those seeking to live their true, authentic selves. Discover how Mo's experiences with writing, running, and reflection have guided him towards a more fulfilling life. Learn about the importance of embracing vulnerability and simplifying life to enhance self-awareness and personal growth. Whether you're navigating midlife changes or seeking to deepen your self-awareness, this episode provides a profound exploration of living with authenticity and purpose. Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/tr661XZK438 On today's EPISODE #346 “The Midlife Shift: Discovering Authenticity and Vulnerability with Mo Issa” we will cover: ✔ An overview of Mo Issa's forthcoming book: COMING NOV 12th, 2024 to Amazon ✔ Mo will share his personal journey from living a life of success and prestige to finding deeper meaning and authenticity. ✔ Mo reveals how vulnerability and self-discovery have reshaped his life, offering invaluable insights for those seeking to live their true, authentic selves. ✔ Andrea and Mo explore ways we can all dive deeper, embrace vulnerability and simplify life to enhance self-awareness and personal growth.  On today's episode #346 we meet with someone I've known over the years. It was about 10 years ago, that I was connected to our next guest through our mutual friend, motivational speaker, Bob Proctor. At the time, I had no idea how much of a supporter to my work, he would be over the years, and he's one of the influencers who has helped me to discover, and live on my own authentic path. He was one of the first to use our curriculum for teenagers for a soccer school he ran in Accra, Ghana, and his belief and trust in me, helped me to see this in myself. We never forget those who have helped us along this journey called life, and I'm forever grateful to have met Mo Issa[i], when I was starting out on my journey of self-discovery, where I left the corporate world for a 10-year period, to make an impact in our schools. Over the years I followed Mo's work, specifically his writing, which until reading his book, that we will cover today, The Midlife Shift[ii], I had no idea how much Mo's writing would inspire me, to keep going (learning and growing) on my own path. Right on the front page of his website, you can read his own words.  He says “I am a writer who believes when we find ourselves stuck in life it is because we lack meaning and don't feel challenged. (In his books, essays and podcasts, he encourages) making small changes to embrace self-discovery, simplify life, and focus on a deep sense of fulfillment.” (Mo Issa) Let's meet Mo Issa, an author of three books, who has spoken regularly at conferences and workshops, including TEDx Accra Conference[iii], someone who has read 50 books per year, for the past 10 years, and see what we can learn about living our true authentic life, and improve our own self-awareness in this discovery process. Welcome Mo Issa!! It's been a long time since we have spoken, thank you for coming on the podcast, and sharing your work with us. I can't even tell you how much your writing specifically has helped me over the years. This is an important and special interview. Thank you for being here. INTRO: For our audience who might not yet know your work, and what brought you to this place now where you started with weekly articles, to publishing three books, that to me can help us all on our own personal journey of “living our best life?” Where did this journey begin for you, leading to The Midlife Shift book that we are covering today?  Q1: Mo, I'm remembering what you said to me when we were first began planning this recording…you said to me “I'm so happy and inspired that you have the one thing that gets you up every morning.” I did…and then routines changed with the move to a new location and this is the first recording I've done since the end of September. I had to take some time to get organized in my life outside this recording studio, so I wonder, for someone who has traveled and moved around a lot, how do you make sure you don't lose that thing that inspires you every day?” Q2: I don't remember when I saw your TEDx Talk “Rich, Successful, Strong, Yet Empty” but I'm guessing it was around 2015. I knew you as a strong and serious business leader, who worked closely with Bob Proctor, and spent some of your time giving back to help young people learn these success principles that we just weren't taught in school. I remember being surprised that you thought maybe you had been living life wrong. Can you take us back to how you were living life, and what did you discover was missing? How did you pinpoint it for you? Q3: At what point did you question your identity (how the world saw you) vs the person who craved a less lavish lifestyle? Q4: These are all really deep concepts, but you wrote about how “the inner journey is long and endless, but it's a human one.” I could spend the whole time on just this concept. You also wrote about how “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Can you explain where your “journey of the mind” began, and where did it take you? Q5: You also write about craving “creativity, presence, simplicity, vulnerability and authenticity.” Again, more deep concepts. I remember years ago you asked me to think about what authenticity meant to me, and I found the notes I wrote about this topic on my phone back in 2021. I wrote a whole bunch of paragraphs on this topic, but the main idea was “living who I am by design.” I know that when I'm not doing the things that make me feel alive, I'm not my best self. I wonder what was it about this topic of authenticity that drew you in? Q6: When you wrote that writing helped you to “Express the depths of your soul and allowed your muted voice to speak, the better you connected with people around the world.” This is deep! How can we all learn what's within our soul FIRST, and then how can we become brave enough to “express the depths of our soul?” Where did you begin to take this journey? Q7: We've taken a deep dive into creativity and our brain on this podcast with Jose Silva's work, specifically in PART 4[iv] of this series. What about creativity? What do you do to become more creative? Q8: I've spent most of the past week reading Chapter 4 of your book on “Unlocking the Power of Vulnerability” and related to the whole chapter. There's times during interviews that I just can't hold the tears in, and I've got better at just embracing it all, and not trying to hide my emotions. Can you share how it is coming from a strong male point of view, on not being afraid now to show your emotional side, and what this has done for you? Q9: I wonder if we could talk about this one paragraph from chapter 4. You wrote: “We all need to have that one thing at our core a vehicle for going deep into our essence, exploring the mysterious places of our hearts, venturing into our pasts and confronting painful moments stored away in our subconsciouses, which somehow in the writing process had bubbled to the surface” How did writing, coined with running, help you to become more self-aware, see the real you and allow you to dive deep into the essence of yourself, exploring all of the mysteries in your heart? Q10: What have I missed here? How would you summarize your mission with your work? How can people reach you? Mo, I want to thank you for supporting my work all those years ago, when I was just starting out on my own path of self-discovery. I'm still looking for answers, and am grateful to have stayed connected over the years. I'll be sure to share the best way for people to connect with you, and buy your book The MidLife Shift. FOLLOW MO ISSA Website: www.mo-issa.com   FINAL THOUGHTS I knew this episode was important for me, as reading through Mo's book, I could see where I knew I had more work to do. As I'm working on ways to become more vulnerable with my family, it really didn't take much, and I can already see changes occurring. Watch for The Midlife Shift to come out on Amazon November 12th, 2024, and I highly recommend reading each chapter, take notes at what resonates with you, and then look for the action steps you can personally take to gain more self-awareness in your own journey of the mind. I'll see you next episode as we continue back with our final chapters of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership. REFERENCES: [i] https://www.mo-issa.com/about [ii] The Midlife Shift: How I Left the Ratrace and Found Myself by Mo Issa https://www.mo-issa.com/book [iii] Rich, successful, strong—yet empty. Mohammed Issa TEDx Accra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO801NKR0Cc [iv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #261 “The Neuroscience Behind the Silva Method: PART 4 Improving Creativity and Innovation in our Schools, Sports and Workplaces”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-silva-method-improving-creativity-and-innovation-in-our-schools-sports-and-modern-workplaces/      

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast! In episode 345, we continue our 18-week self-leadership series based on Grant Bosnick's tailored approaches. This week, we dive into Chapter 15, exploring the neuroscience of relationships and authenticity. We revisit key insights on relationship-building from past episodes and introduce the concept of authenticity, drawing on reflections from Andrea Samadi and insights from Mohamed Issa's forthcoming book. Learn what authenticity means, how it impacts our lives, and practical steps for fostering genuine connections with others. Discover the balance between the reflexive and reflective systems in our brain, and how understanding these can enhance our social interactions. Reflect on your unique gifts and talents, and find out how to nurture them to build deeper, more authentic relationships. Join us for an enlightening episode that blends neuroscience with practical advice, helping you to live a more authentic life and improve your personal and professional relationships. On today's episode #345 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. On today's EPISODE #345 “The Neuroscience of Relationships and Authenticity” we will cover: ✔ A review of one of our FIRST interviews, with Greg Wolcott EP #7, July 2019 on his book Significant 72 ✔ Ch. 15 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership book on “Relationships and Authenticity ✔ A review of Mo Issa's definition of Authenticity from his book, The Shift: How to Awaken to the Aliveness Within ✔ The Neuroscience of Our Social Brain ✔ 4 Steps to Building More Authentic Relationships For Today, EPISODE #345, we are moving on to Chapter 15, reviewing “The Neuroscience of Relationships and Authenticity.” We've covered relationships on this podcast, right back to the beginning, with Greg Wolcott EP #7, (July 2019) with his book Significant 72: Unleashing the Power of Relationships in Today's Classrooms. Greg Wolcott, an Assistant Superintendent from Chicago, IL, has dedicated his life to this topic through his work at Signficant72.com.[iii] It's here where you can learn more about Greg's Relationship Mindset Movement, his book, tools, and resources to improve student-teacher relationships in the classroom. Relationships are also one of the six social and emotional competencies that we built our podcast framework upon, knowing how important relationship skills are for our well-being and future success. “Social relationships—both quantity and quality—affect mental health, health behavior, physical health, and (even our) mortality risk.”[iv] If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[v], look to see if Relationships and Authenticity (in Pathway 6, our final pathway in this book study) along with biases, trust and empathy is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. I was not surprised to see this pathway is a high area of focus for me. While we have covered relationship building often on this podcast, the one topic we have NOT covered yet is authenticity. This is interesting timing for me, as I'm currently reading a book by a good friend, Mohammed Issa[vi], where he covers the topic of authenticity, in depth. It's the title of chapter 8 of his forthcoming book, The Midlife Shift[vii] (Reclaiming My Authenticity). I remember years before Mo wrote this book, I could tell he was thinking deeply about this topic. In 2021 he sent me a message, and asked me “what does living an authentic life mean to you?” I take questions from Mo seriously over the years. I know he's not messing around. I can go back to my notes from 2021 and I can see that I wrote a few pages of “what authenticity means to me.” These notes are important for today's episode, and when we meet with Mo the middle of next month. I wrote: Authenticity: is being genuine or real. What's authentic for me personally—it's living life according to my values. And this takes ongoing refinement. I know what's important and what drives me daily (health is at the top of my value chart, and I'd never compromise it—it's first, what I focus on the minute I wake up, and close my eyes at the end of each day). Living life authentically for me, is putting health as my backbone of strength, which I've found helps me to skyrocket my personal and professional life. It's been this way for me, for as long as I can remember. Living an authentic original life: means living who I am by design. After health, I prioritize what unique expressions I want in my life—growth/challenge (come next) and these things that I value make me authentic/and uniquely me. I have to fight for these values in my life—to go after them, and keep them at my forefront, because only I know what's best for me here. If I'm not putting health first, (for myself and my family) or learning, growing, researching, and then disseminating/sharing what I've learned, I'm not living my true authentic self. It will hurt my productivity if I compromise who I am, at this granular level. I took some time off from producing episodes earlier this year, and while it was great to have this extra time, I ended up using this time for things that didn't truly make me happy at the soul level, like this work does. What about you? What does authenticity mean to you? How do you know when you are living a truly authentic life? It's eye-opening once we know this about ourselves, so we can course correct, when we veer off this path of authenticity. Do you know what is special about you? What are your unique gift/talent that makes you stand out from others? A talent that you know deep inside that you must keep working and perfecting, as it's this talent that awakens your aliveness? I love how Mo Issa defines authenticity, which shows up as a theme in all his books. After years of self-reflection, Mo believes that “true authenticity means being ourselves—not an imitation of what we think we should be or what others want us to be. We all have a unique gift, and we must find and nurture it.” (Mo Issa, The Shift). Getting back to Chapter 15 of Grant Bosnick's book; what does he have to say about being authentic? Bosnick says that before we can build authentic relationships with others, he has us consider what authenticity means to us first. He says that being authentic is: “being real, being honest and true with yourself, being vulnerable, letting go of your own ego, looking not only at what you like about yourself, but also the “darker part that can be improved or changed (I've heard this called our “shadow work”) and having the courage, humility, and discipline to take a hard look in the mirror at who you are.” (Chapter 15, Relationships, Bosnick). Bosnick covers what holds us back from being authentic and he lists: “fear of being vulnerable, fear of rejection, fear of judgment, fear of abandonment, competitiveness, insecurity, self-protection, jealousy, fear of not being good enough” well I pretty much resonated with the entire list. Some of his list more than others, but right up there, for me, would be “fear of not being good enough” which I've been working on for the past 25 years. When I let go, finally, of caring what other people think of me, it was probably the most freeing experience I've ever felt. Sure, it's nice to be liked by others, but also, to know that not everyone will connect with who I am, the authentic me, and to let go of caring about that, is freeing. Being Authentic: What does this mean to you? Do any of the items on Bosnick's list keep you from being truly authentic?  He asks us some reflection questions: What might be holding you back from being truly authentic? What can you do, even small steps, to help you feel more comfortable with being who you are? Being truly authentic? Being Fake or Superficial Bosnick goes on to describe why some people show up as fake or superficial. I always think of the character Eddie Haskel from the TV Show Leave it to Beaver when I'm thinking of a “fake” person. He was always trying to impress Mrs. Cleaver, and he came across as insincere. We can all spot people like this, and Bosnick reminds us of why people can come across this way. He says that “it's in our comfort zone, we want to be liked, it's easier, our ego gets in the way (and that change can be difficult) when we don't have the courage, humility and discipline needed to take a hard look in the mirror at who we are.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 177). What are some reasons for not being authentic? Bosnick thinks “insecurity, jealousy, inner competitiveness, fear, self-protection” can keep us from not showing others our true selves, and in turn, we can appear fake or superficial. Brene Brown writes about The Power of Vulnerability[viii] as the “birthplace of joy, belonging, authenticity and love” in her 2012 book, with suggestions for how to prevent us from appearing fake in this process. Her book teaches us “how to practice courage, and accept imperfection, to embrace vulnerability and acknowledge our fears.”[ix] She dives into exploring the power of authenticity, of being true to our feelings, thoughts, and actions as the backbone to living an authentic life. With this in mind, going back to Bosnick's book, he mentions that he struggled with being vulnerable, with letting others see his true authentic self, and felt he needed to protect himself, but when he “let people see the real me. It was so rewarding and felt so good (and) freeing (so he then) decided to have the courage to be authentic and real.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 177) He was fully aware that some people might not like him, but he knew that was ok, as he knew he would build the right relationships, with those who did. Reflection on Being Authentic He then asks the reader to reflect: What holds you back from truly being authentic? How can you become more comfortable with being authentic? I went back to Mo Issa's definition that we covered in the beginning of this episode that “true authenticity means being ourselves—not an imitation of what we think we should be or what others want us to be. We all have a unique gift, and we must find and nurture it.” (Mo Issa, The Shift). We will go deeper into Mo Issa's work when we meet with him next month, but I think that this is what we are supposed to discover about ourselves (FIRST) through self-awareness, and only then, (once we are clear on who we are) can we build more authentic relationships with others. To close out Bosnick's chapter 15, on relationships and authenticity, he does cover being self-focused vs other-focused, valuing differences, overcoming our own egos, and putting other people first, which was the theme of Simon Sinek's famous book, Leaders Eat Last.[x] Simon Sinek penned this book when he noticed that some teams trusted each other so deeply that they would literally put their lives on the line for each other. Other teams, no matter what incentives were offered, were doomed to infighting, fragmentation and failure. Why Sinek wondered? Well, the answer became clear during a conversation with a Marine Corps general who said "Officers eat last." Sinek watched as the most junior Marines ate first while the most senior Marines took their place at the back of the line. Great leaders sacrifice their own comfort--even their own survival--for the good of those in their care. Bosnick calls this “other focused” and reminds us that “in order to build truly authentic relationships, we need to overcome our own ego and put others first.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 182). Bosnick does cover the different needs of extroverts and introverts, that we have covered on EP 186[xi] as well as different behavioral styles that can help us to learn how to better interact with other people who have different “styles” than we do. The Neuroscience of Our Social Brain To close out chapter 15, Bosnick goes into the Neuroscience of Our “Social Brain” and covers the story of the famous Phineas Gage, Neuroscience's Most Famous Patient.[xii]  Without going too deep into the neuroscience, Bosnick explains that “we have two systems in our brain: the X-system and the C-system. The X-system (or reflexive system) is automatic, responsive, like/dislike, reward/threat. Since this part of our brain is non-thinking, it's not affected by our mental load. The C-system (or reflective system) is controlled, conscious, with executive function and executive control.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). Motivation and effort are required to engage this part of the brain, and it can be affected by our mental load. X-system (reflexive)=automatic C-system (reflective) =we need motivation and effort to activate The story of Phineas Gage goes like this: “in 1948 in the United States, (he) survived a blast while building a railroad, which shot a tamping iron through the front part of his brain. Remarkably, he survived. However, his behavior had changed. Where before, he was a mild-tempered, respecting person, his behavior was now to seek reward without consequences, operating only by habit, (and he turned) rude…He destroyed the C-system, (his controlled thinking) operating on X-system only. In other words, he had no control over his automatic, reflexive system, and his behavior became unbearable as a result. He treated everybody as an object for his own personal reward.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). The C-system, (that requires motivation and effort to activate) Bosnick explains, is important for self-reflection and understanding self/other relations and occurs in the front (middle) part of our brain. We know this part of our brain as the Default Mode Network[xiii], and the part of our brain where we take breaks for creativity, thinking and learning to occur. He adds to our understanding here by saying that “when the brain is at a resting state, this specific system kicks in, which is focused around social understanding (thinking about yourself, others' thoughts, others' actions etc.).” Bosnick reminds us to “stare out the window and do nothing and (says) your life will thank you, and it will help you to build more authentic relationships. This was the whole idea behind EP 48[xiv], on Using Brain Network Theory to Stay Productive During Times of Chaos. Bosnick Reminds Us to Go Slow to Go Fast I can't even tell you how many times I have heard the phrase “go slow, to go fast” this week, and here it is at the end of chapter 15. Bosnick says that “in order to build truly authentic relationships with people, we need to go slow, to go fast.” He suggests that we “slow down the conversation with people, truly listen to them empathetically and be fully present with them. This will build the relationship to be deeper…go slow with the conversation and communication in order to go fast with the depth of the relationship.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 187). Reflection Activity: Building More Authentic Relationships Bosnick suggests the following reflection activity for building more authentic relationships. Think of a person in your business, or personal life, that you would like to build a more authentic relationship with. How would you describe them? Are they introverted/extroverted? What are their behavior styles? How do they approach authenticity and relationships? Let your brain go into your Default Mode Network. Stare out of a window and think: what could you do to build a more authentic relationship with each of the people you are thinking of? How can you go slow to go fast? I will add one final step, that came from the quote from Mo Issa and suggest that once we have done the work ourselves, and know what makes us truly authentic, we know our own unique gifts and talents, and we continue to nurture and grow them, we can next look outward, and recognize the unique talents and gifts in others. We covered this practice extensively on EP 214 with Dr. Marie Gervais[xv], by learning to see the “spirit” in others. I'm confident that by practicing these steps, with each person we want to build a deeper, more authentic relationship with, (whether in our personal or professional lives) that we will notice strides of improvement, once we have identified and appreciated our own authenticity and uniqueness. Then, we can recognize it in others for the magic to occur.  REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #345 on “The Neuroscience of Relationships and Authenticity” we covered: ✔ Mo Issa's definition of authenticity from his book The Shift: How to Awaken the Aliveness from Within Mo believes that “true authenticity means being ourselves—not an imitation of what we think we should be or what others want us to be. We all have a unique gift, and we must find and nurture it.” (Mo Issa, The Shift). ✔ Andrea's reflection from 2021 when Mo Issa asked her “what does authenticity mean to you?” What's authentic for me—it's living life according to my values. Living who I am by design. If I'm not putting health first, (for myself and my family) or learning, growing, researching, and then disseminating/sharing what I've learned, I'm not living my true authentic self. It will hurt my productivity if I compromise who I am, at this granular level. ✔ We ask the reader to consider: What makes YOU authentic? ✔ How do you know when you are living a truly authentic life? ✔ Have you identified your unique gifts or talents that make you stand out from others? ✔ Do you know what might be holding you back from being truly authentic? ✔ The Neuroscience of Our Social Brain “We have two systems in our brain: the X-system and the C-system. The X-system (or reflexive system) is automatic, responsive, like/dislike, reward/threat. The C-system (or reflective system) is controlled, conscious, with executive function and executive control.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). Motivation and effort are required to engage this part of the brain. The story of Phineas Gage who destroyed the C-system, in his brain and was operating on X-system only. In other words he had no control over his automatic, reflexive system, and his behavior became unbearable as a result. The C-system, (that requires motivation and effort to activate) we learned, is important for self-reflection and understanding self/other. We know this part of our brain as the Default Mode Network[xvi], and the part of our brain where we take breaks for creativity, thinking and learning to occur. “When the brain is at a resting state, this specific system kicks in, which is focused around social understanding (thinking about yourself, others' thoughts, others' actions etc.).” We learned to get into this resting state by “staring out of a window and do nothing (except reflecting on what else we can do to improve our relationships) and this knowledge that we uncover will help us to build more authentic relationships. We learned to slow down the conversation with people, truly listen to them empathetically and be fully present with them. This will build the relationship to be deeper…go slow with the conversation and communication in order to go fast with the depth of the relationship.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). ✔ 4 Steps to Building More Authentic Relationships Think of a person in your business, or personal life, that you would like to build a more authentic relationship with. Get to know them on a deeper level. How would you describe them? Are they introverted/extroverted? How do they approach authenticity and relationships? Let your brain go into your Default Mode Network. Stare out of a window and think: what could you do to build a more authentic relationship with each of the people you are thinking of? How can you go slow with your conversation to go fast with the depth of the relationship? And finally, we looked at the quote from Mo Issa that suggests that once we have done the work ourselves, and know what makes us truly authentic, once we know our own unique gifts and talents, and we continue to nurture and grow them, next, we can look outward, and recognize the unique talents and gifts in others. I will close out this episode with a quote from Mo Issa's second book, The Shift that says “we all have a primal need to belong—a human urge to be part of something larger than us. We fulfill that need when we connect authentically to exchange energy and feel seen, heard and valued.” (Mo Issa) Let me know what you think. Did this episode help you to improve your authenticity, and deepen your relationships? I know this episode will take time to practice and refine. It's taken me my lifetime so far to fully embrace my unique talents and gifts, where I recognize my own authenticity. Now I've got the rest of my life to take this understanding and help me to build stronger, deeper relationships with others. And with that thought, I'll see you next time where we will cover chapter 16 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, on biases. REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/ [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #7 with Greg Wolcott on “Building Relationships in Today's Classrooms”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/greg-wolcott-on-building-relationships-in-todays-classrooms/ [iii] www.significant72.com [iv] Social Relationships and Health:  A Flashpoint for Health Policy Published August 4, 2011, by Debra Umberson and Jennifer Karas Montez  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150158/ [v] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/ [vi] www.mo-issa.com   [vii] The Midlife Shift by Mo Issa https://www.mo-issa.com/book (COMING SOON). [viii] The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Power-of-Vulnerability-Audiobook/ [ix] The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/the-power-of-vulnerability-en [x] Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek 2014, https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others/dp/1591845327 [xi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 186 on “Using Neuroscience to Understand the Introverted vs Extroverted Brain” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-using-neuroscience-to-understand-the-introverted-and-extroverted-brain/ [xii]Phineas Gage, Neuroscience's Most Famous Patient https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/phineas-gage-neurosciences-most-famous-patient-11390067/ [xiii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #48 “Brain Network Theory” https://www.achieveit360.com/brain-network-theory-using-neuroscience-to-stay-productive-during-times-of-change-and-chaos/ [xiv] IBID [xv]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #214 on “The Spirit of Work: Connecting Science and Business Practices and Sacred Texts for a Happier and Healthier Workplace”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/marie-gervais-phd-on-the-spirit-of-work-connecting-science-business-practices-and-sacred-texts-for-a-happier-and-more-productive-workplace/ [xvi] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #48 “Brain Network Theory” https://www.achieveit360.com/brain-network-theory-using-neuroscience-to-stay-productive-during-times-of-change-and-chaos/    

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity, and results using practical neuroscience. In Episode 344, we continue with our 18-week self-leadership series, diving into Chapter 14 of Grant Bosnick's book to explore the neuroscience of resiliency. We revisit past episodes with Horacio Sanchez to understand the factors that contribute to resilience and discuss the intriguing analogies presented by Bosnick, including the donkey in the well and the carrot, egg, and coffee bean story. Learn how to build resilience within yourself and your teams by focusing on Patrick Lencioni's five functions of a high-performing team. Discover how developing willpower, a crucial faculty of the mind, can enhance your ability to overcome adversity. We also delve into new research on the anterior mid-cingulate cortex, a brain region associated with willpower and resilience. Join us as we uncover strategies to harness resilience, strengthen our brains, and emerge stronger from life's challenges. Don't miss this insightful episode that equips you with the tools to face adversity head-on and lead with resilience. On today's EPISODE #344 “The Neuroscience of Resilience: Building Stronger Minds and Teams” we will cover: ✔ A review of past EP 74 and EP 286 on “Building Resiliency, Grit and Mental Toughness” ✔ A review of Horacio Sanchez's work on resiliency: protective vs risk factors. ✔ Ch. 14 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership book with 2 intriguing analogies presented by Bosnick, including the donkey in the well and the carrot, egg, and coffee bean story. ✔ Learn how to build resilience within yourself and your teams by focusing on Patrick Lencioni's five functions of a high-performing team. Discover how developing willpower, a crucial faculty of the mind, can enhance your ability to overcome adversity. ✔ Discover how developing willpower, a crucial faculty of the mind, can enhance your ability to overcome adversity. ✔ We also delve into new research on the anterior mid-cingulate cortex, a brain region associated with willpower and resilience. For Today, EPISODE #344, we are moving on to Chapter 14, reviewing “The Neuroscience of Resiliency,” a topic we have covered a few times on this podcast, way back with Horacio Sanchez, who named his Educational Consulting Business Resiliency Inc. back on EP #74[i] and then we did a deep dive Brain Fact Friday on EP #286 “Building Resiliency, Grit and Mental Toughness.”[ii] On this episode we reviewed Horacio Sanchez's definition of resiliency as “a collection of protective risk factors that you have in your life” and that there are some factors we are born with, and others come in through childhood, family, school, life events and social experiences. Horacio reminds us that “if you have little risk, it takes less to be resilient. But—if you have a lot of risk, it takes a lot more protective factors to offset the scale.”  This is why two people can possibly respond in two completely different ways after a traumatic experience. One person walks away, dusts themselves off, and recovers quickly, (they had more reservoirs of resilience to tap into) while the other has a completely different outcome, and needs more assistance to get back on track. With resiliency, we can overcome adversity or difficulty and have good outcomes in our life, but you can see why not everyone is born with exactly the same protective factors needed, so we don't all have the same levels of resiliency. Horacio mentioned that “25% of the population are naturally resilient” and his work focuses on instilling this trait in those who are not naturally resilient due to the number of risk factors associated to them. To this day, he continues with his mission, flying around the country, helping our next generation of students to become more resilient. Resiliency came out as a low priority for me with the with 0% (Pathway 5) along with Change and Agility, and it makes more sense to me now that I understand the protective and risk factors that I faced growing up as a child, from my family, from school, life and social events. When I review the list, I can see that I was fortunate to have more protective factors, than risk.   IMAGE FROM EP 74 with Horacio Sanchez. If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[iii], look to see if Resilience (in Pathway 5) along with change and agility, is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. If you haven't listened to EP 74, or 286, where we dove deeper into the building resiliency, grit and mental toughness, I highly encourage that you listen to both of these episodes, in addition to what we will uncover today on resiliency.   So what does Grant Bosnick have to say about building resilience in ourselves, and our teams in chapter 14 of his book? He opens up the chapter with a situation with a farmer and his donkey, who had fallen into a hole in the ground, (a well) and couldn't get out. Finally, after trying to get the donkey out, he gave up, and decided to shovel dirt into the well, since the donkey was old, and not worth saving. At first Grant writes that the donkey cried with the dirt being shoveled onto him, until he eventually stopped and was quiet. When the farmer looked into the hole he was amazed at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt, the donkey would shake it off his back, and use the dirt to climb up higher, until he was able to easily step out of the hole and trot off happily. What Grant is showing us at the start of this chapter is that we all will have dirt shoveled on our backs in our life, and “that we can either get buried in the dirt or shake it off and take a step up. Each adversity we face is a stepping stone, and we can get out of the deepest wells by shaking off the dirt and taking a step up.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 160). There was another analogy in Grant's book that I liked, about a carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee.  The story went like this. There was a young woman who went to her mother one day, complaining the things were difficult for her with her life. Her mother took her into the kitchen and filled three pots with water, and placed them on the elements, bringing each one to a boil. One pot she placed carrots in, the second, an egg and the third one, coffee beans. After 20 minutes, she asked her daughter what she saw. Her mother's explanation was eye-opening. She explained to her daughter that “each of these objects faced the same adversity—boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it was softer and became weak. The egg was fragile…but after being in the boiling water, it's inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. (Bosnick writes that) after being in the boiling water, they changed the water…(and the mother asked her daughter) when adversity faces you, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 161). Grant asks the reader of his book to think about this question. Which one would you pick? “Are you the carrot that seems strong but with pain and adversity (wilted) and became soft, losing its strength? Are you the egg that starts with a soft heart, but hardens with the heat? Or are you like the coffee bean that actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that (brought) the pain?” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 161). I'm hoping that we all desire to experience change with the adversity we face. Bosnick gives two real-life examples of famous people who took their pain, and changed for the better, because of it. Terry Fox, a distance runner from British Columbia, Canada was his first example and Kawhi (Ka-why) Leonard, a professional basketball player from the NBA. You can look up these stories, if you don't know them already. Growing up in Canada, I remember Terry Fox's story well. Terry Fox took the pain of a cancer diagnosis that led to one of his legs being amputated and replaced with an artificial leg, and rather than giving up, or becoming hard or soft, he changed the situation with his Marathon of Hope.  It was “first held in 1981, and has now grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research, with over $750 million Canadian dollars raised in his name.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 162). Bosnick reminds us that “resilience is not only about bouncing back from adversity, but rather it is about surviving and thriving through the stress caused by the adversity, and changing our situation to make it better.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 162). Building Resilience in Ourselves and Then with Our Teams After Bosnick focused on building resilience in ourselves, he went on to show how to build resilience in our teams, and he mentioned a book, that we have recently talked about with mediation expert John Ford, from EP 340.[iv]   I love making connections with past episodes, and when I read Bosnick mention The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni[v], I went straight back to that episode with John Ford. In chapter 14, Bosnick outlines “the five dysfunctions of teams: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results. (Next he outlines) the five functions of a high performing team: trust, absence of fear of conflict, commitment, accountability and attention to results.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 170). Bosnick writes that “when we feel accountable and have attention to results, we adopt a mindset or attitude of control, which enables us to take direct, hands-on action to transform changes, adversities and the problems that they may cause…If we believe that we can influence the outcome of an adverse situation, we are more apt to push ourselves to deal with it. If the opposite is true, we may question our ability to turn adversity around and stop trying.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 171). When I think of a recent time that I faced adversity, and had to be resilient in the process, if I didn't think it would be possible for me to be successful, there is no way I would have persevered. Each individual on a team must have this mindset, as they go through change and adversity. The focus must be on Lencioni's work: “building a high functioning team—with trust, absence of fear of conflict, commitment, accountability and attention to results—(that) will lead to proactive behaviors and increase our own (personal) resilience and the resilience in our team.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 171). Bosnick offers a reflection activity in Chapter 14 where he asks the reader to: Think of an adverse situation that you are facing at the moment (could be in your work or personal life). Consider how this situation is making you feel. I'm going to add that if you feel like the situation is in control of you, then you are not going to win. You' ve got to be confident that YOU are in control of whatever it is that you are going through. How can you adopt a more prosocial mindset to see the adversity as opportunity to make things better for yourself and others? Thinking of the carrots, the egg and the coffee bean. What will it take to get you to become the coffee bean? How can you help yourself and your team to be more high functioning? Thinking of Lencioni's 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, how will you help your team to move towards trust, absence of fear of conflict, commitment, accountability and attention to results? Developing Our Will to Overcome Adversity:  What will it REALLY take for you to become more resilient and overcome adversity? It will take a highly developed Will Power. We have talked about how to develop this faculty of our mind on EP #294[vi] where we dove deep into the 6 Faculties of our Mind, with our Will Power being one of them. I do highly recommend listening to this episode if you want to review these important faculties. Since I can always use a refresher myself, I'll highlight what we covered on this important faculty that we will need to develop, to overcome adversity. YOUR WILL: This is one of my favorite faculties. (out of the 6: along with our ability to reason, use our intuition, perception, memory and imagination). This one (The use of the Will) gives you the ability to concentrate. While sitting down to write this episode, I've gotten up from my desk a few times, but I'm determined to finish writing this, so I can record and release this today. That's the will at work. You can also use the will to hold a thought on the screen of your mind, or choose thoughts of success, over thoughts of failure. OR-use the power of your Will to overcome the adversity you face, like Terry Fox, or Kawhi (Ka-why) Leonard. If you have a highly evolved will, you'll lock into doing something, block out all distractions, and accomplish what you set out to do. HOW TO DEVELOP THIS FACULTY TO OVERCOME CHALLENGE OR ADVERSITY? Developing the will takes practice. Meditation can strengthen your will, but so can staring at a candle flame until you and the flame become one. I tried this activity in my late 20s, and remember it was a few hours of staring at this candle flame, before I was able to block out the distractions of the outside world, and the flame extended towards me.  This faculty, like the others, takes time and practice, but once you've developed this faculty, you'll know you have the ability to sit, focus, and do anything. An extension of this activity would be that once you and the flame have become one, try to change the color of the flame. In your head say “blue, blue, blue” and watch the color of the flame turn to blue. Pick a different color and see if you can quickly change the color of the flame from blue, to red, to orange, to whatever color you think of.” This activity will strengthen your will. BRINGING IN THE NEUROSCIENCE: It was here that I wondered what neuroscience has to say about this topic. We have covered The Neuroscience of Resiliency on past episodes, but we have not yet covered some new research that Dr. Andrew Huberman discovered this past year about what happens to our brain when we have a highly developed Will Power, that we will need to overcome adversity and challenge. This new research actually made famous scientist jump out of his chair. DID YOU KNOW that there is a part of the brain called “the Anterior mid cingulate cortex. This area is not just one of the seats of willpower but scientists think it holds the secret in “the will to live?”[vii] When I first heard about this part of the brain, I knew it was important for overcoming adversity, and helping us to become more resilient. Scientists discovered that this part in the brain increases in size when we do something we don't want do, like exercising when we would rather not, or diet or resist eating something we know is bad for us, when we would rather eat the old way. Dr. Huberman shared on this eye-opening episode with his guest, David Goggins that “when people do anything that they don't want to do, it's not about adding more work, it's about adding more work that you don't want to do, this brain area gets bigger.” This part of the brain is larger in athletes, larger in people who overcome challenge, and as long as people continue to “do difficult things” this area of the brain keeps its size. To me, this shows that building resilience in ourselves and our teams is not just good for whatever challenge we are looking to overcome, but we are building stronger, more resilient brains: specifically, stronger anterior mid cingulate cortexes. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #344 on “The Neuroscience Behind Building Resilience in Yourself and Your Teams” we covered: A review of EP 74 and 286 where we covered the Neuroscience of Resilience with Horacio Sanchez's work reminding us that our protective or risk factors in our lifetime, will determine how resilient we will be in our life. While 25% of the population are naturally resilient, Horacio asserts that “if you have little risk, it takes less to be resilient. But—if you have a lot of risk, it takes a lot more protective factors to offset the scale.” Horacio has dedicated his life to helping our next generation become more resilient. Next we looked at Grant Bosnick's book, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership (Chapter 14) where he gave us the analogy of the donkey who fell into the well, and demonstrated resiliency when he used the dirt shoveled on him, to climb out. This example taught us that we all will have dirt shoveled on our backs in our life, and “that we can either get buried in the dirt or shake it off and take a step up. Each adversity we face is a stepping stone, and we can get out of the deepest wells by shaking off the dirt and taking a step up.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 160). Another analogy we learned was through the mother and daughter story, and that when adversity faces you, Bosnick asks us to reflect. “Are you the carrot that seems strong but with pain and adversity (wilted) and became soft, losing its strength? Are you the egg that starts with a soft heart, but hardens with the heat? Or are you like the coffee bean that actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that (brought) the pain?” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 161). I'm hoping that we all desire to experience change with the adversity we face, like the coffee bean. After learning about building resiliency in ourselves, we learned about building resiliency within our teams, and looked at Patrick Lencioni's The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. The absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results. Then we learned to turn this around, using the five functions of a high performing team: trust, absence of fear of conflict, commitment, accountability and attention to results.” (Chapter 14, Resilience, Bosnick, Page 170). Then we looked at how we develop resiliency, using our Will Power from EP 294 where I shared an activity to strengthen this faculty of our mind either through meditation, or with an activity of staring at a candle flame, and with time, effort and sheer will power, blocking out everything else around you, until you and the candle flame become one. Finally, we looked at the fascinating new neuroscience behind the part of our brain (the anterior mid cingulate cortex) that becomes bigger when we use our will power to do those things we don't want to do. Scientists believe this ability to use our will power to do difficult things, which builds our resiliency, is what's really behind the will to live. I hope you've found this episode on building resilience in yourself and your teams as valuable as I have, and that when challenge comes our way in the future, that we continue to lean into it, using every ounce of our will power, and become a coffee bean, emerging stronger than the challenge we faced, and knowing that this process is building a part of our brain (our anterior mid cingulate cortex) to be bigger, helping us to continue to do difficult things in our future. With that thought, I'll close out this episode and see you next time, with two interviews coming, to help us to continue to build stronger versions of ourselves this year. I'll see you next week. REFERENCES:   [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #74 with Horacio Sanchez on “How to Apply Brain Science to Improve Instruction and School Climate” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/leading-brain-science-and-resiliency-expert-horatio-sanchez-on-how-to-apply-brain-science-to-improve-instruction-and-school-climate/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #286 on “Building Resiliency, Grit and Mental Toughness”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-building-resiliency-grit-and-mental-toughness/   [iii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #340 “Navigating Workplace Conflicts: Insights from a Mediation Expert, John Ford”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/navigating-workplace-conflicts-insights-from-a-mediation-expert/   [v] The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni Published April 11, 2002 https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756   [vi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #294 “Beyond Our 5 Senses: Using the 6 Faculties of our Mind” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/beyond-our-5-senses-understanding-and-using-the-six-higher-faculties-of-our-mind/   [vii] How to Build Will Power Dr. Andrew Huberman with David Goggins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84dYijIpWjQ        

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast! In episode #343, host Andrea Samadi interviews Dr. Sui Wong, a renowned neurologist and neuro-ophthalmologist based in London, UK. With over 110 peer-reviewed publications and extensive research in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Dr. Wong shares her holistic approach to improving brain health and patient outcomes. Discover the science behind visual snow syndrome, the impact of lifestyle-specific interventions, and the connection between eye health and neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Dr. Wong also delves into the importance of mindfulness, nutrition, sleep, and a balanced lifestyle in enhancing overall well-being. Join us for an insightful conversation that bridges neuroscience with practical strategies for everyday life. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable insights and actionable tips to help you thrive. Welcome, Dr. Sui Wong! Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/GwR82IYJTbE EPISODE #343 with Dr. Sui Wong on “Unlocking Brain Health: Insights from a Leading Neuro-Ophlamologist we will cover: ✔ Dr. Sui Wong's career path in medicine, that led her to write 4 books to help her patients (and the world) improve their brain health. ✔ How understanding our eye health can help us to prevent neurological disorders (like Alzheimer's Disease) in the future. ✔ What we should all understand about our eye health for improved health and longevity. ✔ What common neuro-ophthalmology cases she sees. ✔ Why did she introduce Mindfulness into a study on Visual Snow Syndrome? ✔ What would Dr. Wong add to our list of Top 6 Health Staples? ✔ How to learn from Dr. Wong, and find her books.   On today's episode #343 we meet with Dr. Sui H. Wong, a Neurologist and Neuro-Ophthalmologist based in London, United Kingdom. In addition to her clinical work as a medical doctor and physician, Dr. Wong is an active neuroscience researcher, who translates pertinent and clinically relevant questions into research, to improve person-centred patient outcomes. Additionally, she has the qualifications and experience to consider a broader spectrum of lifestyle-specific interventions. Dr Wong's holistic approach in empowering patients has been recognized with many awards, and this is just the beginning for her. When I was introduced to Dr. Wong, an active neuroscience researcher with a mission of translating important clinically relevant questions into research for improved person-centred patient outcomes, I knew I had to speak with her. She is a widely published author and researcher with over 110+ peer-reviewed publications in medical journals, chapters and conference abstracts, to date.  I looked at the articles Dr. Wong has published, and one caught my eye. She's done extensive research that you can find in Ophthalmology Journals, like a recent article that I'm going to paraphrase, but it was called Visual Snow Syndrome (which is a neurological condition where individuals see persistent flickering white, black, transparent or colored dots across the whole visual field) After Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.[i] We have spent some time on this podcast walking through Pubmed.gov, and if you go there, and put Mindfulness into the search bar, you will come up with over 30,000 results. Let's meet Dr. Sui Wong, and see what we can learn from her decades of research and her thoughts on what lifestyle-specific interventions she recommends. Welcome Dr. Wong, thank you for coming on the podcast today, and meeting me, all the way from the UK (where I was born)(Worthing, Sussex). Welcome. Q1: Can you give us an overview of why you chose this path and ended up in Neuro-Ophthalmology with an explanation of what you do with your work? Q2: How can understanding our eye health help us to prevent neurological disorders in the future? We've covered Alzheimer's Prevention strategies and I wonder what you would with the importance of our brain health? Q3: I listened to a recent podcast you did on Neuro Podcases and while I don't have a case for you, I'll tell you I had a scary eye experience years ago? It turned out to be an ocular migraine, but I seriously thought I was going blind. Before I spoke to my doctor, I had no idea what this was, and that it was nothing to worry about. What do you recommend we ALL learn and understand about our eye health for improved health and longevity? Q3B: Is there a connection between migraines in our head, and our gut-brain axis? Q4: What are some common neuro-ophthalmology cases you see? Q5: I looked at your research and one of your publications drew my attention. It was the Visual Snow Syndrome study that improved with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Since we talk about Mindfulness often on this podcast, can you share what this study revealed? What can we all take away from the power of Mindfulness? Q6: What advice would you give us outside of this list that we've created from all our interviews, of the TOP 6 health staples to boost our physical, and mental heath, helping us to age gracefully, and how much of our health do you think has to do our brain health? Q7: For people to reach you, what is the best way? What services do you provide? Q8: Anything I have missed? Dr. Wong, I want to thank you for your time, meeting with me today, and helping us to all make the connection with our brain health, and longevity. RESOURCES AND CONNECT WITH DR. SUI WONG Thursday Tips-Bitesize brain health tips to thrive:  bit.ly/drwongbrainhealth Website for Dr. Wong's books: https://www.drsuiwongmd.com/books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsuiwong.neurologist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sui-wong-neurologist/ Mindfulness for Brain Health (in paperback/ hardcover/ Kindle/ audiobook) https://books2read.com/u/4XNXAg Break Free from Migraines Naturally (in paperback/ hardcover/ Kindle/ audiobook) https://books2read.com/u/bwgG5Z Sleep Better to Thrive (in paperback/ Kindle/ audiobook) books2read.com/u/mv0XQ2 Quit Ultra-Processed Foods Now (in paperback/ Kindle/ audiobook) https://books2read.com/u/m27M21 Email office@neuroeye.co.uk REFERENCES: [i] Visual Snow Syndrome Improves with Modulation of Resting-State Functional MRI Connectivity After Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy published by Sui H Wong, et al, March 2024  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37967050/    

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast! In episode 342, we continue our 18-week self-leadership series inspired by Grant Bosnick's book, diving deep into Chapter 13, which focuses on the neuroscience of agility. Join Andrea Samadi as she explores how physical and mental agility play critical roles in our ability to handle sudden changes and stressors. Discover practical strategies to enhance your mental agility, build resilience, and thrive in the face of adversity. This episode not only highlights the importance of maintaining physical fitness but also delves into the science behind mental flexibility. Learn how to identify and manage your stressors, strengthen your neural pathways, and become anti-fragile in both your personal and professional life. Stay tuned for insights from neuroscientist Tara Swart and actionable tips to improve your brain's agility, ensuring you are better prepared to navigate life's challenges. Don't miss this enlightening episode and the upcoming interview with Dr. Sui Wong on resilience! On today's episode #342 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. So far, it's taken us 8 months to cover the first 13 chapters thoroughly, and we still have 6 chapters to go.  After this week on agility, we have chapter 14 on resilience, 15 on relationships and authenticity, 16 on biases, 17 on trust, 18 on empathy and the final chapter 19 (and one of my target areas to focus on this year), the topic of presence. When we finish each of these chapters, we will put them all together, with a review of each one, in one place. It really has surprised me that a thorough study of this book will take the entire year to complete. On today's EPISODE #342 we will cover: ✔ The Neuroscience of Mental and Physical Agility ✔ An overview of our personal and professional stressors ✔ Why being antifragile can help us overcome life's obstacles and challenges ✔ Characteristics of an Agile Brain ✔ 6 Pathways of an Agile Brain ✔ 4 STEPS to Developing an Agile Brain for Future Problem Solving Success For Today, EPISODE #342, we are moving on to Chapter 13, covering “The Neuroscience of Agility” which came out as a low priority for me with the with 0% (Pathway 5) along with Change and Resilience. If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[ii], look to see if Agility (in Pathway 5) along with change and resilience, is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. I was surprised to see this topic showing up with a low priority, not because this topic is something that I don't think about daily, but it was when I read the first few paragraphs of Grant Bosnick's chapter 13, on Agility, where I was reminded that we are talking about physical agility, in addition to mental agility, and as I'm getting older, I notice this area requires extra effort to stay on top of. While the self-assessment says this is not an area of focus for me, it's one of my TOP priorities at the moment. Grant Bosnick opens up this chapter by talking about a basketball player who pivots by “maintaining one foot having contact with the ground without changing its position on the floor and utilizes the other foot to rotate their body to improve position while in possession of the basketball. In life and business, when we are faced with a change or challenge immediately in front of us (Bosnick says) it is the same.” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). He reminds us that “in basketball, to be agile and pivot, a player needs to be physically fit and have strong ankles, otherwise they may injure themselves in the moment of stopping suddenly. Reading this paragraph took me back to my 20s when I was a teacher in Toronto. I loved basketball. So much so that I spent some of my weekends being trained as a basketball coach where I learned drills directly from one of the Toronto Raptor's coaches themselves. I remember taking these drills to a boy's PE class, and watched in amazement at the skill of these young men, playing a sport, where I honestly thought there were players in that PE class who should have gone pro. I watched them pivot, and move in ways that I knew I never could. One student worked with me after class, trying to teach me to walk and pass the ball through my legs at the same time, and after an hour, I just gave up. It took these young athletes many years of practice outside of their gym time to develop these skills. Thinking back now, to those days, a few decades later, I know that while I don't have the same physical agility as I did years ago, and I definitely can't walk and pass a basketball through my legs at the same time, I still put exercise at the top of my list, and know that when I put in the time here, this helps (not hurts) my ability to pivot maybe not like those basketball players, but enough to be prepared physically, to handle sudden change that inevitably will come my way in life. And while I know that we can't all be at the same level physically, (depending on the amount of time we can dedicate here) we ALL have the same advantage when it comes to the ability to strengthen our mental agility. This is where Grant Bosnick takes us in his book, reminding us that “in business or life, when we are faced with a challenge or a change that makes us stop suddenly in our course of action. At that moment, we need to have mental agility to be strong in that moment… (reminding us that) we all face stressors and challenges in life. We need to push through, adapt and thrive in the moment, so that we can pivot, see the opportunities and come out even stronger on the other side.” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Page 145) Stressors and Triggers Bosnick covers “various stressors or triggers that may cause us to stop our course of action (with) ways to improve our mental agility and ability to pivot.” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Page 145). On Table 13.1 Bosnick lists common stressors in the workplace, in our personal lives and I think he's got ALL of the stressors covered. I looked at what is currently stressing me out (in my work and personal life) and they are ALL on Bosnick's list in some form. I think that it's easy to get overwhelmed with work and personal stressors, that I even forgot about daily stressors like traffic, or road closures, not having enough time for the daily exercise, or things that are important to us, or those days where I fall short on sleep, and know I'll pay for it somehow. Bosnick does tie chapter 9 on emotion regulation into this chapter, with strategies to overcome our daily life stress, and when we look at the Neuroscience of Mental Agility next, we will connect emotion regulation with a strategy from Tara Swart, MD, PhD, a neuroscientist and author of The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain for improving and strengthening our neural pathways, to improve our brain agility (or mental agility). Before we can strengthen our mental agility, it helps to know what is stressing us out. I was actually talking about this during the week with one of my good friends from high school. We throw ideas back and forth, and I mentioned that as certain stressors were piling up in my daily life, I was getting to the “end of my rope with them.” She gave me a good analogy, and shared that we can pile up all of our stressors on a book shelf, until we reach our breaking point, and the book shelf breaks. I think it's good to be aware of our breaking points, and how much we can handle at once.  Bosnick suggests an activity where we identify all of our stressors. IDENTIFYING OUR STRESSORS First, look at the stressors on Bosnick's list, (Table 13.1) and see if you can identify what is stressing you out. I think these days we can also circle workload, and lack of time in our work day, and I've circled injury with my girls who are both facing injuries from competitive gymnastics at the moment. Look and see what your stressors are. Bosnick suggests next to uncover the magnitude of these stressors by rating them on a scale of 1-5. Here's where our mental agility comes into play. Bosnick introduces three terms from the book Antifragile by N Taleb[iii] where there are three types of systems, organizations or people.  The fragile: which is like an egg and breaks under stress. No one wants to be labeled as fragile. The robust: which is like a phoenix, when destroyed comes back exactly as it was before. This is a step in the right direction, but who wants to emerge from challenge the same as before? The antifragile: gets stronger from uncertainty—like the Hydra from the Greek myth where you cut off one head, two grows back in its place. It gets stronger from the sudden change. When we face challenges, changes and stressors, we need to become antifragile in the process according to Grant Bosnick. He also mentions resilience that we will cover next in chapter 14, and have covered this topic often on this podcast[iv] with EP 135 “Using Recovery to Become Resilient to Physical, Mental and Emotional Stressors.” This episode came from some of the biggest AHA moment from EPISODE #134[v] with Kristen Holmes, the VP of Performance Science of WHOOP[i], a wearable personal fitness and health coach that measures sleep, strain, and recovery. Bosnick, in chapter 13 cover specifically how to grow from adversity, sustaining our peak performance, and that what we want to take away from this chapter is how to “train our brain to be antifragile in order to be more agile in the moment when we face challenges or stressors.” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Page 149) HOW DO WE IMPROVE OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL AGILITY? Bosnick does talk about the importance of maintaining “a healthy lifestyle, with proper amounts of sleep, food, water and physical fitness. This will increase your energy and mental alertness” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Page 151) so that when something comes our way, unexpectedly, we can be better prepared, or more agile which will help us to be “prepared to withstand the shock.” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Page 150). He also talks about the importance of taking the time to rest and recover by going for a walk, practicing yoga, or meditating. We've gone deep into the Top 6 Health Staples Scientifically Proven to Boost Our Physical and Mental Health[vi] that will provide us with the mental strength “to withstand our stressors in the first place, just like a basketball player needs to have physical strength to withstand the sudden stop.” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Page 150). Bosnick also suggests “yet another way to improve our mental well-being and strength is to find meaning in what we do (and that) by aligning personal meaning and doing what matters most, we will create a focus and a source of energy that can help us cut through a lot of the chaos. We did cover this topic with Chapter 2 on Goals[vii] and Chapter 3 Inspiration and Motivation[viii]. Bosnick does cover more strategies in Chapter 13 including overshooting, mental self-talk, and the importance of anticipating the future with examples that I know we've mentioned before on this podcast, with neuroscientist Friederike Fabritius, who wrote about Wayne Gretsky's ability to think ahead of the hockey puck. Bosnick shares that “Wayne Gretsky, the greatest ice hockey player in history, once said “I don't go where the puck is; I go where the puck will be.” And this, Bosnick reminds us “is what we need to think in order to get through these stressors or obstacles and find the opportunities on the other side.” (Chapter 13, Bosnick, Page 156) anticipating and directing ourselves to where we want to be. Bosnick has us think of ways that we can adapt and manage ourselves through change, urging us to overshoot to strengthen our mental muscles which can endure more than we think, with strategies that include learning to become more optimistic. It was here that I wondered what else could we learn about the neuroscience of agility (specifically mental agility where we all have the same ability, since we all have a brain) and I wondered if there was a way that would allow us to use our brain to work FOR us, rather than against us, and the answer came when I found Tara Swart MD, PhD, a neuroscientist and author of The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain. The answer came to me with her definition of “Mental Agility.” What Is Mental Agility? Tara Swart opens up her book, The Source, with a paragraph written by Charles Haanel, from 1919, (you can tell from the language that this was written over 100 years ago) in her Epigraph that reads: “Some men seem to attract success, power, wealth, attainment with very little conscious effort; while others conquer with great difficulty; still others fail altogether to reach their ambitions, desires and ideals. Why is this so? The cause cannot be physical…hence mind must be the creative force, must constitute the sole difference between men. It is mind which overcomes environment and every other obstacle...” Tara Swart says that “Mental agility is the ability to switch between tasks and between different ways of thinking, such as logical, emotional, creative, intuitive, physical, or motivational.” She says that mental agility “also enhances the way you respond to stress and your capacity to keep multiple options open, allowing you to make your thoughts and emotions work for you during challenging tactical or physical events.” In many ways, mental agility boils down to being flexible and not so hard on yourself, whether life gets in the way of your goals (like with any of the stressors from Bosnick's list) or you encounter personal slip-ups in your day to day life. We've all been there, but how we persevere through all of this is a sign of mental agility.  Tara Swart wrote this book to offer an up-to-date, scientifically backed method for retraining the brain to direct our actions and emotions to lead us towards our deepest dreams and goals. She shows us how to take control of our own brain, and this powerful understanding took her nine years of college, seven years of practicing psychiatry and ten years of being an executive coach to get to this point. In chapter 5 of The Source, Swart lists an activity to help us to improve our Mental (Brain) Agility by learning to “nimbly switch between different ways of thinking.” (Chapter 5, The Source, Page 109). Swart reminds us that we are all “perfectly capable to assessing more of our brain power more of the time. We don't because we don't realize how brilliant, flexible, and agile our brain can be.” (Chapter 5, The Source, Page 109). DID YOU KNOW THAT “an agile brain is one where each of our neural pathways is adequately developed?” An agile brain Swart says can: Focus intensely and efficiently on one task at a time Think in many different ways about the same situation or problem Switch gradually between these different ways of thinking Fuse ideas from differing cognitive pathways to create integrated solutions Think in a balanced way, rather than thinking rigidly (or logical) for example. What is Swart's Whole-Brain Approach to Brain Agility? (IMAGE CREDIT: Credit by Andrea Samadi from Chapter 3, Brain Agility, The Source, Tara Swart). Swart lists 6 ways of thinking that correlate with a simplified version of that neural pathway in the brain. HOW AGILE IS YOUR BRAIN? Swart next suggests that we try this activity to see how agile (or balanced) our brain is to see where our strengths are, as well as areas for improvement. STEP 1: Draw a circle in a notebook, and give yourself 100% to start of with in the center with “Your Source” STEP 2: Draw the arms for each of the 6 areas that correlate with brain agility. Emotions, Physicality, Intuition, Motivation, Logic and Creativity. STEP 3: Call to mind one of your stressors (personal, or work) and rate how much of your brain power went towards each area. STEP 4: Look to see how effectively you draw from your brain's resources during times of stress. Did you allocate more energy to certain areas, and less to others? Swart reminds us that we don't need to have balance in all areas, but it's important to “feel strong enough in all the pathways, as well as knowing what your key strengths are.” (Ch 3, The Source, Page 115). EXAMPLE: From Andrea: You can see my example in the show notes with a sports injury with both my children that is definitely one of my stressors. INTUITION 50% While dealing with anything stressful, I notice that I go straight to my intuition first. Before was even told about each of my daughter's injuries, I could tell by looking at their facial expressions, and body language that the injuries were important for me to take seriously. PHYSICALITY 20% Once I have the intuitive feeling, next I'll feel something in the pit of my stomach that tells me (to go straight to the ER) or whether we can wait the injury out with some time. EMOTIONS 10% While I'm always working on mastering my emotions, it's impossible for me to hide what I'm feeling. When I'm serious, you will see it on my face. CREATIVITY 10% Next I'm thinking of ways to solve the problem, (the injury) and what we will need to do for a speedy recovery. MOTIVATION 5% This pathways keeps me focused on the end result LOGIC 5% I don't need to get x-rays or wait for a doctor to tell me the results. While I know that my husband would lean this way first, I rely on different pathways in the brain while under pressure. If you can take ONE of your stressors, and do this activity, you will learn what pathways in your brain are your strengths. Most people, Swart says have 2 or 3 pathways that they favor, 2 they draw on while under pressure and 2 they don't use much, if at all. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #342 on “The Neuroscience of Agility” we looked at Chapter 13 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership uncovering our top work, personal and everyday life stressors. Next, we rated our stressors on a scale of 1-5 to uncover the magnitude of what stresses us out on a daily basis. We looked at three terms from the book Antifragile by N Taleb[ix] where there are three types of systems, organizations or people. The fragile: which is like an egg and breaks under stress. No one wants to be labeled as fragile. The robust: which is like a phoenix, when destroyed comes back exactly as it was before. This is a step in the right direction, but who wants to emerge from challenge the same as before? The antifragile: gets stronger from uncertainty—like the Hydra from the Greek myth where you cut off one head, two grows back in its place. It gets stronger from the sudden change. We learned that when we face challenges, changes and stressors, we want to become antifragile in the process so that we grow from adversity, and become stronger in the process. Finally, we looked at Mental Agility, with Tara Swart's whole-brain approach from her book, The Source, by taking one of our stressors, and rating how much of our brain power we use while problem solving. I highly encourage this activity to notice which pathways you favor during problem solving, which ones you go to while under pressure and which ones you don't use at all. The goal with this episode was to show us that while physical agility is important, it's our mental agility that some, like Charles Haanel, from 1919, believe “overcomes environment and every other obstacle.” While I will always keep the TOP 6 health staples at the top of my mind to improve my physical agility, I'll end this episode with a quote from our ALL-TIME most listened to episode from November 2022 on “Applying the Silva Method for Improved Creativity, Intuition and Focus”[x] that has now over 9K downloads. I hope you have found some valuable insights in this episode, and we will see you next week, with an interview with neuroscientist Dr. Sui Wong, and then chapter 14 on resilience. See you next week. REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iii] Antifragile by Nassim Taleb Published Jan. 28, 2014 https://www.amazon.com/Antifragile-Things-That-Disorder-Incerto/dp/0812979680   [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #135 “Using Recovery to Become Resilient to Physical, Mental and Emotional Stressors”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-using-recovery-to-become-resilient-to-physical-mental-and-emotional-stressors/   [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #134 with Kristen Holmes, VP of Performance Science of WHOOP.com on “Unlocking a Better You: Measuring Sleep, Recovery and Strain” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/kristen-holmes-from-whoopcom-on-unlocking-a-better-you-measuring-sleep-recovery-and-strain/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast BONUS EPISODE “Top 5 Health Staples” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-a-deep-dive-into-the-top-5-health-staples-and-review-of-seasons-1-4/   [vii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #323 “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Our 2024 Goals”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-season-11-of-the-neuroscience-meets-sel-podcast/   [viii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #324 on “The Neuroscience of Inspiration and Motivation”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-self-leadership-series/   [ix] Antifragile by Nassim Taleb Published Jan. 28, 2014 https://www.amazon.com/Antifragile-Things-That-Disorder-Incerto/dp/0812979680   [x] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast PART 1 “Applying the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-1/        

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast! In this enlightening episode, we delve into the intersection of neuroscience, corporate innovation, and soul health with Pam Buchanan, founder of QuantumSense. Pam shares her journey from the high-paced boardrooms of Silicon Valley to exploring the concept of soul health, which she believes is crucial for achieving true well-being and productivity. Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/4SNJuB3hfEg Throughout her career, Pam has been at the forefront of innovation, from introducing mutual funds to the banking industry to working alongside visionaries like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg at NASDAQ. Now, through QuantumSense, she aims to bring the concept of soul health to the masses, offering programs that help reduce anxiety, increase energy, and boost overall life satisfaction. Join us as we explore how practical neuroscience can be integrated with soul health to create a paradigm shift in the workplace and beyond. Pam shares actionable insights and tools that you can start using today to improve your energy levels and overall well-being. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion that could redefine how you approach your mental, physical, and soul health. For more information, visit our website and stay tuned for more episodes that bridge the gap between science and practical application. EPISODE #341 with Pam Buchanan on “Unlocking the Power of Soul Health” we will cover: ✔ How practical neuroscience can be integrated with soul health to create a paradigm shift in the workplace and beyond. ✔ Actionable tools you can start using today to improve your energy levels and overall well-being. ✔ Ideas to BEGIN thinking about soul health, in addition to our physical and mental health. On today's episode #341, we welcome Pam Buchanan, founder of Quantum Sense, a consulting agency for the new paradigm, something we talk about often on this podcast. After Pam took an introspective look at how she was able to perform throughout her career – which required her to be able to keep up with the pace of Silicon Valley – she accredited her successes to more than physical and mental health. She began what would be over a decade of research and self-examination to eventually define this as Soul Health. Throughout her personal and professional life, Pam has a long-history of being at the forefront of innovation. She was among the first to bring mutual funds to the banking industry in the 80s, and she identified unicorn startups to take to the public markets. Prior to starting Quantum Sense, Pam served as a Managing Director at Nasdaq for 15 years and was responsible for identifying, building, and maintaining relationships with pre-IPO, companies, founders, c-level executives, venture capital and private equity firms. It is in this role where she was in the boardrooms and minds of some of the world's greatest innovators including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Pam understands how the corporate mindset has evolved over the past few decades and is ready to lead the next evolution through Soul Health. Now, as the Founder of Quantum Sense, Pam is drawing from her wide-ranging experience and ability to distill and convey complex concepts to bring Soul Health to the masses. She has developed programs and services designed for companies proven to help their employees reduce anxiety, increase energy, create focus, boost creativity and ultimately improve their overall satisfaction in the office and life. If you look at the direction our podcast is taking, you will see that while I'm always looking for ways to connect the most current brain research to improve our productivity and results, I am also extremely wide open to what else is out there. What else could we all be thinking, and doing, that might be a paradigm shift from our old ways of thinking in the workplace, but ways that will be necessary for us to ALL reach these higher levels of achievement. Ways to understand and improve our own Soul Health. Let's meet Pam Buchanan, and learn more about the fascinating intersection she has discovered with neuroscience and corporate innovation, through the lens of Soul Heath. Welcome Pam! You have no idea just how timely it is that we are meeting. I have been diving into this topic, after being interviewed recently on some other podcasts that focus on this topic, and this is an area of interest for me right now.  Welcome, and it's an honor to have you on the podcast today. Q1: When I looked at your background, which is impressive, but it also reminded me of my Mom, who spent years in the financial industry (life insurance) when her heart was in education. She made money, but ultimately, not living her soul purpose for her career led her to many health issues (like Cancer) over the years. It was impossible for me to miss that there was something off with the daily stress she had to led to her health issues. Can you share what led you to go from the fast-paced boardroom, working with some of the world's greatest innovators like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, to helping others to improve their Soul Health? Where did this shift begin for you? Q2: It's interesting to me that you've attributed your past success to more than just physical and mental health. I relate to this, as I'm interested in both of those areas (and the Top Health Staples[i] that drive our performance) but there is a side of me that is the driver behind all the success that I've seen over the years, and it's the spiritual side of me. Or like you say, our Soul Health. What was it for you that helped you to notice the importance of your soul health, and unlocking the depths of your soul's energy? How did you begin to introduce Soul Health to the corporate world? Q3: In your decade of research, I wonder who did you study to learn more about this important area of yourself? Q4: Reducing anxiety, increasing energy, boosting creativity, these are all areas I'm exploring at the moment. Finding NEW tools to do this so that I'm refreshed at the end of a work day, instead of drained. What have you learned that can help us all to embrace our soul/spiritual side, and this new paradigm of work/life balance? Q4B: What tools are you using? (I've recently had my aura read, and it picked up where my energy levels are operating…not far off from what I know about myself from the usual DISC or Myers Briggs Assessments. It picked out my mental state in my working environment and how I'm coming across to others. Q5: I know that there have been leaps forward in advancements in the workplace, where meditation and mindfulness are now common areas to reduce stress, whereas 10 years ago, these topics were left out of the Corporate World. What are you seeing with your work? Where are we now with talking about this side of ourselves in the workplace? What is the future of soul health to you? Q5B: Where should we all begin to improve our soul health? Q6: What services do you provide and how can people learn more about your work? Q7: What have I missed? Is there anything else that's important that you would like to share? Pam, I want to thank you for joining me on the podcast. You've added credibility to an area that I know doesn't need it, but your background and experience could help others bridge the gap into looking at this side of their health. Their Soul Health. For people to learn more about you, what is the best place? CONNECT WITH PAM BUCHANAN Website: https://thequantumsense.com/   and www.senseforward.co LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-buchanan/ pam@thequantumsense.com RESOURCES: The Consciousness of the Way with San Qing (Podcast Andrea mentions at 7:35) https://www.instagram.com/theway_126/ Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning EP 307 with Dr. Konstantin Korotkov “Bridging the Spiritual World with Rigorous Scientific Method” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-konstantinkorotkov-on-bridging-thespiritualworld-with-rigorousscientific-method-methodtappingintothe-powerof-our-thoughtsenergy-fieldsandlimitless/ Sylvia Brown Secret Societies and How They Affect Our Lives Today January 1, 2009 https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Societies-Affect-Lives-Today/dp/1401916767 Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning EP 207 with Greg Link “Unleashing Greatness with Neuroscience, SEL, Trust and the 7 Habits” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/co-founder-of-coveylink-greg-link-on-unleashing-greatness-with-neuroscience-sel-trust-and-the-7-habits/   REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast Bonus Episode on The Top 5 Health Staples https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-a-deep-dive-into-the-top-5-health-staples-and-review-of-seasons-1-4/  

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast! In episode number 340, host Andrea Samadi speaks with John Ford, an experienced workplace mediator and author of "Peace at Work: The HR Manager's Guide to Workplace Mediation." With a wealth of expertise in conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and soft skills training, John shares his journey from practicing law to becoming a mediator. He discusses the importance of trust, effective communication, and addressing conflict head-on in both personal and professional settings. Discover practical tools like talking sticks and empathy cards, and learn how to apply neuroscience and emotional intelligence to navigate conflicts and improve workplace dynamics. Don't miss this insightful conversation that bridges the gap between science and everyday application! Watch our interview here https://youtu.be/NShwQio_QAk EPISODE #340 with John Ford on “Peace at Work: Connecting Emotional Intelligence to Conflict Resolution” we will cover: ✔ The importance of acquiring Emotional Intelligence Skills for conflict resolution in our workplaces of the future. ✔ The influencers who inspired John Ford's work (Daniel Goleman, John Gottman, Ken Cloke and many more. ✔ Tools and resources to support Conflict Resolution in our workplaces.      On today's episode #340, we welcome John Ford[i] BA. LLB (UCT) Founder, Author of Peace at Work: the HR Manager's Guide to Workplace Mediation, who is an experienced workplace mediator and works as a Conflict Resolution Coach and Workplace Mediator.  He's also a past president of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California and served as managing editor for Mediate.com for over 10 years. Currently, he teaches negotiation and mediation through UC Law SF (formerly UC Hastings). When I saw the work John has been doing, providing soft skills training on communication, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, assertion, negotiation, mediation, dealing with difficult behavior, customer service, nonverbal communication, de-escalation, stress management, diversity and inclusion, I knew I had to have him on the podcast. I saw the importance of teaching our next generation of students these important social and emotional learning skills over 25 years ago, working with 12 teenagers, who turned their results in school, sports and their personal lives around, in a matter of weeks. I had to learn more about John Ford's pathway that took him from practicing law, to working on workplace mediation, training others in these important emotional intelligence training skills. Let's meet John Ford, and see what we can learn from his vast experience with conflict resolution to see how he gains trust, with a calming effect in the most difficult and tense situations.  Welcome John, thank you for meeting with me today. Where have we reached you today? (I'm located in Arizona). Q1: John, can you share what inspired you to transition from practicing law to focusing on workplace mediation and soft-skills training? Q2: Can you also explain how your work was influenced by all of these researchers and influencers that our listeners would know well. Like Daniel Goleman, the author of Emotional Intelligence, neuroscientist Antonio Damasio, John Gottman's evidence-based research as well as Paul Ekman's work on facial expressions. Q3: What are some other books that you can point us to improve these important skills, books, like Difficult Conversations (Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Hein), or Nonviolent Communication to help us to improve how to better communicate our feelings in our work and personal lives? Q4: I see you have created tools to help express our feelings without using blame (which we all know takes us down a pathway to more conflict). I don't remember how long along it was that I learned to take “you made me feel” out of my vocabulary, since no one can make me feel anything. It was a good lesson to keep in mind that only I control my feelings. Could you explain how The Empathy Set[ii] and The Talking Sticks work and the benefits they bring to users? Q5: In your opinion, what are the most common challenges organizations face when dealing with workplace conflicts? Q6: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start incorporating empathy and effective communication strategies into their professional or personal life? Final Thoughts: Can you share a success story that highlights the impact of your products or training programs on a team or organization? John, I want to thank you very much for meeting with me today. For people to learn more about you, what is the best place?   CONNECT with JOHN FORD   John Ford www.johnford.com www.empathyset.com www.empathysetapp.com john@johnford.com REFERENCES: [i] https://www.johnford.com/johnford     [ii] https://www.empathyset.com/  

In episode 339, we delve into Chapter 12 of Grant's latest book, exploring the cutting-edge neuroscience of change. Building on seven months of in-depth discussions, this episode aims to equip you with the knowledge to thrive in 2024 by understanding how our brain interprets change as either a reward or a threat. We'll revisit key episodes that have previously tackled the concept of change, including insights from futurist Chris Marshall and renowned neuroscientists. Discover how your brain's response to social and emotional threats can be as powerful as its response to physical dangers, and learn practical strategies to navigate these challenges. Gain a deeper understanding of Maslow's hierarchy of needs and its evolution into self-determination theory. Explore Bosnick's ACRES model—Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness, Equity, and Sureness—to see how meeting these needs can help you embrace change and achieve your goals. Join us as we unpack Dr. Huberman's insights on how to harness neuroplasticity to create lasting behavioral changes. Learn how to manage the agitation and strain that come with pushing past your comfort zone, and find out how to build a positive change network to support your journey. Whether you're looking to enhance your agility, resilience, or overall well-being, this episode offers valuable tools and reflections to help you navigate and embrace change with confidence. Welcome back to SEASON 12 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 6 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's episode #339 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January.  The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. So far, it's taken us 7 months to cover the first 12 chapters thoroughly, and we still have 7 chapters to go.  After this week on change, we have chapter 13 on agility, 14 on resilience, 15 on relationships and authenticity, 16 on biases, 17 on trust, 18 on empathy and the final chapter 19 (and one of my target areas to focus on this year), the topic of presence. When we finish each of these chapters, we will put them all together, with a review of each one, in one place. On today's EPISODE #339 we will cover: ✔ The Neuroscience of Change ✔ How our brains sense rewards versus threats ✔ How social and emotional threats are the same as physical threats ✔ Review of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs ✔ Review of Self Determination Theory ✔ Triggers to watch for during times of change. ✔ How to Change Our Nervous System to change our actions and behaviors, and leave behind a legacy we are proud of. For Today, EPISODE #339, we are moving on to Chapter 12, covering “The Neuroscience of Change” which came out as a low priority with 0% (Pathway 5) along with Agility and Resilience. I wasn't surprised to see this topic showing up with a low priority for me this year, mostly because I love change, and am constantly looking for new ways to do things. If I am doing the same things over and over again, I can tend to get bored, so it's important to find new angles, and challenges, daily to inspire the most creativity. If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[ii], look to see if Change  (in Pathway 5) along with agility and resilience, is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. We've covered the topic of “change” in many different places on this podcast, most recently on EP 296,[iii] with Futurist Chris Marshall on his book “Decoding Change”, EP 244 “Using Neuroscience to Change our Perceptions”[iv], or EP 209 on “Using Neuroscience to Impact Change”[v] where we looked at a quote from the great, late Sir Ken's famous TED TALK, Do Schools Kill Creativity, where he reminded us that “If you're not prepared to be wrong, (by not fearing change and making mistakes along the way) you'll never come up with anything original.” Think about this for a moment. Think of the times in your life where you embraced change. Would you agree with me that embracing change helps us to have more guts and perhaps stretch more in the future? It helps us to build our future confidence levels. There are many different ways to change our brain, like we found out with Dr. Michael Rousell on EP 159[vi] who taught us “How the Power of Surprise Can Secretly Change the Brain.” So what does Grant Bosnick say about The Neuroscience of Change in Chapter 12 of his book, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership? He opens up the chapter with examples of change, asking how we feel when: Example 1: We are in nature and come across a “breathtaking view” (how do we feel) I love seeing water (rivers, lakes or waterfalls in nature). How about you? What do you enjoy seeing/feeling in nature? Or, think of this—we are in nature, and we see a large bear in front of us (how do we feel seeing a large bear compared to the first example of the beautiful river or waterfall)? I've never seen a bear, but we do see rattlesnakes often on the hiking trails with the same effect as a bear! If a rattlesnake doesn't kill you with their venom, they could very possibly bankrupt you, due to the high cost associated with treating snake bites.[vii] Think about how seeing a bear or a snake in nature, makes you feel now? The first example is obviously peaceful, and the second quite stressful. Example 2: We are working hard, and go for our dream position at work, and we are thrilled that we actually land the promotion! (How do we feel) This feels incredible! Or, you don't get the promotion, someone else gets it (how do we feel then)? Deflated is a word that comes to mind. With both of these examples, the breathtaking view, or when we land the promotion we worked so hard to achieve, Bosnick explains “we feel like we got a reward. It's a rush. We get a sensation in our brain and a hit of the big neurochemicals” dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, norephinephrine, adrenaline.” (Page 132, Ch 12, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). But with the bear in the woods, (or snake on the hiking trails), or being overlooked for the promotion our brain actually sees this “like it's a threat. We feel tense, stressed, pressure…our body physically feels it.” Then Bosnick said something that caught my attention that showed me the difference between these two examples. Bosnick says that “Neuroscience has shown us, that the feeling we get from a social or emotional threat (like being passed over for the promotion) is the same as the feeling we get from a physical threat, (like seeing the bear of the snake) and that the negative (threat) response is stronger than the positive (reward) response.” (Page 132, Ch 12, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). This explains to me why social and emotional threats can have a long-lasting impact on us and deflated just doesn't cover it. If we let these threats impact us, they do have the ability to zap our future confidence levels. When we see how our brain interprets “everything and everyone we meet as either a reward or a threat” we can better understand “how our body reacts, (and) our brain and mind think, (leading) to the decisions, behaviors and actions we make.” (Page 132, Ch 12, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). It's here that Bosnick reviews the five levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, where the bottom two are our physiological needs (food, water, shelter) then safety needs (health, emotional security, financial security) that we need first for survival. The top three are our psychological needs, social belonging (friendships and love), the need for self-esteem (confidence, recognition and respect) that leads us to the top, with self-actualization (where we pursue our goals and seek happiness).  Bosnick talks about how Maslow's model evolved into “Self-Determination Theory” around the year 2000 where researchers found that there were “three physiological needs: the need for Competence (feeling valued for our knowledge, skills and experience), the need for Relatedness (collaborating, connecting or serving others) and the need for Autonomy (being able to exercise self-regulation…to achieve our goals.” (Page 133, Ch 12, Bosnick). Bosnick expands on this, calling it ACRES, A=autonomy or the feeling of control or choice), C=competence (feeling valued and respected for our contribution), R=relatedness (a need to belong and be accepted, to also have social connections), E=equity (perceiving actions as fair) and S=sureness (the ability to predict what's going to happen moment to moment).  (Page 133, Ch 12, Bosnick). Bosnick tells us that “if all of our ACRES are being met, it will put us in a toward state and we will fully embrace everything ahead of us; (but) if our ACRES are threatened, it will put us in an “away state” and will then resist or block things ahead of us. IMAGE CREDIT: Figure 12.1 ACRES Example Grant Bosnick Bosnick shows us the ACRES example in his life, showing the reward and threats he felt with a work situation. Understanding our basic human needs, and how they have evolved over the years, helps us to understand why we resist change, whether it's intentional, or from a subconscious point of view. Remembering that Our brain is tied into “everything that we do, and everything that we are.” (Dr. Daniel Amen) I can look at Bosnick's ACRES example, and clearly think of a work experience I did not enjoy, as it went against the ACRES Model of Needs. With brain science in mind, I can gain more understanding of why I didn't enjoy this experience, helping me to seek out a NEW work experience, where the ACRES were all met. When I think of that work experience I did not enjoy, ALL five of the ACRES examples were not met, so I felt the negative threat response in my brain, activated daily, didn't notice any positive reward responses, and even though I felt like I was consciously making an effort, my brain kicked into the “fight of flight response” just like my body was preparing for a threat (like the bear in the woods, or snake on the hiking trail).  At the end of each day, I felt threatened and not rewarded. Can you think of when you have felt the ACRES Model working for you (where you feel rewarded) or against you (where you feel threat) while going through change? Bosnick next explains how open-minded or close-minded we are to change, in his figure 12.2 with an image that was created by Michael Mahoney[viii] the author of The Human Change Process book, who addresses why change is so difficult for people, and how to lean into change, and maximize your chances for success. “The open-minded/closed minded dimension relates to the degree of mental openness to the environment and our level of curiosity. Open- minded represents the level of reward that we perceive and close-minded represents the level of threat that we perceive. With a passive mindset, we will either subtly support or oppose the change; with an active mindset, we will either overtly support or overtly reject the change.” (Page 137, Ch 12, Bosnick). We did dive into the emotion of curiosity on our interview with the co-author of the famous book The Archeology of Mind, Lucy Biven on EP 270[ix] where we looked at Jaak Panksepp's research, and again with Gabrielle Usatynski on EP #282[x] “How to Use Jaak Panksepp's 7 Core Emotions to Transform Your Family, Career and Life.” With this look at effective neuroscience, it makes sense to set out with a “seeking” or curious mindset, while approaching change, to be as open as we all can to what we might learn in the process, while being mindful of what makes you close-minded. Bosnick points out that it's normal to go back and forth between these two states, but just to be mindful of what shuts you down, or puts you in the threat response. We want to be in the “Bring Change On” quadrant from figure 12.2 but what do we do if something is “triggering” us as a threat response? Bosnick lists a few triggers we can be mindful of watching during times of change. Some included: History of this particular type of change: Think about how have you been in the past with the change you are experiencing now? Remember that past behavior can help you to predict future behavior. Beware of the fear of loss that Bosnick says creates insecurity and unsureness. Beware of the fear of the unknown. Lacking a plan. Fear of giving up our freedom. If you are going through a change right now, look at the change response quadrant figure 12.2 and see where you would place yourself. Are you clearly in the Bring it On Quadrant, or are you going back and forth between being open-minded (and ready for change) or close-minded (and unsure of yourself). Look at the list of triggers and see if any of these are causing you to experience a threat response in your brain. What I love about Bosnick's book, is how many reflection activities he has, in addition to the Companion Workbook that goes along with this text. Bosnick suggests to “build a positive change network” so you don't need to face change on your own. He suggests adding in new social connections to increase the positive rewards in your life, and minimize the threat responses you might face. What Else Does Neuroscience Say About Change? Can we really change our nervous system—specifically our actions and behaviors that will lead us to NEW conditions, circumstances and environments in our life? Can we with focus, and with the use of our will, become more open-minded to change in our life? After learning about how our brain either feels threatened or rewarded during times of change, I wondered what Dr. Andrew Huberman would suggest and I found an episode he did back in 2021 on “How Your Brain Works and Changes”[xi] that gave me some insight into how I can change my actions and behaviors to be more open-minded, getting me to that “Bring it on” Quadrant, so that I'll see the change I'm experiencing as a reward, instead of a threat. I think this is brilliant! Using our understanding of practical Neuroscience to actually change our brain, and lean into change, with an open-minded, active mindset, keeping our brain primed for rewards, and aware of how to mitigate threats. Dr. Huberman suggests that in order to change our actions and behavior towards something, we must first of all understand how this part of our brain works in our nervous system. He dives into an hour long explanation you can watch, but I will give you the short-cut version. He explains that our nervous system consists of these five things: We experience sensation (we have neurons that see color, feel sensations, taste, smell). We can't change our sensory receptors. We experience perception (our ability to take what we are sensing or paying attention to) and focus on it. He says we can put a spotlight on something we want to pay attention to, for example. Then we have our feelings/emotions (like happiness, sadness, boredom, frustration) and he reviews how neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers argue (like crazy) about this topic, and how emotions/feelings work. Dr. Huberman says that it all goes back to understanding that there are certain neuromodulators that have a profound impact on our emotional state. Dopamine (involved with motivation and reward, and important with things outside of ourselves, things we want to pursue) and serotonin tends to help us to feel good with what we have. Dr. Huberman reminds us that “feelings and emotions are contextual” and that while showing joy/sadness can be appropriate in some cultures, it can also be inappropriate in others. While he says, there are no “happiness” or “sadness” circuits in our brain, but it is fair to say that “certain chemicals, and certain brain circuits tend to be active when we are in a happy/focused state, certain brain circuits tend to be active when we are also in a non-focused, or lazy state” (Dr. Huberman) It makes sense to me here to do our best to lean into the happy focused state as often as we can, knowing we could use the happiness brain chemicals in our pursuit of new things. Then our thoughts: that are like our perceptions, but they draw on “not just what's happening in the present, but also things we remember from the past, and things we anticipate in the future…and our thoughts can be controlled in a deliberate way” (Dr. Huberman). We have spent a considerable amount of time on this podcast talking about how important our thoughts are, with ways to lean into positive thinking, and put a hard STOP on the negative thoughts that come our way. Then finally our actions and behaviors that Dr. Huberman considers to be the most important part to our nervous system. Our actions and behaviors he says are the only things that will create any “fossil record” of our existence. Or I say, they will be what will determine our legacy, or the impact we want to have on the outside world. When we die, our body disintegrates. The sensations, perceptions, feelings and emotions, or thoughts we had in our lifetime “none of these are carried forward” except the ones that we convert into actions (like writing, or actually doing something with the things we THINK about. Our legacy, or “fossil record” is through the ACTION we take in our life. IMAGE CREDIT: Hand drawn from Andrea's notes from Dr. Andrew Huberman's Solo SP Jan 3, 2001 "How Your Brain Works"  At this point, I can draw back on MANY episodes where we have focused on taking action (rather than just thinking of what we want to do) but we are focused on the Neuroscience of Change right now. How can we stay open-minded to bring on change in 2024 and keep moving forward? Dr. Huberman has us reflect back on what builds our Nervous System (our sensations, our perceptions, feelings and emotions, our thoughts) and they ALL lead to this one last part, our ability to TAKE ACTION. He says that we do “have the ability to change our nervous system” and this is when we “deliberately put our focus on something that we want to do.” This is where the work comes in here. When we want to “learn something new, CHANGE something (like a behavior) and he gives the example of learning to resist speaking, or force yourself to be quiet where we want to actively suppress our behavior and CHANGE our BEHAVIOR or ACTIONS. When are suppressing a circuit in our brain, (using our forebrain that is fully developed by age 22) to do something different (that's challenging to us) norepinephrine (adrenaline) is released and it will create a feeling of challenge or agitation as you engage these neurocircuits to push yourself past this threshold of where you normally don't go. In the situation where we are learning to not speak, and withhold something we really want to say, we are putting self-regulation into action. “You will feel limbic friction that comes from this top-down processing.” (Dr. Huberman). Think about any time you have tried to take a new action or behavior. You'll feel annoyed (which is really the adrenaline that's released from your brain). “Agitation and strain is the entry point to neuroplasticity” Dr. Huberman If we can push past this agitation and strain, we will be changing our brain, our actual nervous system, as we create a NEW change of behavior in our life. This brings me to a quote by Peter Senge where he says that “people don't resist change. They resist being changed.” That feeling of agitation will come up during change, and when the change is your choice…or something that you really want to do, you will push past the threshold to overcome the change. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #339 on “The Neuroscience of Change” we looked at two examples of what happens to our brain when we see something our brain wasn't expecting, like the breathtaking view, or when we land the promotion we worked so hard to achieve, Bosnick explains “we feel like we got a reward. It's a rush. We get a sensation in our brain and a hit of the big neurochemicals” dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, norephinephrine, adrenaline.” (Page 132, Ch 12, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). But when we see a bear in the woods, (or snake on the hiking trails), or we are overlooked for a promotion at work, our brain actually sees this “like it's a threat. We feel tense, stressed, pressure…our body physically feels it.” We learned that “Neuroscience has shown us, that the feeling we get from a social or emotional threat (like being passed over for the promotion) is the same as the feeling we get from a physical threat (like seeing a bear or a snake). When we see how our brain interprets “everything and everyone we meet as either a reward or a threat” we can better understand “how our body reacts, (and) our brain and mind think, (leading) to the decisions, behaviors and actions we make.” (Page 132, Ch 12, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). Next we reviewed Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that led to “Self-Determination Theory” around the year 2000 where researchers found that there were “three physiological needs: the need for Competence (feeling valued for our knowledge, skills and experience), the need for Relatedness (collaborating, connecting or serving others) and the need for Autonomy (being able to exercise self-regulation…to achieve our goals.” (Page 133, Ch 12, Bosnick). We learned that when our ACRES are being met, (our autonomy, competence, relatedness, equity, and sureness) it will put us in a toward state and we will fully embrace everything ahead of us; (but) if our ACRES are threatened, it will put us in an “away state” and will then resist or block things ahead of us. Looking at Bosnick's ACRES example, we thought about work experience we did not enjoy, to see where it went against the ACRES Model of Needs. With brain science in mind, we can gain more understanding of why we either enjoyed, or didn't enjoy this experience. It all led back to how our brain either interprets the experience as a reward, or a threat. We looked at triggers to be aware of to mitigate threat, during times of change. Finally, we looked at how to change our nervous system, to change our actions and behaviors, so we can leave behind a legacy (or fossil record as Dr. Huberman calls it) that we are proud of. We learned that “Agitation and strain is the entry point to neuroplasticity” Dr. Huberman This is when lasting CHANGE is happening at the brain level, and impacting our entire nervous system. So when I'm working on something, (like trying to learn something new…like understanding the neuroscience of change for this episode) and that limbic friction feeling comes up, (and I'm annoyed or agitated) I now have a deeper understanding of what's happening at the brain level. I will now push forward, stay positive and lean into the change that I know is happening in my brain, as I embrace the change and say “Bring it on!” The Neuroscience of Change is an exciting topic, and it's only going to be strengthened with the next two topics, Agility and Resilience. To close, I'll revisit the quote from the great Sir Ken[xii], who's vision for creativity in our schools and workplaces of the future, is something that left a lasting impression on me. If we are afraid of change, of failing and doing something wrong, we will never come up with anything original.   I hope this episode has inspired you, like it has me, to lean into change, with brain science in mind, and keep working on the legacy or fossil record that you want to leave on the world. I'll see you next time. REVIEW OF OUR MAP (This is chapter 12/19) In this 18-week Series that we began in the beginning of February, (after I was inspired to cover Grant's book after our interview the end of January) we are covering: ✔ Powerful tactics from this Grant Bosnick's award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success by applying the neuroscience Grant has uncovered in each chapter. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels while we map out our journey over this 18-week course. REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #296 with Chris Marshall on “Decoding Change”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/futurist-and-behavioral-scientist-chris-marshall-on-decoding-change/   [iv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #244  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-using-neuroscience-to-change-our-perception/   [v]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #209 “Using Neuroscience to Impact Change”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/using-neuroscience-to-impact-change/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #159 “Using the Power of Surprise to Change Your Beliefs” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-michael-rousell-on-the-power-of-surprise-how-your-brain-secretly-changes-your-beliefs/   [vii] Rattlesnake Bites in Pima County Pose Costly Consequences Bri Pacelli April 2, 2024 https://www.kgun9.com/news/community-inspired-journalism/midtown-news/rattlesnake-bites-in-pima-county-pose-costly-consequences   [viii] Human Change Processes by Michael Mahoney https://www.amazon.com/Human-Change-Processes-Foundations-Psychotherapy/dp/0465031188   [ix] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #270 “A short-Cut to Understanding Affective Neuroscience” with Lucy Biven https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/lucy-biven/   [x] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #282 “How to Use Jaak Panksepp's 7 Core Emotions to Transform Your Family, Career and Life” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/gabrielle-usatynski-on-how-to-use-jaak-panksepp-s-7-core-emotions-to-transform-your-relationships-family-career-and-life/   [xi] How Your Brain Works and Changes by Dr. Andrew Huberman 2021 https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wuY0R571xaBTbNOX4yuqY   [xii] Do Schools Kill Creativity? Sir Ken Robinson TED Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY        

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast, where we connect science-based evidence with practical applications for improved well-being, achievement, and productivity. I'm Andrea Samadi, your host, and today we're diving into episode number 337, continuing our 18-week self-leadership series based on Grant Bosnick's tailored approaches to self-leadership. In this episode, we explore chapter 11 of Grant's book, focusing on the neuroscience of time management. Discover how understanding your chronotypes and managing your energy can lead to better productivity and creativity. We'll share insights from Kent Healy's perspective on time management and highlight practical strategies from renowned experts like Stephen Covey and Brendon Burchard. Learn how to prioritize tasks, avoid common time traps, and use your peak energy periods for deep work. Whether you're an early bird or a night owl, this episode provides valuable tips to make the most out of your 84,600 seconds each day. Join us as we uncover the science behind effective time management and how it can transform your personal and professional life. Don't miss out on these powerful insights to help you reach greater heights in 2024. Welcome back to SEASON 12 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 6 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's episode #337 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January.  The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. On today's EPISODE #337 we will cover: ✔ How did Kent Healy, Bob Proctor and Earl Nightingale change Andrea's thinking on how to manage time? ✔ What is Grant Bosnick's view on how to manage time? ✔ What is The Neuroscience of Time Management? ✔ How will YOU manage your time, with brain science in mind? For Today, EPISODE #337, we are moving on to Chapter 11, covering “The Neuroscience of Time Management” which came out as a low, or RED priority for me at 8%, and again, not because this topic isn't important for me, but I've already put strategies for time management into place, so this is not an area I need to focus on this year. It's interesting to see how each of these lessons play out in our daily life, putting theory into practice. This morning I had to chance to see why this topic showed up as low importance for me to work on this year. I had slotted on my calendar to write this episode, (a Saturday), I started my day at 4am (with early meditation, then some time in the sauna) before hitting the hiking trails for what I call a long 7-mile hike, that I do only if I am fully rested, to guarantee a good day of focused writing. While driving back from this this hike, I had a call from a good friend I had not seen in quite a few years, who wanted to see if we could meet for coffee. I know the time required to write, record and edit this episode, so I told her this was my priority for the weekend, and that I could let her know if I finish earlier. Otherwise, we could plan to meet another time, even though I know it would be great to see this friend. This weekend was not the right time. So before we even start looking into the Neuroscience Behind Time Management that this topic is important to me. Vitally important. Not just for managing my own time, but also valuing the time of others as well. If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[ii], look to see if Time Management is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. We covered this topic on the podcast in our early days, with someone I came across about 15 years ago, before publishing my first book, on success strategies for teenagers. I wanted to find other success books were out there, and I came across Kent Healy's Success Principles for Teens[iii] that he co-authored with Jack Canfield. At that time, I was working with success principals (character and leadership) with students in the classroom and reached out to Kent for some thoughts on something to help inspire our next generation to think bigger, (like I knew he did) and reach for greater heights. Kent created a video for me that we used with students and I featured this video on EP 33[iv] of our podcast that was called “Time Management, the Greatest Asset We Have.” Kent gives a perspective to the amount of time we have, in a way that 15 years later, I've still not forgotten his words in this video recording. You can watch Kent's explanation of “time management”[v] here, with the visuals that he provided, reminding us that “we all have the same amount of time” and he even breaks it down and tells us how many seconds we have every day (84,600 seconds to be exact). While ALL the experts agree that we can't create more time, or change this number, some will say we can use our time to generate more of something else (like energy) but Kent's message was about using this time (these 84,600 seconds we have each day wisely) and focus on what we can control, and that's our personal growth. He gives an example of adding just 15 extra minutes a day towards learning something new, and that adds up to 3.8 full days a year, and asks us to think of what value we put on 15 minutes of time. After thinking about Kent Healy's message on time, my mind went back to when I heard over and over again, the words from Earl Nightingale, through Bob Proctor, who often would quote Earl's thoughts on time management. Proctor would quote Earl and say “Time cannot be managed! Nobody masters time management. I merely manage activity.”[vi] Which led me to think about the blocks of time (my activity) that I have on my calendar, and the early morning blocks are non-negotiable. Also, my work hours (whether it's working on the podcast on the weekend), or my full time work (weekdays) my calendar is blocked off, and the time here in non-negotiable. Kent Healy's message about paying attention to what I do with even 15 minutes of time, mixed with Earl Nightingale's message of managing activities (or blocking out what's important for us to accomplish each day) is engrained so deeply into my daily habits that I have a deep respect for my time, and other people's. Think About These Questions: Do you value your time? Do you value other people's time? Do you think 15 minutes of time really matters? Let's see what Grant Bosnick thinks about Time Management in Chapter 11 of his book. He opens up the chapter by asking us to define what it means to “manage time” and says “it's more about managing our energy through time.” (Ch 11, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). HOW GRANT BOSNICK MANAGES HIS TIME: Bosnick does mention Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People that we looked at on EP #207 with our interview with Greg Link, who took The 7 Habits Book to incredible heights, saying that Covey's work influenced his approach to thinking about time. Bosnick created something he calls his 7 Roles Planning Sheet where breaks down his task list into several different roles we might have in our life (like competent salesperson, collaborative team member, parent, etc). I like how his planner breaks down the different roles we all have, so we can separate our work roles and personal life roles, with the next steps (or goals) to move each of these roles forward. IMAGE CREDIT: Grant Bosnick Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership Chapter 11 I've seen the author of the book, High Performance Habits, Brendon Burchard[vii], create something that also helps break down our long task lists, using different projects with his 1- Page Productivity Planner that I've put a link to in the show notes. I've personally used this planner for years to keep track of the steps in certain projects, keeping them all separate. Like writing a new book, or building a new website, with the steps needed in order to move each project forward. IMAGE CREDIT: Brendon Burchard's 1 Page Productivity Planner[viii] The part I liked the most on this planner, was the PEOPLE section, where you keep track of important people you reached out to (helping you move each project forward) to those who you were waiting to hear back from. EVERY important person I have ever met with (over the years) was written on this list, until I crossed them off and had finished what I needed to accomplish with them. Bosnick also covered a concept that Stephen Covey is known for creating where we pinpoint on a graph what is urgent and important to cover immediately.  We covered this graph, and Stephen Covey's 7 Habits on EP 68[ix] “The Neuroscience of Personal Change.” The urgent and important quadrant, or quadrant 1, is for tasks and responsibilities that are critical and require immediate attention. These activities are often time-sensitive and necessary for your existence, such as pressing problems, deadline-driven projects, or last-minute preparations. This concept came from Covey's Habit #3 Put First Things First: Plan Weekly and Act Daily. Stephen Covey built his whole career around the 4-quadrant chart called the Urgent and Important Matrix[x] where our attention goes to Quadrant 1 with Urgent and Important Tasks completed first and Quadrant 4, Distractions last. I've put the chart in the show notes for anyone who wants to see all of the quadrants. Quadrant 1 - Crises - URGENT and IMPORTANT Quadrant 2 - Goals and Planning - NON-URGENT and IMPORTANT Quadrant 3 - Interruptions - URGENT and NOT IMPORTANT Quadrant 4 - Distractions - NOT URGENT and NOT IMPORTANT  Whatever method you use to manage your long task list, Bosnick mentions it helps to “see all of the tasks and micro-tasks that need to be done” in one place, and I'd have to agree that it helps to have something printed off where you can see everything that's important for you to accomplish, in one view. Bosnick does cover our Circadian Rhythms of Life, and “when we are at our peak energy and peak mental alertness: early morning, late morning, after lunch, evening, nighttime.” (Ch 11, Bosnick) so that we schedule our tasks that require the most cognitive function, in the times we are the most alert, and administrative tasks where less cognitive function in required, around this. This is something I know we are all aware of, but here's the kicker. What if you had a call from someone you wanted to see, to go meet them for coffee, during the time of day that you know you were the most productive. Would you meet them, or get your work done first, and then find the time to meet with them? I think the answer to this question is obvious, that high performers, who value their most productive time blocks of their day, would always complete their work first. I love the section in Bosnick's book about “Time Traps and How to Overcome Them” as we all could use a refresher on ways to avoid those things that “drain our energy and time.” (Bosnick, Ch 11) Bosnick's Top Energy Drainers: Procrastination Saying Yes to Everything The Perfectionist There are more, but these ones just made me smile. They've come up in ALL of the time management courses I've done over the years. It's funny because over the years, I've learned to be a bit more flexible with life in general, but with time management, I refuse the bend the rules. For procrastination: I say “do it now, or it will never be completed.” For Saying Yes to everything: I say “no to everything FIRST with the contingency that I can get back to the person if something changes. For the Perfectionist: I understand this one. When I'm interviewing someone, I want what I put out to the world to be perfect, as it usually represents that person's life's work. I will put the time needed to be sure I'm proud of the work I'm doing. Brendon Burchard calls this “Prolific Quality Output”[xi] and this is a High-Performance Habit that helps you to focus on the outputs that matter. Ask yourself: What are the outputs that matter the most for your personal or professional career? For me and this podcast, it's producing high quality, well-researched episodes, that make a difference for others who listen.  In my professional life, everything I say during a presentation matters. I don't want anything less than perfection, so I'd put the time in to make sure I'm always delivering Prolific Quality Output. Bosnick suggests “setting your highest priority and focus around this” (Ch 11) and I don't think there is anything wrong with reaching for the highest standard you can, without burning yourself out. What does Neuroscience Say About Time Management? I tuned into Dr. Andrew Huberman's Episode on “Tools for Better Productivity and Time Management”[xii] and this episode was in agreement with Grant Bosnick's idea of being aware of our chronotypes. Dr. Huberman mentioned that “For those people who go to bed around 9:30pm-11:30pm and wake in the window of 6am-8am that there tends to be an increase in catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, 0-8 hours after waking, which generally speaking leads to increases in alertness, attention and focus that are great for analytical work, great for implementation of strategies that you already understand.” Dr. Huberman and his guest, Dr. Adam Grant discussed how many people do not take advantage of these brain chemicals that they also said “provides extra energy and leads to more divergent thinking” as many people will use this important block of time to knock out their emails, or have non-productive conversations with their coworkers-and miss this opportunity. The Neuroscience of Time Management shows me that understanding my chronotype is a crucial component to whether I will be making use of my time and brain chemistry at the specific time of day when I will have access to extra energy and more divergent thinking that involves creativity that generates new and original solutions to problems. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #337 on “The Neuroscience of Time Management” DID YOU KNOW: That our chronotype “the natural inclination of your body to sleep at a certain time or what people understand as being an early bird versus a night owl”[xiii] should be factored into our Time Management Strategy? “For those people who go to bed around 9:30pm-11:30pm and wake in the window of 6am-8am that there tends to be an increase in (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, 0-8 hours after waking, which leads to increases in alertness, attention and focus that are great for analytical work, great for implementation of strategies that you already understand.” Dr. Andrew Huberman with Guest Dr. Adam Grant As we are thinking about the best strategies to manage our activities, projects, or even the roles we have in our personal and professional lives, in order to have access to this extra energy, and divergent, creative thinking, we will want to plan our “deep” work 0-8 hours after waking. This made me think of Grant Bosnick's Top Energy Drainers: Procrastination Saying Yes to Everything The Perfectionist With this extra energy, and creative thinking, I would put it all into creative prolific quality work (the perfectionist in me) and use the extra energy to combat against procrastination, while protecting my time by saying no to everything, (at first). I know I can always come back to projects that I would like to do, that have meaning to me, but by truly managing my energy and activities, I am protecting this commodity that we all have: time. What about you? Will you change anything you are doing now, with this understanding of WHEN you might be the most alert, creative and have the most energy in your day? This did make me think that the 84,600 seconds that Kent Healy reminded me that we all have each day, and how 15 minutes a day (that adds up to 3.8 days/year) can be used even more wisely with this understanding of The Neuroscience of Time Management. IMAGE CREDIT: KENT HEALY on Time Management I'll close out this episode with a quote from Benjamin Franklin where he reminds us that “lost time is never found again.” I hope this episode has helped you to see the questions we asked at the start of this episode with a new light: Do you value your time? Do you value other people's time? Do you think 15 minutes of time really matters? I will definitely continue to be mindful of other people's time, and keep working on using my blocks of time in the early morning hours, when I'm most productive and creative. With that thought, we will close out this episode, and I'll see you next time for Chapter 12 of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership on The Neuroscience of Change. REVIEW In this 18-week Series that we began in the beginning of February, (after I was inspired to cover Grant's book after our interview the end of January) we are covering: ✔ Powerful tactics from this Grant Bosnick's award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success by applying the neuroscience Grant has uncovered in each chapter. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels while we map out our journey over this 18-week course. RESOURCES: Are you a morning lark, or a night owl? https://www.sleepwatchapp.com/blog/on-the-nature-of-larks-owls-in-their-modern-habitat/ REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iii] Success Principles for Teens by Jack Canfield and Kent Healy April 15, 2008 https://www.amazon.com/Success-Principles-Teens-Where-Want/dp/0757307272   [iv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #33 with Kent Healy on “Managing Our Time, Our Greatest Asset”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/author-kent-healy-on-managing-time-our-greatest-asset/   [v] Author Kent Healy on “Time Management: Our Greatest Asset” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_ibHzu751I   [vi] How to Master Time Management by Bob Proctor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yey59NOFNFY   [vii] https://brendon.com/   [viii] http://www.experimentswithsuccess.com/2014/09/darren-hardy-interviews-brendon-burchard/1-page-productivity-planner/   [ix]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #68 The Neuroscience of Personal Change https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-personal-change/   [x] The Urgent and Important Matrix https://www.thecoachingtoolscompany.com/coaching-tools-101-what-is-the-urgent-important-matrix/   [xi] https://wakeupitsdayone.com/2018/07/16/increase-productivity-habit-4-of-high-performers/   [xii]“Tools for Better Productivity and Time Management” Dr. Andrew Huberman with Dr. Adam Grant  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8B0KWmv_-Q   [xiii] Chronotypes Definition https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/chronotypes#:~:text=Chronotype%20is%20the%20natural%20inclination,bird%20versus%20a%20night%20owl.    

In this episode of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast, host Andrea Samadi revisits a profound interview with Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, the author of the best-selling book "Blue Mind." Dr. Nichols delves into the fascinating connection between our brains and water, inspired by his extensive research and personal experiences. Andrea reflects on Dr. Nichols' groundbreaking work, which explores how being near, in, on, or underwater can enhance our happiness, health, and overall well-being. This episode covers the origins of the Blue Mind theory, its scientific backing, and practical ways to apply it in daily life to combat stress, anxiety, and burnout. As we honor Dr. Nichols' legacy, Andrea encourages listeners to practice Blue Mind, understand their personal connection to water, and extend this healing practice to others. Tune in to discover how the magical and mysterious connection to water can transform our lives. On today's episode #338 we will revisit a previous interview #297[i] from last summer to remember the author of the best-selling book, Blue Mind, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, who made such an impact on the world with his Blue Mind Movement, and is no longer with us today. While this is a difficult episode to write, I know it's an important one as I could use the tips I know we are going to cover myself at the moment. I'm also sure there are others in the world who could benefit from revisiting the surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier more connected and better at what you do. I could have left this episode until a later date, even closed to World Blue Mind Day coming up July 23rd (later this month) as I stared at a blank document and the words just wouldn't come out.  Then when I finally did start writing, last month, the document was erased, so it just must not have been the right words. Or maybe this episode was meant to be written near the ocean as I'm sitting next to the Gulf of Mexico, while writing this. Or maybe even written from the point of view, of being under the water, looking around, and up, to “see” what can be felt deeply with this mysterious brain/mind connection. Before sitting down to write this episode, I noticed sea turtles swimming around in the ocean, up close to us, and everyone mentioned how rare this was. I just kept thinking of Dr. Nichols telling me (in our interview this time last year) that he studied sea turtles for 30 years, and remembered him mentioning that he was hoping someone else more qualified (like Dr. Oliver Sachs) would write the book he wanted to write, connecting the deep mysterious ocean with the intricacies of our brain. While revisiting our interview, I wondered: What else could we learn from Dr. Nichols that we might have missed the first time? You know when you read a good book twice you always see something new. This is because you've changed since the first time, and you bring new experiences with you. I wonder what doors this second look would open for all of us? How can I improve my own Blue Mind Practice? Dr. Nichols mentioned that even if we are doing ok, practicing Blue Mind could still help us, but for those people who are in Red Mind (feeling anxious) this practice could save your life. It's another tool to add to our tool kit to prevent us from reaching Grey Mind (or Burn out). How can revisiting this episode help others close to me (starting with my own family) helping them to practice Blue Mind in our daily lives? Also not being afraid of the hardest science in the room (our emotions) and keep talking openly about our feelings, and to not be afraid to reach out to others if we feel Red Mind or anxious thoughts. How can we highlight Dr. Nichols' work so that we ALL can do what he suggests we do, by finding “our water, pay attention to how it feels and then take someone else with you” to experience the deep mysteries felt with this Blue Mind that's backed by science. Knowing our first interview was an important one, I watched the YouTube[ii] version for the third time this week, writing more notes on top of previous notes, to see if I could dig deeper into the meaning of the words of wisdom covered in our first interview. Let's go back and revisit this important interview with marine biologist and author, Dr. Wallace J Nichols, to see if we can take our own practice of Blue Mind, to the next level. We opened up our interview when I recalled standing next to the bluest water I have ever seen in Turks and Caicos, last summer, 2023, just prior to our interview. I remember our bags were packed, and we were just leaving our hotel to return home, when I was introduced to Dr. Nichols, (via email) after experiencing some of the most “magical” memories that our family has ever felt, near the water. Dr. Nichols recalls those turquoise waters, saying he “knew them well” and we would return home as a family, not knowing we would ALL need Dr. Nichols' Blue Mind Theory later this summer ourselves. It's all easy to see these things looking backwards, but the dots had not connected forward yet, like Steve Jobs' famous Stanford Commencement Speech.[iii] I knew this was an important interview. For myself, as well as for others. INTRO: We open up this interview with my introduction about Dr. Nichols, and how the foreword to his book, Blue Mind, was written by Celine Cousteau, one of the daughters of the great Jacques Cousteau who wrestles with explaining the “awe and wonder” of our oceans and waterways. She says “should we leave it, or dive in and explain it?” Jacques Cousteau would dive in, so she decides to do the same and says “it's about reconnecting our sense of self and soul with our waterways and oceans. It's about finding creativity, clarity, and confidence in our deep Blue Minds.” (Celine Cousteau) Next, I ask Dr. Nichols to share some of the meaning behind Celine Cousteau's words in the Foreword, and he shared that she connected her background in psychology to her words. Then I ask Dr. Nichols about how he made the brain/water connection and I loved his answer. He was hoping that someone else would publish Blue Mind. He searched all over the place for this book, Your Brain on Water, and pitched this book idea to Dr. Oliver Sachs, and he was told over and over again, that this is your book to write. I understood why he kept looking for this book, from my point of view. I'm a former teacher, from Toronto, trying to make sense of how our brain impacts our future results, specifically as it relates to learning. I remember writing the idea of this podcast down, connecting Neuroscience to Social and Emotional Learning and almost hid this idea from others in the beginning. I'm not a neuroscientist, or anything –ist. But there was a time when I was told, just like Dr. Nichols, “you need to make the neuroscience/education connection” (and was handed a ton of books to read). I remember thinking “this is too hard for me” but I did it anyway. I was determined to learn more about our brain and learning, and paid people smarter than me to explain the concepts I couldn't grasp. Slowly but surely, I began to understand how our brain learns something new. Which is why I was so impressed when Dr. Nichols “wrote the book” anyway, connecting the nervous system (that we are still making deeper discoveries with) to largely unexplored bodies of water, like the ocean. He connected top neuroscientists, to those who understood the mysteries within the depths of the ocean. He says himself that it took him some time, explaining to me that he's a marine biologist, who studied sea turtles for 30 years, and I understood what he was saying. He noted “I'm not a neuropsychologist, I just came in the side door.”  He did the work needed to “put this theory together, because he knew he had to do this. What he created continues to gain momentum over the years. He started a movement, The Blue Mind Movement, with this book that he knew he had to write, and proved that we ALL can make the brain/water connection to become happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what we do. Q1: I was amazed at the research held in the pages of this book. I had to ask how he did it, and the answer just blew me away. Dr. Nichols talked about how they held Blue Mind Summits where they would connect the leading experts in neuroscience, (like neuroscientist Howard Fields) to those who used these principles in their lives around water, like pioneering top wave surfer, (Jeff Clark) or those who used this magical connection to water to overcome addiction. They were asked one question that they each would answer from their specific point of view. Like making the connection with dopamine (in our brain) and surfing, something that had never been done before. This is where true learning begins, almost like connecting peanut butter to chocolate to create the Reece's Peanut Butter Cup. Even though Dr. Nichols mentioned that no one would fund this idea, he just knew it had to be done, and he did it. He mentions Dr. Dan Siegel[iv] often in Blue Mind, and looked for anyone we knew the science to help make this brain on water connection. Sometimes I forget what questions I ask on interviews. The questions just come out of me and if you know me, I'm like this in real life. I remember someone saying that meeting me for the first time was like a job interview. I'm so curious, and I will just ask you so many questions, you'd leave our conversation wondering “why so many questions?!” I forgot that I mentioned my fascination with surfing at the north shore of Hawaii to Dr. Nichols until I re-watched our interview. Hollywood really does Blue Mind well, with all the movies, bringing water to life, and television has mastered this topic. Until this weekend, I had no idea that the American animated tv series Spongebob was created by a marine scientist educator an animator, and was the highest rated Nickelodeon Series, and the most profitable, generating over $13B in merchandising revenue.[v] So why did Hollywood[vi] film and television producers see something that didn't reach those who protect our oceans?  This is what motivated Dr. Nichols to keep talking to those who could help him to make this brain/water connection. Since writing Blue Mind, Dr. Nichols' mentioned there were hundreds more organizations dedicated to saving our oceans, but more work needs to be done here. I do feel a responsibility to continue to spread Dr. Nichols' work, and keep his Blue Mind Theory in the forefront of our minds. And by question 2, I was already asking Dr. Nichols “why am I mesmerized by the ocean?” and sharing how I felt a connection to the Billabong Pipe Masters section of the North shore in Hawaii. He looked at me with deep understanding, and it was here that I knew he understood what I was feeling, as I was starting to understand his Blue Mind Theory. I just couldn't put it into words. There is something magical about being around water, and I've felt it for years. Q2: I asked Dr. Wallace “Why are many people fascinated with the ocean and the “secrets it holds?” and he reassured me this was common, and he hears this all the time. I thought that if I felt this way, how many others listening also feel this fascination? When he said that “many people feel this way” and that “we are not alone” I felt my emotions coming through. Finally, someone telling me what I feel around water is common. I felt understood at a whole new level. He said “maybe everyone feels this connection” and it might not always be the ocean. It can be a puddle, or even frozen water! Now Dr. Nichols is catching my attention, and I can't look away. As he listed all the sources of Blue Mind, my awareness is expanding. I had no idea there were so many ways to connect to water, and his words and calm voice were transporting me to what he called “virtual water.” Now that we know what Blue Mind is, (it's a feeling of fascination that we might all feel around water) how do we apply it and make use of it in our lives to become happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what we do? Dr. Nichols directs us to STEP 1 of this process where he says that we must first of all understand our own Blue Mind. I know that I am more creative around water. I know my kids have always loved swimming in the ocean, or swimming pools.  What about you?  How do you feel around water? Have you ever stood mesmerized looking at water, or ice, or fog, and wondered what was capturing your attention? I hope that you feel some sort of reassurance that this is something Dr. Nichols would hear all the time. Now what's next? What do we DO with this Blue Mind Theory? STEP 2: Mindfully practice Blue Mind in your life. When you are in what Dr. Nichols calls RED MIND (anxious or super stressed) go to the water, get in the water, float on the water, sit by the water, read your book by the water. Practice this evidence-based method that can help transform you to a better place and make this a part of your “emotional tool-kit.” Dr. Nichols had a goal to make this common knowledge to transform well-being and wellness, while also transforming our ability to protect these waters. Q2B: Then it happened, and I no longer am afraid to “feel” deep emotions. It happens ALL the time when I'm connecting with others at the heart level, during interviews, (or in life) and I know Dr. Nichols could see it, let alone “feel” it. My eyes started to tear up, and I had to ask “Why do some of us feel so emotional around the water?” I knew he understood what I was trying to ask him. I loved his answer. He said “when we are in the water, we're vulnerable. Our armor fades away. We access connection, curiosity, compassion, to each other, ourselves and to the water.”  He reminded me that “It's a place for reflection. Deep reflection. Deep thought.” I love when I feel comfortable enough to be my whole self with someone else. It's an incredible place to be.  No need to pretend, or hide, or be someone I'm not. Just exist and be 100% myself. This is how I feel around water, and this inspires my writing, deeper thoughts, and a desire to connect and learn. Dr. Nichols reminds us that “water soothes the soul” and this is written in the King James version of the Bible, Psalms 23, written 3,000 years ago. Having a bad day, (he says) get down to the water, it will soothe your soul.  This is a deeply ancient concept and Dr. Nichols explains the scientific connection to “why” this happens, in his book. His research goes deep into the water/brain connection. We make some of our best memories on the water, near the water, with the people we care about. This is true! In your mind, think about the photos you take. How many photos do you have of those you love, that have water associated with them? It doesn't need to be the deep blue ocean. It was be frozen water (ice) or even fog. We have our deepest thoughts around water. I know this is true for me! It doesn't have to be the bluest ocean. Sometimes, on rare cooler days while hiking in the mountains, we can see fog, and it always stops me in my tracks. I never thought of this as Blue Mind until reflecting on Dr. Nichols' words. We have our nostalgia around water. We learn a lot. We reflect a lot. Our world is simplified around water. Our brain shifts to a different place. A place that Dr. Nichols refers to as Blue Mind. All of this opens us up to emotions. Sad things. Happy things. We grieve at the water. Many of us cry in the shower but don't forget that “water soothes the soul” (Psalms 23). Q3: I wondered what Dr. Nichols discovered when he measured his brain in the water, and his response showed me how far technology has come. They went from their prototype cap, with wires, to now where he said we can measure our brain waves without wires while surfing, kayaking, floating or swimming. I still would like to try this. If you want to do your own research, go to Google Scholar and type “blue mind, blue health or blue space” into the search bar, to learn more. Q4: Dr. Nichols explains what happens to our brain while swimming, vs floating, when we are still. He shares that Dr. Feinstein would say our brains can go into delta waves (much deeper than theta) when we are floating). Standing by a lake will give us this “meditative” state, but most people who have not done this before, might not stay there for 2 hours. Or they might think that mediation is boring. To overcome this, Dr. Nichols suggest, that you can put a fishing pole in their hand, and they might stick around the lake just a bit longer than usual. Q5: How do we use BLUE MIND to become more self-aware? Dr. Nichols explains that when we are in a crisis of any kind RED MIND (feel anxious, urgency) our thinking narrows and we might feel panic which is useful at times, (it can help us) but it can also (when it's triggered all the time) lead us to GREY MIND and will eventually burn us out. So we must learn to rest, relax, breathe to gain perspective. Learn to pause to see things from a new angle. Take a more compassionate approach and you might appreciate the opponent better or learn to understand yourself better. This helps with problem solving and thinking. IMAGINATION: When you can't get to the water, think about water with your own imagination.  We don't need to go to that turquoise water on the other side of the world. Blue scription is doing blue mind wherever you are.  I explained to Dr. Nichols during our interview that we had left the deep blue ocean. When we returned home, I completely forgot about ALL of the types of water we have available to us in Arizona, where we say we are land locked. Dr. Nichols opened up my mind, and uncovered a way for anyone to find water. He would begin with… WILD WATERS: Start with wild waters A river, lakes, oceans  DOMESTIC WATER: Pool tub spa showers  Put a candle in bathroom  URBAN WATER: Fountains to sit or walk by VIRTUAL WATER: Poetry songs recordings of water apps  Make your own recording of videos, of water to replay later. Reminding us that we ALL have an abundance of water, even those of us who think we are land locked. Q7: When I asked Dr. Nichols about our emotions, or why many people prefer to leave them out of the conversation, he reminds me that “our emotions are the hardest science in the room.” The Science of Emotion is rigorous and complex. He's now fully aware that the science backs up our emotional side, and knows when this side is ignored, is usually from people who just are not aware of the vast amounts of science behind our emotions. His answer made me feel more comfortable with the fact I know I can “feel” deeply, and to not be afraid of this. I will just keep learning, to understand this difficult science, and am grateful I had this once in this lifetime opportunity to sit down and speak with Dr. Nichols, who opened my awareness up to a whole new level. Q8: When I asked Dr. Nichols about what has impacted him the most over the years with his study, it was all about helping others. I know his work and Blue Mind Theory can save someone's life, if you are struggling with a RED mind yourself, (to find peace) and once you've gone from RED MIND to BLUE MIND yourself, reach your hand out help others to get through their day.  Dr. Nichols reminds us that we ALL know someone who is sitting on their couch not sure what the point is, and urges us to go find them and get them to water (of some sort) wherever it is. Take them fishing, he says. Go find your water  Practice blue mind ourselves first, and then take someone else with you Reminding us that water gives us peace of mind and heart. At the end of this interview, I felt a deep connection to Dr. Nichols, so much so, that when I stopped recording, I couldn't stop the tears. I felt his heart, and years of work with his Blue Mind Theory, and was moved to such a deep level. He understood what I was feeling, and I didn't need to explain why I was crying. I'm sure it wasn't the first time that he felt that someone “really connect” with his work. Looking back now, I'm just grateful that I let him see the true authentic me. Not one that is guarded, or afraid. I had no armor on, was vulnerable just like while floating in water, and Dr. Nichols' BLUE MIND THEORY message came through loud and clear. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION: To review and conclude this review of our interview EP297 with Dr. Nichols last summer, I remind us to revisit Blue Mind Theory, no just this month, but every month, making it a part of our emotional tool kit. Every July 23rd is World Blue Mind Day, and I am committed to sharing Dr. Nichols' work with new reflections each year. I ask you, the listener, how do you connect to Dr. Nichols' BLUE MIND THEORY? When you feel RED MIND, what strategies do you have to move you back to peace and calm of BLUE MIND? Have you tried using the water for this? I encourage everyone to read Blue Mind, and keep looking at the science. Keep practicing Blue Mind Theory. STEP 1: Understand your BLUE MIND (what is YOUR Connection to being on near or in water)? STEP 2: Practice BLUE MIND and finally, grab someone's hand, and take them with you to water (where ever that might be). Dr. Wallace suggested fishing. I love swimming. What's your favorite way to practice Blue Mind Theory? For those of you who feel a deep connection to Dr. Nichols's work, like me, I wanted to let you know that there is a verified Go Fund Me Page to help Dr. Nichols' Foundation continue to raise funds to continue to raise awareness around the world. The Dr. Wallace J Nichols memorial fund was established to continue the work of one of the world's most important environmentalists and change makers. https://www.gofundme.com/f/nichols-memorial-fund I'll close out this episode with a reminder from Dr. Nichols book to keep learning and perfecting whatever Blue Mind is to you, with his final thoughts in our interview. Q8: Hear from Dr. Nichols himself about what's impacted him the most about the mystery within the ocean. While I can't ever call up Dr. Nichols, and ask him for another interview, which is the sad part of this episode, I do believe that his legacy is an important one, and I will continue to reference and practice his Blue Mind Theory in my own life, as well as make connections back to his work in the future, so his work continues forward, helping others around the World, to find peace with this surprising science that shows how being near. In, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do. REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast Interview with Andrea Samadi and Dr. Wallace J Nichols “Blue Mind” EP #297 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/author-scientist-and-activistdrwallace-jnichols-on-blue-mind-the-surprising-science-that-shows-how-beingnear-inonor-underwatercanmakeyourhappier-h/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast YouTube Interview with Andrea Samadi and Dr. Wallace J Nichols “Blue Mind” EP #297 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwx1jrHj33c&feature=youtu.be   [iii] Steve Jobs 2005 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc   [iv]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast Interview with Andrea Samadi and Dr. Dan Siegel  EP #28 on “Mindsight: The Basis for Social and Emotional Intelligence”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/clinical-professor-of-psychiatry-at-the-ucla-school-of-medicine-dr-daniel-siegel-on-mindsight-the-basis-for-social-and-emotional-intelligence/   [v] Sponge BobTV Series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpongeBob_SquarePants   [vi] Chasing Mavericks 2012 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1629757/    

Welcome back to Season 11 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity, and results using practical neuroscience. In today's episode, number 336, we continue our 18-week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's tailored approaches to self-leadership. We delve into Chapter 10, exploring the neural science of persuasion and influence. This topic emerged as a key focus area for 2024, providing insights into why understanding persuasion and influence is essential for long-term success. We revisit past episodes and notable works like Jack Carew's You'll Never Get No for an Answer and Mark Waldman's Words Can Change Your Brain. Learn about the three modes of persuasion—logos, pathos, and ethos—as well as practical strategies for improving your persuasive approach. Discover how to apply six scientifically validated principles of persuasion by Dr. Robert Cialdini, focusing on reciprocity, scarcity, and authority. These principles can help you build lasting influence and effectively communicate your ideas. Join us as we explore the difference between persuasion and influence and how to use these skills to achieve your goals while helping others. This episode is dedicated to Monica Gilfillan, a highly influential figure in education, whose support and inspiration remind us of the power of helping others first. Don't miss out on these valuable insights to enhance your self-leadership journey. Subscribe, review, and rate our podcast to stay updated with new episodes! On today's EPISODE #336 we will cover: ✔ The difference between persuasion and influence. ✔ Strategies to improve our persuasion muscles and ways to become more influential for longer lasting relationships and impact. ✔ 3 Tips to Put the Science of Persuasion and Influence into Practice in our Daily Lives. ✔ Dedicated to Monica Gilliflan, a highly influential figure in education, whose support and inspiration remind us of the power of helping others first. On today's episode #336 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January.  The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. For Today, EPISODE #336, we are moving on to Chapter 10, covering “The Neuroscience of Persuasion and Influence” which came as a surprise to me that Pathway Two, showed up as my highest area of focus for 2024. When I looked at the topics that are listed in this pathway, I can see why this area is a work in progress for me, and this self-assessment picked up that I need to make these 3 areas listed in this pathway, a priority in 2024. I'm paying attention to what neuroscience says about persuade and influence, in addition to inspiration, motivation that we covered on EP 324[ii] and presence, that's the last chapter in this book, and I think the most important. (at least for me). If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[iii], look to see if Persuade and Influence is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. Thinking back on past episodes, I know we have not yet covered this topic entirely, except for the time I was asked to review Jack Carew's classic book from 1987 called You'll Never Get No For an Answer that was covered on EP176.[iv] We explored “Why Our Brains Don't Like the Word No” and revisited Mark Waldman's book from 2013 Words Can Change Your Brain where we were reminded that  “Words can heal, or hurt—if you were in an fMRI scanner (that can take a video of the neural changes happening in your brain) (and you were told a firm NO! for something) we could record, in less than a second, a substantial increase of activity in your amygdala and the release of dozens of stress-producing hormones and neurotransmitters…that immediately interrupt the normal functioning of your brain, especially those that are involved with logic, reason, language processing, and communication. And the more you stay focused on negative words and thoughts, the more you can damage key structures that regulate your memory, feelings, and emotions. This may disrupt your sleep, your appetite, and the way your brain regulates happiness, longevity and health.”[v] In this episode, we looked at 5/10 of Jack Carew's unique strategies that American Author and Salesman Og Mandino encouraged us all to read to improve our communication and influence with others and I noticed that Strategy 2 was to stop looking out for number one and always look for how you can help others first. So, after noticing this, I went straight to Chapter 10 of Grant Bosnick's book, on “Persuade and Influence” to see what he had to say on this topic. Right off the bat, in the opening of this chapter, Bosnick asks us to think about how we would persuade someone else to do something, like give you a pen you would like to have, for example, or ask for a promotion, or ask someone to buy something you are selling. Then he differentiates the word persuade that he says “we can think of as quick, more direct, more for short-term or immediate gain” (Chapter 10, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership) while influence he says “is softer, more subtle, much more for longer term and lasting gain.” (Chapter 10, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership) Persuasion Bosnick says is “more tactical, whereas influence is strategic.”  He gives us the history of persuasion, explaining its origin from the early Greek Philosophers, and that Aristotle wrote about three modes of persuasion: logos (that's about logic and reason), pathos (that's about emotion and inspiration) and ethos (that's about the speaker's own character and credibility). Thinking of Jack Carew's second tip in his book to improve our influence with others (by putting other people first) I think is a good example of a strategy that builds this concept for long-lasting gain (influence) versus persuading someone to give me something that I need for short-term, or immediate gain (like, to pass me their pen, so I can write down something important that I'll need to remember). Bosnick provides a list of strategies to improve our persuasive approach, that includes giving people a sense of ownership, or automony to persuade them to take action with something, or by praising them, and making them feel good for taking action. He offers an exercise to further build our persuasive skills by asking us to complete a sentence: I would like to persuade x to do the following. Then he brings in Jack Carew's strategy for becoming more influential and asks us to think about “what's important to them: their goals, concerns, passions and values.” (Chapter 10, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 109). Bosnick goes on to explain how to build influence and his exercise reminded me of a networking event I attended in 2014 called Ceospace.[vi] This was an organization where many leaders came up with an idea, and took their idea out into the world, with the help of a larger, more influential network. Author Adam Markel wrote that “it was one of the most magnificent places for entrepreneurs and business owners to come together to seek guidance, insights, inspiration, collaboration, and support.” It's where Jack Canfield[vii] came up with the idea for his Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, where Lisa Nichols[viii] first began public speaking, and where countless thousands of others launched their ideas into the world. The CEO of this organization passed away in 2020, and from what I can see, this organization didn't thrive without his presence. This CEO, Berny Dohrman, had quite a life story. I felt a connection to Berny because of his passion to make an impact on our educational system. He wrote a book called Super Change[ix]  that was about the tools and strategies needed to survive and thrive in an uncertain future. What I think Berny Dohrmann had that was special, was that he used his influence, to create long lasting change in others. He did not persuade anyone to come to his events for short term results, but was able to influence others easily, with a vision for a better future. It all stemmed around his networking event, where participants would do speed rounds, to meet as many people as possible, asking the other person “What are you working on, and how can I help you.” At the end of the event, participants would have access to high level connections, all who were willing to share the strategies for success that worked for them. It was a brilliant idea, and I know this event took many leaders to new heights. The Science of Persuasion and Influence What was so special about how Berny Dohrmann influenced others? Why was Jack Carew's book from the 1980s still being taught in sales training classes today? I had to look up the Science of Persuasion and Influence and found “6 Scientifically Validated Principles of Persuasion and Influence” that came from Dr. Robert Cialdini.[x] (Chald-ini) I picked the first three to highlight here. Reciprocity. We are obliged to give if we have been given something. This was the whole idea behind Berny's networking events. Participants didn't ask for what they wanted FIRST, they offered to help someone else first, and after you had helped them, they would be more open to helping you. This was also Jack Carew's second strategy. Stop looking out for number one. Always think of how you can help others first, and you will naturally draw them to want to help you back. Scarcity. If it's scarce, we want it more. Use this by highlighting the Benefits, Uniqueness and Possible Loss. Berny did this with his networking events by holding them twice a year. If you missed the event, you missed the chance to network with these brilliant minds. Jack Carew picked this as his 10th strategy for becoming more influential. He called his last chapter in the book “Become the Only Choice.” What if you missed the event that would change your future? Carew explains this concept like “the fear of loss.” No one want to miss an opportunity. There is a science to persuading and influencing others and it's all about showing others how you (or what you offer) is unique and something that no one else (other than you) can offer. Authority. We are more likely to comply with a request if it is coming from a perceived authority/expert. Dr. Cialdini explains this one on the home page of his website, Influence at Work: Proven Science for Business Success. He says that “it's important to signal to others what makes you credible before you attempt to influence them.”[xi] It's better if you don't do this yourself, and have someone else introduce you, with your credentials, first. This is what made Berny Dohrmann's networking events successful as each participant was introduced to another person with their credentials and experience, that gave that person instant authority to help, or influence others. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #336 on Chapter 10 on “The Neuroscience of Persuading and Influencing” DID YOU KNOW: “There are 6 short cuts to increase the chances that someone will be persuaded?” (Robert Cialdini) We covered the first three: Reciprocity. We are obliged to give if we have been given something. Use the neuroscience of influence and persuasion, and think of ways to help others first, (just like Berny Dohrmann's networking events), instead of thinking what you can gain from other people, think of what you can give to them. Always be the first to give and take the time to make sure what you are giving is personalized and useful to that person. This way, what you will give will have more meaning to that person. Scarcity. If it's scarce, we want it more. Use this by highlighting the Benefits, Uniqueness and Possible Loss. Take the time to find out how what you are offering to someone else, will help them. You will need to find out what they are looking for to do this, by asking questions, and listening. Then you can “frame what you are saying/offering, so others will find it to be valuable.”[xii] Authority. We are more likely to comply with a request if it is coming from a perceived authority/expert. Being introduced by others is a fast way to have others learn about your expertise, making you instantly more influential and persuasive. We looked at Chapter 10 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership where Bosnick explained the difference between the word persuade that he says “we can think of as quick, more direct, more for short-term or immediate gain” (Chapter 10, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership) while influence he says “is softer, more subtle, much more for longer term and lasting gain.” (Chapter 10, Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). We looked at a past episode on this topic, taking us back to Mark Waldman's book from 2013 Words Can Change Your Brain reminding us to be careful of the words we choose to speak to others. My take-away from this chapter: If I want to improve my influence, it begins with understanding the wants and needs of my audience first (how can I help them) and then being able to say what I mean, and mean what I say. The words I speak do matter when I'm working on gaining influence.  If I'm speaking with someone, and not being completely honest, or not meaning what I say, I know that this can be felt by the other person, and it will hurt my ability to gain trust, rapport and influence. Our brains can detect “benefits and threats”[xiii] and I want to be sure that I'm drawing those I want to interact with towards me, not away from me. Once I have gained influence with someone I am speaking with, then I can take my persuasion skills to the next level, and we can begin to work together on our common goals. For example, if someone is asking me in a sales situation if I can offer them a discount. When I've build rapport and trust with this person, I can say “yes, I can give you 5% off this order, if you would be able to guarantee the order will come in by the end of this month.” We can begin to use our persuasion and influencing skills to not only give others what they need, but also negotiate with them, for what we need. I hope this episode has helped to give you some ideas on ways to practice the neuroscience of persuading and influencing, to help others with their goals first, and then in turn, allow you to move yourself forward in this process, with these skills. I also want to end this episode, with a mention to someone I ran into recently, who I had not seen about 10 years. I ran into Monica Gilfillan[xiv] an avid listener of this podcast, and I had no idea, until we spoke recently and she shared how these episodes were helping her with new ideas. This made me feel proud and grateful (coming from a peer) and did infuse me with some extra energy to keep going with these episodes. If there is someone I would list as highly influential, who knows how to persuade others, it's Monica Gilfillan. Over the years, I noticed as I connected with a new person in the field of education, they were always connected to her. After she shared how the podcast was helping her, she went straight to ask me how she could help, and what I needed. We all need people in our network who are wired to help others, and I highly suggest connecting with Monica, especially if you are in the field of education. She is an influencer who everyone can benefit from knowing. I thought it was fitting to dedicate The Neuroscience of Persuasion and Influence to Monica Gilfillan and to thank her (and all of you who tune in) for listening. CONNECT with Monica Gilfillan https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicagilfillan/ And with that, we will close out this episode. We'll see you next with Chapter 11 on Time Management. REVIEW In this 18-week Series that we began in the beginning of February, (after I was inspired to cover Grant's book after our interview the end of January) we are covering: ✔ Powerful tactics from this Grant Bosnick's award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success by applying the neuroscience Grant has uncovered in each chapter. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels while we map out our journey over this 18-week course. REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #324 on “The Neuroscience of Inspiration and Motivation”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-self-leadership-series/   [iii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #176 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-communication-why-our-brain-doesn-t-like-the-word-no/   [v] Words Can Change Your Brain by Andrew Newberg, MD and Mark Robert Waldman, Published July 30, 2013 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=words+can+change+your+brain&gclid=CjwKCAjwoP6LBhBlEiwAvCcthCiCJCWZ-n3nMbmllmxcYj7pY9p3EGBjIT1liFGTzVVBlYWdxCBg6hoC3DMQAvD_BwE&hvadid=241598338504&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9030091&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2910883915011355196&hvtargid=kwd-36327312367&hydadcr=15527_10340956&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_2ixec66yv3_e   [vi] https://ceospacemembers.com/   [vii] https://jackcanfield.com/   [viii] https://motivatingthemasses.com/   [ix] Super Change by Berny Dohrmann October 31, 2019  https://www.amazon.com/Super-Change-Survive-Thrive-Uncertain/dp/1949003906   [x] https://www.influenceatwork.com/7-principles-of-persuasion/   [xi] The Science of Persuasion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdCzN7RYbw   [xii] The Neuroscience of Influence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-5CZ2AXT1o   [xiii] The Neuroscience of Influence Leadership Coaching by Dean Newlund https://mfileadership.com/2021/01/27/the-neuroscience-of-influence/   [xiv] Monica Gilfillan https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicagilfillan/    

Welcome back to Season 11 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast! In episode 335, we delve into the neuroscience of emotion regulation, a crucial skill for personal and professional success. Host Andrea Samadi continues the 18-week self-leadership series inspired by Grant Bosnick's book, focusing on strategies to enhance our ability to manage emotions effectively. We explore practical tips from Bosnick, such as labeling emotions, creating distance from them, and reframing situations to view them more positively. Additionally, we highlight the importance of sleep for emotion regulation, drawing insights from experts like Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Matthew Walker. Discover how improving your sleep quality can lead to better emotional control and overall well-being. Join us as we connect the dots between neuroscience, sleep, and emotional intelligence to help you achieve greater heights in 2024 and beyond. On today's episode #335 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January.  The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024.   For Today, EPISODE #335, we are moving on to Chapter 9, covering “The Neuroscience of Emotion Regulation” which showed up on my leadership self-assessment as a low, RED score, of 20%, but again, not because it's not something I don't need to pay attention to, this is something I pay attention to daily, right up there with physical health that is listed in Pathway Four of Grant's Self-Leadership Map. If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[ii], look to see if Emotion Regulation is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. Before looking at what Grant Bosnick has to say about Emotion Regulation in Chapter 9 of his book, I looked around to see what else I could find on this topic. We actually have already covered this topic as one of the six social emotional learning competencies that we launched this podcast with, back in August, 2019[iii] and we called that episode “Self-Regulation: The Foundational Learning Skill for Future Success.”  In this early episode, we defined self-regulation as “the ability to manage your emotions and behavior in accordance of the situation. It includes being able to resist highly emotional reactions to upsetting stimuli, to calm yourself down when you get upset, adjust to a change in expectations and (the ability) to handle frustration”[iv] In other words, it's the ability to bounce back after a setback or disappointment, and the ability to stay in congruence with your inner value system.  HOW TO HELP OUR CHILDREN WITH EMOTION REGULATION: We covered some tips on this early episode to help our children to practice this skill, and strengthen their “self-regulation” muscles, beginning with: Naming the emotion they are experiencing at a given moment, with a strategy (like stopping to take some deep breaths when something frustrates or overwhelms them) so they can keep working, and move forward. Uncovering what motivates each of us to develop intrinsic motivation that can help propel us forward. Taking brain breaks, or “unfocused moments” that allow for the brain to solve problems during these resting states. WHAT GRANT BOSNICK SUGGESTS FOR EMOTION REGULATION: Then we covered some tips to help us to continue to strengthen these self-regulation skills in the workplace, and I wondered what Grant Bosnick had to say in chapter 9 of his book on this topic. Within the second paragraph of this chapter, he explains the science behind emotion regulation when he outlines that “neuroscience has shown us that the exact same feelings we get from a physical threat also occur as social and emotional threats.” (Page 91, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick).  This took me back to working with children with this foundational learning skill, that determines future success, and the whole idea that “social and emotional threats” can impact us (stop us in our tracks) exactly as if there was a actual physical threat (like coming face to face with a bear in the forest). In Chapter 9, Grant explains some different ways to regulate our emotions, and he uses a graphic to demonstrate how to move forward, while regulating our emotions, instead of spiraling out of control, downwards, and it begins with where we focus our attention. If we focus on the emotional aspects, he tells us “it will drive us into a downward spiral” but if we learn to “focus on the nonemotional aspects, or distance ourselves (from whatever it is that is bothering us) this is the start to creating an upward spiral.” (Page 94, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick).    IMAGE CREDIT: Image 9.2 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership TIP 1: LEARN TO LABEL OUR EMOTIONS: Bosnick agrees with the steps we created to build emotion regulation in our children, as he also mentions the importance of being able to name or label the emotion that you are having first. TIP 2: DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM EMOTIONS THAT ARE BOTHERING YOU TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY RELIEF: Then he suggests to find ways to distance yourself from the emotion (he calls this attentional deployment) to give you temporary relief from the situation. He mentions seeing the issue through someone else's eyes, and I remember Dr. Maiysha Clairborne sharing this strategy back on EP 289[v] when she explained the importance of stepping into someone else's shoes when you are in conflict with them, to feel what they feel, and even stepping back and looking at the entire problem from above (outside of anyone's shoes) to gain a new perspective. TIP 3: REFRAME THE CONFLICT: Next Bosnick suggests “reappraisal or reframing” the conflict, by looking at it in a more positive way. He mentions that mindfulness can help us to “take a step back, lower anxiety, bring attention to the moment, become less judgmental about what is happening, help the brain to not attach meaning to the emotions and be open to new meaning and new connections.” (Page 97, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick). He suggests looking at the situation from someone else's point of view to reframe it. TIP 4: LEARN TO REGULATE OUR EMOTIONS BY FINDING STRATEGIES THAT KEEP US STRONG, AND CLEAR HEADED: It's his last technique of “response modulation” that caught my attention the most, because we've all experienced this. Once we are hit with an emotion about something, he asks “is it better to suppress it, or acknowledge it?” (Page 99, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick). He says “when we feel strong, clear-headed and have executive control, it is better to acknowledge the emotion so we can regulate it.” (Page 100, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick). EMOTION REGULATION AND SLEEP: So in a world where we are hit daily by external stimuli, how on the earth can we be proactive to stay mentally strong and clear-headed so we have improved executive control to manage our emotions and regulate them? This took me straight to the work of Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Dr. Matthew Walker who recently recorded an episode called “Improve Sleep to Boost Mood and Emotion Regulation.” [vi] It was here where I learned just how important sleep is for keeping a strong, clear mind, so we can use this strength to acknowledge and regulate our emotions, like Bosnick suggested. Dr. Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and the host of The Matt Walker Podcast, gave example after example that proved that when you've NOT had a good night's sleep, things that wouldn't bother you (when you've slept well), begin to aggravate, or grate on you more. Here's what I found to be remarkable on this topic, something I had not ever heard before. DID YOU KNOW that "The greater amount of REM sleep you are getting (where our dreams occur), the greater amount of emotional detox you will get the next day?" (Dr. Matthew Walker). Dr. Walker went on to explain that “the brain chemical noradrenaline (that's responsible for our stress reaction) completely shuts off during REM sleep, and serotonin (that plays a role with our mood) decreases, while acetyl choline (that carries messages from our brain to our body through nerve cells) increases by up to 30% in some parts of the brain (and can be even more active than when we were awake).  Dr. Walker concluded that the decrease of stress related brain chemicals is what makes “REM sleep was the perfect condition for overnight therapy.” If we want to improve our emotion regulation, the science is pointing directly to improving our sleep. Diving deep into the 4 stages of sleep and suggestions to improve our sleep is something I've been working on for the past 5 years. There is a lot to this, and I'm still working on improving ALL the macroingredients of a good sleep (suggested by Dr. Walker), that include QQRT, or knowing the quantity (amount of sleep), quality (fragmented vs continuous), regularity (sleeping/waking around the same time) and timing (sleeping in alignment with my chronotype).  Dr. Walker dives deep into all these areas with Dr. Huberman, and if you do wonder where you can improve, I highly suggest their 6-part series on sleep.  TIPS FOR IMPROVING EMOTION REGULATION BY IMPROVING OUR SLEEP: Here are three tips that I took away from the neuroscience of self-regulation, that I've been working on, to see if improving my sleep in these areas, could possibly improve emotion regulation. KNOW HOW MUCH DEEP SLEEP WE ARE GETTING EACH NIGHT: We all know the importance of knowing how much sleep we are getting to be well-rested the next day, (how many hours or the quantity) but it's also important to keep an eye on the QUALITY or amount of DEEP RESTORATIVE sleep we are getting each night.   Most of us could all sleep a bit longer (or I'll speak for myself here) because this is one area that's hard to do living in Arizona. If I want to beat the summer heat, we need to wake up early to exercise before the heat advisory warnings go off around 8am, and this means that to get one benefit, (daily exercise) it comes at the cost of losing some sleep.  In addition to knowing I need to improve how long I'm sleeping, (and ways to offset waking up early for exercise) it's also being sure that I'm getting quality sleep each night. This is my current area of focus that I've been tracking the past few months. You can see from the diagram in the show notes that there are some nights I went above my average of 2 hours 22 minutes of restorative sleep, measuring this using the Whoop wearable tracker, and other nights I was far below. When I looked at what was happening in my life on those days where restorative sleep was low, there wasn't anything that stood out, other than when I began to pay attention to ALL areas of sleep (QQRT-quality, quantity, regularity and timing), restorative sleep improved. There are many type of trackers you can use to track restorative sleep. The tracker I use tells me how much deep sleep I'm getting (that's physically restorative) and how much REM sleep (that's mentally restorative). KNOW HOW MUCH REM SLEEP WE ARE GETTING: Keeping an eye on how much REM sleep we getting, is my next tip, since we know it's important for consolidating new memories, learning and motor skills. We also just learned that the more REM sleep we are getting, we can say we are getting some good overnight therapy, restoring ourselves mentally. You can find sleep trackers that can help you to measure and track these important ingredients of a good sleep for yourself, and see how much REM sleep you are getting each night, while keeping in mind that “the greater amount of REM sleep you are getting, the greater amount of emotional detox you will get the next day.” (Dr. Walker) I noticed this number improved just by forcing myself to stay in bed a little bit longer, even if it was only waking up, and saying “try to go back to sleep for another 15 or 20 minutes” and this improved REM sleep, since the REM sleep rich phase is at the end of the night. You can see the purple areas on the graph of my REM sleep in the show notes, right at the end of my sleep. If I had not pushed to stay asleep till after 5:00am (my internal clock would have me getting up at 4am) then I would have missed out on some valuable REM sleep here. If you can measure this for yourself, you can find ways to increase this valuable sleep stage for yourself. I'll also add that if you can remember your dreams, especially the ones just before you wake up, you can learn a lot about yourself, increasing your self-awareness. Remember, we are working on ways to help with our emotion regulation, and it seems to me, that an easy way to do this, would be to see how we can improve our REM sleep.   APPLY THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP TO IMPROVE EMOTION REGULATION: Since “during REM sleep the stress chemicals are turned off” helping us to “strip away the emotion from the memory” we can take this understanding a step further, and see if we are able to solve any of our problems during sleep. Dr. Huberman and Dr. Walker went into great detail about this concept[vii] that I've actually witnessed it first-hand. They described what happens in REM sleep to be like “Behavior-Desensitization” and I had the opportunity to see the stages of this process, done by someone skilled and trained in trauma and the brain, working with someone I know well, who has experiences significant trauma in their life, starting at an early age. Using a series of techniques, the trained therapist took the client safely from talking about a traumatic memory from their childhood, (with exteme emotion attached) to where they could say out loud that the memory had lost its emotional load and no longer gave them an emotional reaction. This is exactly what happens to our brain during REM sleep and why it's mentally restorative. Putting these tips all together, and knowing that improving the quality, and quantity of sleep is linked to improving emotion regulation, I'm working hard to improve restorative sleep and REM sleep, each month.  I hope these tips have given you some insight on NEW ways that sleep can improve our emotion regulation. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #335 on Chapter 9 on “The Neuroscience of Emotion Regulation” We looked at where we covered self-regulation in our early days of this podcast back in August of 2019, with some tips for teaching this skill to our children or students. This skill is one of 6 social and emotional skills that are finally being taught in our schools today. This is a foundational skill for future success. We looked at Grant Bosnick's suggestion to regulate emotions in his book, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership with his chart that suggests: TIP 1: Labelling our emotions, and looking for a way to distract/create distance from them to provide temporary relief. If we focus on the emotional aspects, he tells us “it will drive us into a downward spiral” TIP 2: If we learn to “focus on the non-emotional aspects, or distance ourselves (from whatever it is that is bothering us) this is the start to creating an upward spiral.” TIP 3: Reframing the emotion, or changing the way we think about it, by looking at the problem from a different perspective, can help to see it in a more positive way. TIP 4: In Bosnick's last technique of “response modulation” he mentioned that once we are hit with an emotion about something, he asks “is it better to suppress it, or acknowledge it?” (Page 99, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick). He says “when we feel strong, clear-headed and have executive control, it is better to acknowledge the emotion so we can regulate it.” (Page 100, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick). CONNECTING THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP TO IMPROVE EMOTION REGULATION: This led us to dive deeper into the neuroscience of emotion regulation with the work of Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Matthew Walker, known as The Sleep Diplomat. “Sleep moves the needle on almost every aspect of brain and body health” Matt Walker Before listening to Dr. Walker's most recent episode with Dr. Huberman, I had no idea that the research would point to a direct correlation with a good night's sleep and our emotion regulation. DID YOU KNOW that “The greater amount of REM sleep we are getting, the greater amount of emotional detox we will get the next day?” (Dr. Matthew Walker).   Grant Bosnick said that “when we feel strong, clear-headed and have executive control, it is better to acknowledge the emotion so we can regulate it.” (Page 100, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick). It therefore makes sense to me that in order to strengthen emotion regulation, then we must therefore strengthen our sleep. 3 TIPS FOR IMPROVING EMOTION REGULATION BY MEASURING OUR SLEEP: KNOW HOW MUCH DEEP SLEEP WE ARE GETTING EACH NIGHT KNOW HOW MUCH REM SLEEP WE ARE GETTING KNOW THAT INCREASING REM SLEEP= OVERNIGHT THERAPY  Finally, how will we know if we are improving our emotion regulation by improving our sleep? Ask yourself how well you are doing with this. Remember: When we feel strong, clear-headed and have executive control, (it is better to acknowledge the emotion so) we will be able to better manage our emotions.  (Page 100, Chapter 9, Emotional Regulation, Bosnick). This is a work in progress for me, but without asking anyone else, I know that the research is accurate when it shows that “sleep deprivation increases reactivity in the amygdala by 60%.”[viii] To best way to improve reactivity in the amygdala, is by getting sufficient sleep. Improving all the ingredients of sleep (quality, quantity, regularity and timing). I also know that when I'm getting a good night sleep, my senses are more activated, and I can see more beauty in the world, especially with others around me. I'm more accepting of myself, and know that I'm stronger and more peaceful, which is what Grant Bosnick suggested for being able to improve this foundational success skill. This translates to the work I'm doing, looking at the world through a different lens where life becomes more joyful, creating hope that anything is possible (for myself and others). And all of this came from connecting the science behind a good night's sleep to emotion regulation. I hope this episode has given you some helpful ideas, and we will see you next time, as we move to chapter 10 of Grant Boswick's book on the Science Behind Persuading and Influencing. REVIEW In this 18-week Series that we began in the beginning of February, (after I was inspired to cover Grant's book after our interview the end of January) we are covering: ✔ Powerful tactics from this Grant Bosnick's award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success by applying the neuroscience Grant has uncovered in each chapter. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels while we map out our journey over this 18-week course. REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #14 “Self-Regulation: The Foundational Skill for Future Success” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/self-regulation-the-foundational-learning-skill-for-future-success/   [iv] How Can We Help Our Kids with Self-Regulation https://childmind.org/article/can-help-kids-self-regulation/amp/   [v]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #289 with Dr. Maiysha Clairborne on “What Hold Us Back: Getting to the Roots of Our Doubts, Fears and Beliefs”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/maiysha-clairborne-md-on-what-holds-us-back-getting-to-the-root-of-our-doubts-fears-and-beliefs/   [vi] Dr. Matt Walker: Improve Sleep to Boost Mood & Emotional Regulation | Huberman Lab Guest Series  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_SrHS8FvMM   [vii] Dr. Matt Walker: Improve Sleep to Boost Mood & Emotional Regulation | Huberman Lab Guest Series  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_SrHS8FvMM   [viii] IBID      

Welcome back to Season 11 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast! In Episode #334, host Andrea Samadi reconnects with Ike Diogu, a former Division I college athlete turned pro, whose impressive mental mindset left a lasting impact on her over 20 years ago. Watch this interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/hvBHF4ectQI EPISODE #334 with Nigerian-American Basketball Player, Ike Diogu on "The Mindset of a Champion" we will cover: ✔ Ike's journey from ASU to the NBA and Beyond. ✔ How his upbringing, influenced by his family shaped his mental toughness ✔ How his coach, teammates and personal values played a role in his success in the NBA and as the captain of the Nigerian Basketball Team. ✔ How Ike inspired Andrea, over 20 years ago, to continue working with students and social and emotional learning skills. Discover the story of Ike's journey from Arizona State University to the NBA, and how his upbringing, influenced by a deep-thinking father and supportive siblings, shaped his mental toughness. Learn how Ike's coach, teammates, and personal values played a role in his success, both in the NBA and as a captain of the Nigerian national basketball team. Andrea and Ike delve into the importance of mental preparation, goal setting, and the power of a supportive environment. Ike shares his experiences from the Rio 2016 Olympics and his ongoing passion for basketball and mentoring others. This episode is a testament to the power of social and emotional learning, and the impact of mental mindset on achieving extraordinary results. Don't miss this inspiring conversation that highlights the intersection of neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and athletic excellence. On today's episode #334 we meet with someone who caught my eye, over 20 years ago when I worked with athletes at Arizona State University. Sitting in front of Ike Diogu, years before his exciting career would unfold, I just knew he would be successful. I was in my late 20s, and hadn't published my first book yet, The Secret for Teens Revealed, that was written with the purpose to help our next generation sharpen the skills that were integral for achieving goals (in school and sports). It designed to develop certain ways of behaving and more importantly, thinking, that would enable young people to achieve whatever it is that they want in life. Working with elite College athletes at ASU, I thought would be a great place to test out the chapters of this book (Chapter 1- Developing a Winning Attitude, Chapter 2- Developing Your Mind, Chapter 4-Goal-Setting and Persistence, Chapter 5-Building Your Confidence Formula for Predictable Results for Success). You get the point here. So, one day, I asked Ike a series of questions to “feel out” where his mindset was, and I'm not kidding, he almost knocked me out of my chair. Whatever I asked Ike, he had a well-thought out answer, that told me for certain that he didn't need the book I wanted to publish. He had already learned these skills at a young age, that I knew would skyrocket his future success. I just remember thinking “where will Ike Diogu end up?” and while I didn't follow his career over the years, I did see his photo on the wall one day, going down to the baggage claim at Arizona's Sky Harbor Airport, and it was then that I thought back to the moment I knew this young man had everything he needed, for an exciting and successful life. Of course I was going to look for him, and see if he would be open to coming on the podcast. We've learned about the Daily Grind in the NHL on EP #38[i], Accelerating Leadership in the NFL on EP #166[ii] but I knew I've always been missing the Mindset of the Athlete. I'm honored, and so excited to connect back with Ike Diogu,[iii] who I've not seen face to face for over 20 years, and dive into “The Mindset of a Division 1 College Athlete Turned Pro.” Welcome Ike! Thank you for agreeing to meet up with me here, and filling me and our listeners in to what you've been up to the past 20 years!!  I wonder, when I reached out to you, do you remember me from back at ASU? You wouldn't know that that was my first official job in the US. I came from Toronto, Canada, with so many hopes and dreams for our next generation, and September 11th really made it difficult for me. Working with you gave me vision and hope during what I remember as my most difficult and challenging times in a new country. I used to look forward to those days at ASU, and knew you were helping me much more that I was helping you.  It does come full circle sometimes when we get to tell those people who helped to motivate and inspire us. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to work with you back then. INTRO Q: Before we get to where you went after I met you at ASU, can you just orient our listeners to your background BEFORE you went to College at ASU? Where did you grow up, and I'm looking for where did your winning mindset come from? Was it your Dad with a doctorate degree in Philosophy do you think? Who taught you these skills (they are called SEL skills now)--I knew they were important, (had this book written but not yet published) and they hadn't yet made it into our schools yet? Q1: I mentioned that you made a memorable impression on me all those years ago. It was your mental mindset that stood out to me. So much so, that when I saw your photo on the wall at the Phoenix airport, going down to the baggage claim, I completely freaked out and said to my husband “I knew Ike Diogu was going places! I just knew it!” I've kind of got a 6th sense for seeing talent, and while I like to see the talent in EVERYONE, I notice that not everyone uses the gifts they've been given, but you were in full use of them all when I met you. I had to watch an incredible interview you did on “Pioneering the Golden Age of Nigerian Basketball” from 3 years ago to get up to speed with where I last saw you, but can we start with something I saw somewhere that you said in that interview? You said “throughout all the adversity that I had throughout my professional career, I think the mental toughness (Coach Evans) instilled helped me get through some of the really tough times I faced.” I remember your Coach walking around at ASU…he had quite the presence.  How did coach Evans help strengthen your mental toughness? I saw it as very strong already, back then. What did he teach you to set you up for success AFTER playing College Basketball? Q2: I'll credit the photos I'm using in this interview to the African in Sports interview you did 3 years ago. It did help me to accurately see where you went after ASU. I had no idea…I just knew you would do amazing things in the world. In this photo, the interviewer asked about your teammates at ASU and look at that smile. I knew ASU was special for you, but what do you think made it so special, enough that you would really have to think about leaving there, to go to the NBA? Q3: Let's go to when you were drafted to the NBA. You said yourself “I never would have imagined that I would have made the jump that I made.” I did…but 20 years ago, ( I saw you would have Quantum Leap success) I was just learning to trust things like heightened intuition that I never ignore anymore. Tell me about your mindset of “putting your name into the draft” and then playing at open gym in Garland, TX. In the back of your mind, what were you thinking? Q4: So, back at ASU, I remember asking you questions about where your confidence levels were, or your attitude and mental mindset. Those are all pretty normal questions, but I knew they weren't being taught in our schools. Now I've been researching the science behind high performance for 20 years, and working on bridging the gap with some things that might be considered spiritual in nature, but when I saw the #9 that you wore for when you were drafted into the NBA for the Golden State Warriors, I can't help but ask “what does the number 9 mean to you? Anything? Or are you just assigned that number based on your pick? I ask this because the #9 is considered a lucky number in many cultures, and is associated with spiritual growth, selflessness and humanitarianism. I had to look at the numbers you wore at ASU. #5-is known for freedom, curiosity and change, as well as a desire to have adventures and explore new possibilities (which I think is interesting that it's here where you left College BB and leaped forward to the NBA).  Does this mean anything to you? Then #6 is associated with responsibility, service and nurturing, that I saw you brought to the Nigerian Team with your background in the NBA. But I also saw a photo of you on your IG page, in front of Garland High School, that has the slogan “Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve.” I'm guessing this was your High School. Do you think your natural ability or drive to serve others began here, or before this? There isn't any science to the numbers, but I did notice the well-known numerology meanings coincided with each team, staring with #9 and I was curious if any of the numbers have meaning to you. Q5: So, now take us to Nigeria where I saw you were the Captain of your team. What did you teach your team that you learned from the NBA about preparing to go against your opponent? Q6: I heard you say “In order to get to the next level that we want to go, you need to do X, Y, and Z” and I wonder what were some of the important strategies you taught them? What was X, Y and Z?  Q7: The Rio 2016 Olympics—What was that experience like? Q8: Where are you now? Are you playing for Venezuela? What's been your path since the Olympics? What is your vision for the next 5 years? Ike, it's been an honor to reconnect with you. I'm so grateful for this chance to have you on the podcast really just to let you know that you had these skills all along, and I hope other who tune in around the world can gain some inspiration and hope from your life experience. When I look back over the years, the people I've had on as guests have made an impact on me in some way (whether from their research in the scientific world, or in education, or those who just made me stop and think about how I can better serve the world). You definitely caught my attention 20 years ago, and watching the interview you did (African in Sports Interview)[iv] I was beyond moved from not only your mindset for excellence, but the desire to help others to reach their greatest heights. I look forward to following your work in the future, and know you will continue to stand out in your field. Thanks for meeting with me today! FINAL THOUGHTS Some final thoughts. At the end of this interview, I thanked Ike for giving me such incredible hope at a time in my life when I didn't have it all figured out. I remember having these huge visions for these important social and emotional learning skills that were not yet taught in our schools, and Ike's grasp of these skills propelled me forward. This was years before we had the research behind these SEL Competencies that we now know skyrocket academic achievement, healthy relationships, mental wellness and so much more.[v] These SEL skills are integral in our classrooms today. I think it's important to be open at all times to learn from others, as you never know what it is that might help you in the future, like Ike helped me to stay focused on this work. I do highly encourage watching the interview I mentioned, “Ike Diogu: Pioneering the Golden Age of Nigerian Basketball”[vi] if you want to learn all of the details of Ike's Motivating Story “Diving into the Mindset of a D1 College Basketball Player, turned Pro.” I'm grateful to have had the chance to reconnect with Ike, and do want to give a shout out to all the parents out there, like Ike's Dad, who are raising their children to be mentally and physically strong. Also, the coaches, like coach Evans[vii], who took Ike to the heights he needed to be successful at the pro level, and taking his mental toughness to greater heights. I believe we all have the ability to do just what Ike did, (maybe not with basketball, but I mean make Quantum Leaps with our results) and as Ike said himself, he “never would have imagined making the jump that (he) made.” But I did. I bet his Dad and family did as well. And Coach Evans did. Ike was surrounded by people who believed in him. Which is a testament for all of us to keep learning, growing, and reaching for the next level in whatever it is that we want in our lives, and encourage others to do the same. I'll end with a quote from Thomas Edison: See you next week as we continue with our Self-Leadership Series, and chapter 9, on Self-Regulation. RESOURCES AND MORE ABOUT IKE DIOGU Ike Diogu | Pioneering the Golden Age of Nigerian Basketball | AIS https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=OHb6W9TKzcs Ike Diogu on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blackcaesar01/   REFERENCES:   [i] https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/assistant-coach-to-the-winnipeg-jets-todd-woodcroft-on-the-daily-grind-in-the-nhl/   [ii] https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/vice-president-executive-producer-of-the-new-york-jets-chris-gargano-on-accelerating-leadership-for-maximum-impact-and-results/   [iii] Ike Diogu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ike_Diogu   [iv]Ike Diogu | Pioneering the Golden Age of Nigerian Basketball | AIS  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=OHb6W9TKzcs   [v] https://casel.org/   [vi] Ike Diogu | Pioneering the Golden Age of Nigerian Basketball | AIS  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=OHb6W9TKzcs     [vii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Evans_(basketball)    

Join us on episode 333 in the 11th season of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. Our mission, as always, is to equip you with actionable, scientifically supported methods to hone social-emotional learning skills, boost productivity and promote overall well-being. This episode continues our 18-week self-leadership series informed by Grant Bosnick's proven strategies. In this installment, we turn our attention to the crucial role of expectations in our lives. Starting off the discussion in the engaging world of Grant Bosnick's book, we dissect the meaning and importance of expectations. We then explore the crucial aspects of emotion regulation, persuasive traits, effective time management, and the vast concept of change. This episode revisits key moments from our previous chapters, ranging from the neuroscience of goals to the significance of hydration on brain performance, AHA moments, creative insights, and more. The highlight of the episode is an in-depth exploration of the science of expectations, underpinned by Grant Bosnick and David Robson's book, 'The Expectation Effect.' Here, we probe the profound influence of positive and negative expectations on our daily life, mindset, goal achievement, and even health. Inspired by teachings from luminary mentors like Bob Proctor, this illuminating exploration of expectations is designed to leave you with a fresh perspective. Stories from an unforgettable seminar 20 years ago bring to life the immense power of expectations. Understanding the neuroscience connections, we further explore dopamine and its correlation with our level of expectations. Practical tips to apply these psychological insights in day-to-day life are provided as we take you on an intellectual journey from theory to practice. Throughout the episode, you will discover how to better regulate your expectations to boost your happiness, productivity, and confidence. This intellectual journey will equip you with the tools to tap into the power of expectation and unlock a better version of yourself. Expect the best and join us to uncover the enormous potential within you. Stay tuned for our next episode, 'The Neuroscience of Emotion Regulation', as we continue our intellectual journey. Welcome back to SEASON 11 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's episode #333 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January.  The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. Today we cover Chapter 8, “The Neuroscience of Expectations” and l look at what Grant Bosnick covers on this topic, as well as a deeper dive into David Robson's book, The Expectation Effect.   We will cover:  ✔  What is the meaning and importance of expectations? ✔  An unforgettable moment when Andrea first encountered the power behind our expectations.  ✔  We will explore the science of expectations to boost your happiness, productivity, and confidence. ✔  3 TIPS for applying The Neuroscience of Expectation to your daily life. ✔  Ideas to trouble-shoot applying this concept, along with belief, to achieve your goals and dreams.  I did need to take a short break from writing and recording since we last covered this book, the end of March, with new responsibilities in my work world. I've got my footing now, and missed researching, recording, and producing these episodes. The benefits that I personally receive from gathering this information, and sharing with it you, the listener, wherever you might be tuning in around the world, helps me in many different ways, but mostly, this work keeps me thinking, and making connections, neural connections, which we all know is important for cognition and learning. I did appreciate the notes from listeners of past episodes they have found helpful, and will continue to provide my best work here. We will resume the final 5 chapters of Grant's book, based on Self-Leadership strategies, covering the topic of expectations today, then emotion regulation, persuade and influence, time management and ending the series with change. Just a reminder that we left off with Chapter 7 on “AHA Moments and Creative Insight.[ii]” There is great power and immense self-awareness that comes along with mapping out a plan designed specifically for YOU and I do encourage everyone to take Grant Bosnick's Leadership Self-Assessment[iii] so you can see the areas for you that score a high, medium or low level of importance for you to focus on this year. REVIEW Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Before we cover Chapter 8 today on Expectations, let's review where we left off, since this is a good reminder for me, to make the connections from these prior episodes. It's here I'm hoping we will take the information we are learning, (from Grant Bosnick's book) connect the dots to form knowledge and then apply this knowledge to our daily life. This is where we go from theory to practice with this podcast and it's the application of what we are learning that contains the magic. REFLECT Back to Chapter 2 on The Neuroscience of Goals (and Kurt Lewin's Force Field Theory): What are we doing to gain the momentum needed to reach NEW and HEIGHTENED levels of performance this year? How are we improving our mental and physical health to gain the momentum we talked about in this chapter? Just the fact that you are here listening to this episode, and I'm writing it, is a good indication we are all building this skill. What have you noticed with the momentum you've built with your goals this year? Are you on track? How can you narrow your focus more? REFLECT Back to Chapter 3 on The Neuroscience of Inspiration: How are we using people or places that inspire us, to take our results to greater heights? Think about this as it relates to our physical and mental health. What else can we all do to take more action in this area? I recently connected with someone who caught my attention over 20 years ago, when I worked with athletes at ASU. I remember sitting in front of this one athlete, and just knew he was going somewhere. We are working on the details to have him on the podcast right now, but stay tuned for a future episode on “Diving into the Mindset of a D1 College Athlete, Turned Pro” with Nigerian-American professional basketball player, Ike Diogu. Who are what is inspiring you these days? REFLECT Back to Chapter 4 on The Neuroscience of Mindfulness: Think about where we are in our Mindfulness Journey? Mindfulness, and breathing was listed often in Chapter 4 of Grant Bosnick's book.  How is mindfulness helping us with our physical health? What's interesting to me with this topic, is that the more I continue to study, and look to improve my own areas of weakness (right now I'm looking at how to optimize sleep which is currently my weakest link) and am diving deep into this topic with Dr. Matthew Walker's most recent 6 PART podcast series with Dr. Andrew Huberman.[iv] Mindfulness is a topic that Dr. Walker lists as integral for improving sleep. I'm curious how you are implementing this skill to improve daily results. REFLECT Back to Chapter 5 on The Neuroscience Behind Peak Performance: How are we practicing “getting into our flow?” When do we notice we are in flow the most?  Is it during physical exercise, or meditation? Are we practicing this state to gain 5x more productivity this year? This is a hard one, as getting into this flow state requires practice for me. A month and a half away from this podcast, really did take me out of my flow state here. After recording an interview, and editing, I made many mistakes, or flat out forgot what to do next on the production side. I was rusty, and not in flow. I'd been producing episodes for 5 years, without taking a break, and this break revealed that the skills I'd developed need to be practiced. Use them, or lose them type of idea. This is exactly how my daughters explain what happens to them when they take time away from their sport with an injury. I learned that when we lose this flow, the best way to get it back is to get back to work, as best as we can. One step at a time. What about you? How are you using flow in your daily life? REFLECT BACK to Chapter 6 on The Science Behind our Physical Health: Where we narrowed our focus from a wide and complex field, to something we can implement immediately with “The Hydrated Brain for Improving Our Cognitive Performance.” Midway through the year, I'm thinking “How am I keeping my brain hydrated?” Do I know how much water I'm drinking every day? This is something I've put more emphasis on recently, as we have now introduced an Infrared Sauna to our daily routine, and this requires more water to help eliminate toxins. They recommend drinking 20 ounces of water before using the sauna, since sweating can cause dehydration, and drinking at least a liter (or four 8 ounce glasses of water) afterwards. I did think it was interesting that one of the products I've also been wearing since our interview last year with Dmitri Leonov, who taught us about the Taopatch[v] nanotechnology that also requires an increase in water intake to eliminate toxins. Do you know about how much water you are drinking every day? REFLECT BACK to Chapter 7 on “AHA Moments, Creative Insight and The Brain” where we looked at the book, The Eureka Factor: AHA Moments, Creative Insight and the Brain by John Kounios and Mark Beeman. They wrote this book to “explain how these Eureka experiences happen—and how to have more of them to enrich our lives and empower personal and professional success.” (The Eureka Factor).  We also went back to PART 4 of The Silva Method[vi] on “Improving Creativity and Innovation in our Schools, Sports and Modern Workplaces” where we tapped into (once again) to Dr. Andrew Huberman's research on creativity here, thinking about how we can have more insight to solve problems in our personal and work lives. It's definitely a balancing act, working on implementing ALL of these strategies for an improved 2024. Some of these I've got the hang of, and others (like sleep) are continual works of progress for me. For Today, EPISODE #333, we are moving on to Chapter 8, covering “The Neuroscience Behind Expectations” where we will dive into a topic that I mark as high importance in my life, right up with breathing. When I took my self-assessment, the topic of expectations showed up as low priority for me to focus on this year. Not because it's not important to me, but because I've already made this topic of high importance. Expectations came out for me in the RED category, with a low score of 8% along with goals and time management, that I also put high importance with on a daily basis.  If you've taken the self-assessment, look to see if Expectations are of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. Before looking at Grant Bosnick's thoughts about the topic of expectations, where he begins chapter 8 by asking us “what did you expect?” I had to do some research first, to see what is already out in the world, and there was a lot out there, on the science behind expectations. I first looked at the definition. What does it mean when someone has expectations? Collins Dictionary defined this term to mean “your strong hopes or beliefs that something will happen or that you will get something that you want.”[vii] When I typed “expectations” into Pubmed.gov (a free database of more than 37 million research articles) I saw over 95,000 entries for how expectations can help a person to improve their health and behavioral outcomes, and noticed topics like “unmet expectations[viii]” or even “how expectations modulate pain.”[ix] Before going down the rabbit hole looking to understand the science behind expectations, I found a book called The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World[x] by David Robson that I highly recommend. He covers a “journey through cutting-edge science of how our mindset shapes every facet of our lives, revealing how your brain holds the keys to unlocking a better version of you.” It was in the first few pages of Robson's Expectation Effect where I began to piece together past podcast episodes where we've talked about how “expectation hooks us up to what we want.” I saw the word “expectation” then BOOM, I could hear my mentor, Bob Proctor talking about this exact topic, back in the late 1990s. Who knew there was a science to this! We will get there, but here's what I remembered learning on this topic, 20 years ago. When Proctor talked about the importance of “expecting” what it is that we want, I remember highlighting it at the top of my notebook with an ORANGE highlighter, and never thought I would years later share these notes with anyone, (sorry they aren't neater) but look what I wrote. “Expectation hooks you up to what you want, and brings it to you.” Then further down the page, wrote “you can be hooked up to what you want (you've read Think and Grow Rich a billion times, and even listened to our 6 PART Series Think and Grow Rich Series,[xi] and you know EXACTLY what you want) but you DON'T EXPECT to ever get it, for some reason, that only you would be aware of. If you don't expect it, you won't bring it to you. I remember Proctor explaining this concept with goals, and he said it could also work with something we expect that we don't want, like a winter cold when we say something like, “Oh, I usually get a cold right before Thanksgiving, so let's not meet up until after this time.” Have you ever had someone tell you they were expecting to become ill? My mind goes straight back to the orange highlighter, and how I knew it was important to highlight that what we “expect” to happen, is brought right to us. Robson writes in his book that: Now I really did believe in these concepts I learned back in those seminar days, (because I saw first-hand how many people achieved results from this way of thinking) but I'm sure many others thought these ideas were superstitious or something. Fast forward 20 years, and now, I see this exact concept written in the 2022 book by David Robson, called The Expectation Effect, illustrating that what scientists are learning about the connections between the human brain and performance, are nothing short of amazing! Many of us have heard of these concepts, we might have even written them down, and highlighted them in orange, but now, science reveals something new about how our brain responds to the things we “expect” to happen. David Robson shows us in his book exactly “how those beliefs, in themselves, shape your health and well-being in profound ways, and that learning to reset our expectations (about these issues) can have truly remarkable effects on our health, happiness and productivity.” (David Robson, The Expectation Effect). So, I'm reading David Robson's book, excited to make a scientific connection to the word I highlighted in ORANGE in those seminar days, and here I come across the author warning us about New Age self-help books, like Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, that Bob Proctor starred in, saying these concepts to be pseudoscience. I will say that many people misunderstand The Secret and Proctor[xii] himself said “You can't just THINK and GROW RICH, you've got to DO SOMETHING with those thoughts.” So with an open mind, let's see what Grant Bosnick has to say about The Neuroscience of Expectations. I did mention that Grant opens up chapter 8 by saying “What did you expect?” and he gives examples in the beginning of this chapter ways that expectations are created in our minds whether it's with an expensive glass of wine we taste, that we “expect” to taste good based on its price, or even the credibility that we “expect” from doctors verses the doctor's assistant. What Grant Bosnich Says About The Science of Expectations: Grants explains that “in neuroscience, dopamine is the neurochemical in our brain that makes us feel good and is associated with feelings of euphoria, bliss, motivation, concentration and reward. If we meet our expectations, then it generates a slight increase in dopamine, and a slight reward response. If we exceed our expectations, it generates a strong increase in dopamine, and a strong reward response. And if our expectations are unmet, it generates a large drop in dopamine, and a strong threat response.” (Chapter 8, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 84/85). Grant explains that when our expectations are met or exceeded, this “increases our dopamine levels, which leads to increased happiness and well-being, which helps maximize our performance by setting up the conditions of flow and insight, which leads to more productivity and increased confidence.” (Chapter 8, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 84/85). But here's the kicker! Grant shares that “if our expectations are not met, (however) that it dramatically decreases our dopamine levels, we feel disappointment and stress, resulting in poor performance and decreased confidence.” (Chapter 8, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 84/85). Grant asks us some questions around what we expect of ourselves and others, and it's here that I thought about how I have high expectations for myself, and the goals I'm working on, but I've noticed that in order to avoid disappointment, I work on not having expectations of others. Except of when I go to the doctor for something important, I except that he will look after whatever it is that I'm there for to the best of their ability. There is this one doctor that I drive over an hour to see him, because his services exceeded my expectations. His office experience was not the best, but when I get to see him, I have a high level of care, that I expect, and I'll look past the poor experience in his offices, to get to the high level of care when I reach him. Grant addresses this by saying that we can influence our own, and other people's expectations by “delivering higher than expected” (Chapter 8, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 87) which is exactly what happened to me with that doctor. Grant explains the importance of “setting the expectation low, then delivering high” to avoid disappointment. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #333 on Chapter 8 on “The Neuroscience of Expectations” DID YOU KNOW: That when our expectations are met or exceeded, this “increases our dopamine levels, which leads to increased happiness and well-being, which helps maximize our performance by setting up the conditions of flow and insight, which leads to more productivity and increased confidence?” (Chapter 8, Grant Bosnick) Conversely, did you know that “if our expectations are not met, that it dramatically decreases our dopamine levels, we feel disappointment and stress, resulting in poor performance and decreased confidence?” (Chapter 8, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, Page 84/85). I go right back to Grant's opening statement “What did you expect” and then my ORANGE highlighted notes from 20 years ago where I learned that “expectation hooks us up to what we want.” HOW TO USE THE NEUROSCIENCE OF EXPECTATIONS IN OUR DAILY LIFE: KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M EXPECTING (of myself and others): Understanding the science, helps me to keep my expectations tied to myself, and not others, to avoid disappointment and stress.  I expect to achieve my goals, (by putting in the necessary work) keep myself in good health (physical and mental) and will not just THINK about these expectations, but will do the hard work, take the action necessary to achieve them. This way, I'm not just “thinking” of what I expect to occur, I'm actually doing something with those thoughts, like the quote from Bob Proctor from the beginning of this episode. If I'm ever feeling “disappointed” with something in my life, a good question to ask is “what did you expect?” and see if I can backtrack to my thoughts. Was I using the science to flood my brain with dopamine, (with something within my control-that I could take action towards) or not. USE A POSITIVE EXPECTATION TO BUILD RESILIENCE FOR A HEALTHIER VERSION OF ME: Understanding the science behind our expectations, and especially David Robson's work, where I learned that “people with a more positive attitude towards their later years are less likely to develop hearing loss, frailty, and illness—and even Alzheimer's disease—than people who associate aging with senility and disability” (David Robson, The Expectation Effect) marks a strong case for expecting exceptional mental and physical health in the future. Again, it goes without saying that we can't just “think” ourselves into good health. We need to do the work here in order to expect results to occur. CONTINUE TO EXPECT GOOD THINGS (for myself and others) AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT SUPERSTITIONS LIKE CREATING MY OWN LUCKY CHARM. Knowing that “expectations and beliefs can influence—indeed are already influencing your life in many other surprising and powerful ways. (David Robson, The Expectation Effect) makes me believe in some of the rituals I've heard of over the years, like lucky charms. I learned from David Robson's The Expectation Effect, that “superstitions and rituals can boost perseverance and performance across a whole range of cognitive tasks, and (that) the advantages are often considerable.” (Page 198, The Expectation Effect). Whether you are a professional athlete, singer, public speaker, or someone like me who just wants improved results in your life, there is a science to having a lucky charm, or something that brings you the promise of success, to help you to create a feeling of control during high stress. Don't dismiss the power of a lucky rock with a goal written on it, or whatever it is that holds significance to you with your future goals, or something that has meaning to you, that you expect to occur in your future. FINAL THOUGHTS ON OUR EXPECTATIONS: Some final thoughts, before closing out this episode, when we are working on our expectations, it's highly important to be honest with whether you believe them to be possible, or not. This is an important part of this. David Robson mentioned in his book, The Expectation Effect that: THINK ABOUT HOW YOU RESPOND TO DIFFICULT LIFE CHALLENGES: Imagine yourself going for a new position at work, and you are talking to your close family members about where you are in the interview process. They say to you “this sounds good, it looks like you are in the lead for this new position” and you reply “I'll let know IF I get the job.” How you speak about your expectations (or as Robson said “our responses to difficult situations” (internally in your mind), or out loud to others, is extremely important. Keeping brain science in mind, the best way to talk about your expectations is with certainty and our reply with this brain science in mind could be along the lines of “I'll let you know WHEN I get the new position” to keep the dopamine flowing to your brain. This response will help you to “feel good (and is associated) with feelings of euphoria, bliss, motivation, concentration and reward.” (Grant Bosnick). If for some reason, you don't believe what you are expecting, or that the leap might be too far of a jump for you, you will feel what's called cognitive dissonance, and you'll need to do more internal work to get yourself to the place where you can think “truth rather than appearances”[xiii] and speak what you expect out loud, (or think it internally) and feel the alignment of this expectation in your life. Only then will we get to this place where our expectations and beliefs can influence our life in many astonishing and powerful ways, leaving us mind-blown by our own potential for personal change. We'll see you next episode for The Neuroscience of Emotion Regulation.  REVIEW In this 18-week Series that we began in the beginning of February, (after I was inspired to cover Grant's book after our interview the end of January) we are covering: ✔ Powerful tactics from this Grant Bosnick's award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success by applying the neuroscience Grant has uncovered in each chapter. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels while we map out our journey over this 18-week course. REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #330 “Aha Moments and Creative Insight”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/understanding-self-leadership-and-the-neuroscience-of-goals/   [iii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iv] 6 PART Series on Improving Sleep with Dr. Walker and Dr. Huberman https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/guest-series-dr-matthew-walker-the-biology-of-sleep-your-unique-sleep-needs   [v]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #318 with Dmitri Leonov on “Understanding Nanotechnology for Health and Wellness of the Future”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dmitri-leonov-on-taopatch-understanding-nanotechnology-for-health-and-wellness-of-the-future/   [vi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 264 “The Neuroscience Behind The Silva Method: Improving Creativity and Innovation in our Schools, Sports and Modern Workplaces”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-silva-method-improving-creativity-and-innovation-in-our-schools-sports-and-modern-workplaces/   [vii] Expectations Definition https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/expectation#:~:text=Your%20expectations%20are%20your%20strong,get%20something%20that%20you%20want.   [viii] Unmet Expectations at Work at Age 62 and Depressive Symptioms https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34173825/   [ix] How Do Expectations Modulate Pain? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37369088/   [x]The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World by David Robson Feb. 15, 2022  https://www.amazon.com/Expectation-Effect-Mindset-Change-World-ebook [xi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #190 PART 1 “Making 2022 Your Best Year Ever”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/think-and-grow-rich-book-review-part-1-how-to-make-2022-your-best-year-ever/   [xii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #196 PART 6 of our Think and Grow Rich Book Series https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-15-success-principles-of-napoleon-hill-s-classic-boo-think-and-grow-rich/   [xiii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #315 and PART 2 of our REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/        

In the 332nd episode of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast, we have an informative discussion with the distinguished authors of the 'Wisest Learners' series, Dr. Wallace and Dr. Artyom. We delve deep into the intersection of neuroscience, social and emotional learning, and its implications for personal growth and productivity. Listeners will discover invaluable insights on learning strategies, the role of emotions in cognitive control, and how environmental regularities shape memory and attention. See this interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/lk7jJZDqrPo Our conversation explores the significant developmental transitions children undergo around the age of 12 and the bewilderment many parents experience during this time. By discussing the principles laid out in their book, our guests illuminate the importance of a holistic approach to child development from an early age and its profound impact on academic performance and lifelong learning. Specific focus is given to the concept of 'automaticity', which simplifies complex cognitive functions in children. Moving on to practical application, the discussion underscores the critical role of granting children autonomy in their learning journey. Real-life examples highlight how granting autonomy in choices, like book selection, can inculcate a lifelong love for reading and writing. However, an important balance is emphasized to avoid stifling a child's natural curiosity with excessive parental control. A notable part of our conversation is an analogy comparing essential life skills to multivitamins, emphasizing the necessity for multiple principles in education rather than relying on single solutions. The role of parents in a child's education is underlined with varied involvement approaches and their effects. The interaction concludes with important practical suggestions for parents, emphasizing the importance of role-modelling and consistent communication with children. This enlightening episode provides a unique fusion of theoretical understanding and practical guidance, making it essential listening for anyone seeking to better understand how to nurture resilient and joyful learners. Whether you're a parent, educator, or just interested in the fascinating world of cognitive neuroscience, buckle up for this insightful journey into the art and science of parenting based on neuroscience and social and emotional learning. EPISODE #332 with Dr. Wallace Panlilio and Dr. Artyom Zinchenko “The Wisest Learners: Unleashing Neuroscience, Education, and Athletic Ability” we will cover: ✔ How a Cognitive Neuroscientist from Germany, met an experienced School Administrator in the Philippines, to create “The Wisest Learners” book series. ✔ How can we use an understanding of our brain, to bring the joy back into learning for our children and students? ✔ What KEY take-aways should we know about using our brain to be “wise” learners? ✔ How to apply these scientific principles in your school, workplace or sports environment to take your students/children to greater heights? On today's episode #332, we meet Dr. Wallace Panlilio II and Dr. Artyom Zinchenko, the authors of the Wisest Learners[i] Book Series. Dr. Artyom Ph.D is an accomplished author and cognitive neuroscientist with extensive experience in the field. He earned his Doctorate in Cognitive Neuroscience from the Max Plank Institute for Cognitive Human and Brain Sciences in Germany and is now a researcher and a faculty member at LMU in Munich. He's also a father of 2 children. Dr. Wallace is an experienced educator and entrepreneur with a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Philippines and has served as a headmaster (school administrator) for 14 years. He holds 2 master's degrees in entrepreneurship and educational leadership and is always looking at ways to further optimize the results of the students in his schools.  Without further ado, let's meet the authors of The Wisest Learners and see how they connect the most current brain research to the future success of our next generation. Welcome Dr. Wallace Panlilio and Dr. Zinchenko. Where have we reached you today? Thank you for meeting with me to share the vision of your Wisest Learners Book Series to help parents and teachers Unlock the Secrets for our next generation, using the most current neuroscience research. Before we get to the questions, I wonder if you could tell me more about who you are, and where this vision for youth began…especially as helping our youth has also been my life's mission.   Can you describe the inspiration behind "The Wisest Learners: Parents Edition" and how did you intend this series to impact parents and educators? Q1: How can we all use the principles from your book to help our children not just excel academically but also find joy in learning? Q2: In a world filled with information, how does your holistic approach benefit parents/educators to nurture well-rounded learners who can thrive in diverse situations that we know (ad adults) they are going to face? How does your research-based approach give your readers the confidence that the strategies you recommend are backed by science and can truly make a difference in their child's education? Could you discuss the long-term benefits of wise learning for children as they grow into adulthood, not just academically but in their careers and personal lives? Q3: In terms of practical application, how can we begin implementing the book's strategies with our everyday interactions with our children? Can you share an anecdote from the book that illustrates the impact of unconventional connections in learning? How does the book propose to challenge conventional wisdom in education and parenting? The book discusses the integration of technology in learning. What are your views on balancing digital tools with traditional learning methods? Q4: I'm interested in your forthcoming book, Wisest Learners to develop a child's athletic potential. Can you tell me more about what you cover in this book? Dr. Wallace, Dr. Artyom, I want to thank you both for your time and sharing your vision for your Wisest Learners Book series that I think is a critical tool for all of us to read, and implement. For people to reach you, what is the best way? Through your website wisestlearners.com? Q10: Finally, what is the one message you hope every reader takes away from “The Wisest Learners Series?   CONNECT WITH DR. WALLACE PANLILIO AND DR. ARTYOM ZINCHENKO     www.linkedin.com/in/artyom-zinchenko-417021170     www.linkedin.com/in/dr-wallace-panlilio-77490649/    Official Site: www.wisestlearners.com  Instagram: www.instagram.com/wisestlearners    Facebook: www.facebook.com/wisestlearners  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wisest-learners    RESOURCES: "Wisest Learners (Parent Edition): Unlock the Secrets to Your Child's Academic Success" is a Mom's Choice Awards Gold Recipient and a winner of the National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) 2024. This book is available on Amazon in both ebook and paperback formats. Simply search for "Wisest Learners Parent Edition" or use the links provided below.

In this transformative episode, join us as we engage with renowned pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Zensational Kids, Allison Morgan. Learn how yoga and mindfulness integrated into her therapy sessions have improved her clients' physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral wellness. Discover her motivation for writing curriculums for pre-K through high school students and the unique challenges that come with it. Dive into the importance of balancing the human nervous system and its impact on children's functionality. Watch our interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/mtj4zuuirbc  Uncover our conversation concerning the urgent need for increased mental health and social-emotional learning programs in schools, especially in light of the post-pandemic stress faced by many students. Learn about Allison's incredible journey as a pediatric occupational therapist and her vision to alleviate the struggles of today's students, teachers, and parents through innovative solutions. Delve into the profound significance of social and emotional learning in an educational setting. Gather valuable insights on the teaching and learning dynamics and the vital role educators play in creating their classroom's atmosphere. Learn how to utilize mindfulness and self-awareness strategies to revolutionize the classroom environment and the importance of educators' mental and emotional well-being. Discover practical ways you can begin incorporating these strategies into your classroom or homeschooling routine today with our plethora of free resources. Subscribe to Allison's free video program for more resources, empowering discussions, and actionable strategies for your personal and professional growth. On today's episode #331, we have our final interview before the summer months. Today we will be meeting with Allison Morgan, the Founder of Zensational Kids.[i] She is a pediatric occupational therapist, author, international public speaker, and educational trainer driven to empower youth and the adults that care and serve them. She is passionate about training educators, parents, mental health professionals, and allied health professionals, giving them effective techniques to develop skills such as self-awareness, management skills, compassion, and resilience so they can model and authentically teach these skills to children. EPISODE #331 with Allison Morgan on “Making the Neuroscience, Mindfulness and SEL Connection” we will cover: ✔ Where Allison made the Mind, Body, Neuroscience Connection with her work as a pediatric occupational therapist. ✔ Allison's Vision for the Schools of the Future.  ✔  Uncover the urgent need for increased mental health and social-emotional learning programs in schools. ✔  Learn how yoga and mindfulness integrated into her therapy sessions have improved her clients' physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral wellness. ✔ How to Access Allison's work for a free to implement NEW strategies immediately. Allison began integrating yoga and mindfulness into her therapy sessions with children in 2007. Discovering the multitude of physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral benefits these practices offered her occupational therapy clients and recognizing the need for more mental health and social-emotional learning programs in schools, Allison began writing curriculum and developing teacher training programs to help others share these practices. For those who have followed our work over the years, you'll know that when I came across Allison, I was thinking I wish I had known Allison in 2014 when we launched our curriculum into the school market, and got to see first-hand just how difficult that would be. She is the author of curriculums for pre-K through high school-age students: (which is not easy to be focused on both elementary and secondary students at the same time. They are both vastly different, requiring completely different strategies). Young Explorers: Yoga and Mindfulness in Early Childhood Education EDUCATE 2B: Mindfulness and Social-Emotional Learning for Educators and students in the K-5th grade Classroom EVERYDAY Mindfulness: Techniques for Teens to Develop Compassion, Calm, Focus and Resilience I had to be sure to connect with Allison before we take a break from interviews prior to the summer months, because of the importance of addressing the stress our kids are facing in the classrooms, especially post pandemic. I look forward to meeting Allison, and sharing her knowledge and expertise that this podcast was built around. Let's meet the CEO of Zensational Kids, Allison Morgan! Welcome Allison, it's wonderful to meet with you after our email exchanges.  We do have a lot in common, don't we? Gymnastics, SEL and Neuroscience! That's quote the combo! Can you walk us through your career as a pediatric occupational therapist, and orient us to your background? Q1: I'll never forget the moment I saw just how impactful these important SEL skills are for students (in school, sports and in life). It was like a brick hit me in the stomach. What was it for you that made you take notice of these important SEL skills, (That back in the day were called soft skills and not given the merit they deserve) for you to create your own curriculum for mental and emotional well-being in the classroom? What made you put your hat in this field? Q1B: I loved to see Understanding the Brain AND Understanding the Nervous System in the beginning of your Educate 2B book. I can guess that it was your background as an occupational therapist that made you make the mind/brain/body connection, but tell me when this connection began for you? Q2: Before you had your eye on releasing your own curriculum, especially on Mindfulness, did you look at what other Mindfulness Curriculum was out in our schools? What did you notice was missing perhaps from what you saw? When was it that you decided to put your work out into the world? How did you differentiate yourself? I ask this because I remember looking and seeing Goldie Hawn and Dr. Dan Siegel's program[ii] that almost deterred me from trying. Q3: When I was a teacher in the classroom in the late 1990s, we had zero training in working with behavioral students. It was the main reason I left the classroom. Now we look in our classrooms and especially since the Pandemic, we've got learning loss now to add to this equation. What should we know about the health and wellness of children today? Q3B: What's the difference between the feeling of anxiousness, and the feeling of excitement? How can we differentiate the two?  Q4: I love your worksheets that have PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) and RTI (Response to Intervention-that aims to identify and support struggling students early on)! As someone who has worked from the publishing side of education, I always saw a need to integrate SEL skills into our classroom, starting with the day to day work we are doing with our students. How do you integrate this important information into the day-to-day workings of a classroom? What is your philosophy/approach around the fact that we cannot support the well-being of students without first addressing the well-being of educators?  I can go off on a tangent here with Dr. Bruce Perry's work. Q5: How are you identifying the major pain points that schools are facing right now (mental health, behavior, academic loss, teacher's leaving at an extraordinary rate) and how shifting from typical top-down programs to  bottom up approaches that will actually address most of their issues? Q6: What's the difference between a “curriculum” and the development of daily habits/practices to create internal mind/body change.  Q7: How have we adapted from requiring full-day and 3 day mindfulness trainings for educators to downloadable videos for direct student instruction where we lead all of the practices? Q8: Where are you based out of, and what Districts are you currently working with? Any success stories to share? Q9: What is your vision for your programs? Q10: What have I missed? Thank you, Allison, for reaching out to me, to share your vision for making a difference with mental health and resilience in our classrooms. This is important and critical work. If people want to learn more about you, is the best way through your website? https://zensationalkids.com/ RESOURCES: Free Video Tools to Try https://zensationalkids.com/freestuff/ Best Practices for Yoga in School   REFERENCES [i] https://zensationalkids.com/   [ii] https://www.kidstherapyfinder.com/videos/brain-health-goldie-hawn-and-dan-siegel-at-tedmed-2009-58        

Welcome to Episode 330 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, a part of our 18-week series on self-leadership. Join host Andrea Samadi and author Grant Bosnick as they explore the neuroscience theory behind creating solid health habits, establishing goals, and increasing productivity for greater achievement and well-being. Tap into the power of the AHA moment, and learn how to foster these spontaneous occurrences for instant performance improvement. Bosnick shares insights from his book "Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership" and offers strategies for organizations to solve problems creatively using innovative thought processes. Uncover the crucial role physical and mental health play, particularly the significance of adequate hydration for brain health and daily water intake recommendations. Learn about the concept of neuroplasticity and see examples of creative problem solving applied in real-life situations. Listen as we bring to light interesting perspectives from Professor Hod Lipson from Columbia University on AI and innovation, discuss the Silva Method, and recall our first series on creativity and innovation. Take inspiration from figures like Albert Einstein and learn about hypnosis from the work of Dr. David Spiegel. Cultivate self-awareness and personally tailored plans using our practical five-step method to foster more 'aha' moments. Experience the magic of wisdom acquisitions drawn from a poignant poem by Stuart Edward White. Ready to supercharge your personal and professional growth? Listen to our exciting and educational podcast that delves deep into the interaction of neuroscience and social and emotional learning. Don't forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes. On today's episode #330 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] a few weeks ago.  Now that we have started this series, I hope you can see how practicing and strengthening the skills we are learning each week, is cumulative. Each week, we are learning something new, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. We can even map out our “Journey of the Mind” as we go along the way. REVIEW Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 It's here I'm hoping we will take the information we are learning, connect the dots to form knowledge and then apply this knowledge to our daily life. This is where we go from theory to practice with this podcast and it's the application of what we are learning that contains the magic. REFLECT Back to Chapter 2 on The Neuroscience of Goals (and Kurt Lewin's Force Field Theory): What are you doing today to gain the momentum needed to reach NEW and HEIGHTENED levels of performance this year? How are you improving your mental and physical health to gain the momentum we talked about in this chapter? REFLECT Back to Chapter 3 on The Neuroscience of Inspiration: How are you using people or places that inspire you, to take your results to greater heights? Think about this as it relates to your physical and mental health. What else can you do to take more action in this area? REFLECT Back to Chapter 4 on The Neuroscience of Mindfulness: Where are you in your Mindfulness Journey? Mindfulness, and breathing was listed often in Chapter 4.  How is mindfulness helping you with your physical health? REFLECT Back to Chapter 5 on The Neuroscience Behind Peak Performance: How are you practicing “getting into flow?” When do you notice it the most?  Is it during physical exercise, or meditation? Are you practicing this state to gain 5x more productivity in this state? REFLECT BACK to Chapter 6 on The Science Behind our Physical Health: Where we narrowed our focus from a wide and complex field, to something we can implement immediately with “The Hydrated Brain for Improving Our Cognitive Performance.” Are you keeping your brain hydrated? Do you know how much water you are drinking every day? Grant reminds us that “everyone is unique and needs different amounts of water per day (but suggests) an adequate intake for men is roughly around 3 liters (100 fluid ounces) a day, (and) for women it's about 2.2 liters (74 fluid ounces) a day. This is one area I know I can do better with, especially living in the desert, I know I can improve this one with some focused effort. We will cover the remaining 6 chapters (Agility, Resilience, Relationships and Authenticity, Biases, Trust and Presence) after we take a break for me to navigate a new work schedule in my personal life. As soon as I have my footing here, and Dr. Shane Creado from EP 72[ii] reminded me the other day of our brain's neuroplasticity, so I should be able to find the balance in a few weeks, and once I'm in the groove, and I'll be back to finish this series. In the meantime, this will be a perfect time to put some serious thought into where we began this year, and where we are going. Think about the areas where we know we can improve, and get to work on these areas. I'll be using this time to strengthen my own mindset and be sure I'm applying each of these episodes that guarantees the strongest version of myself this year. REMINDER: In this 18-week Series that we began in the beginning of February, we are covering: ✔ Powerful tactics from this Grant Bosnick's award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success by applying the neuroscience Grant has uncovered in each chapter. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels while we map out our journey over this 18-week course. There is great power and self-awareness that comes along with mapping out a plan designed specifically for YOU and I do encourage everyone to take Grant Bosnick's Leadership Self-Assessment[iii] so you can see the areas for you that score a high, medium of low level of importance for you to focus on this year. For Today, EPISODE #330, we cover Chapter 7, “AHA Moments, Creative Insight and the Brain” we will look at what Grant Bosnick covers on this topic, as well as a deeper dive into John Kounios and Mark Beeman's fascinating book The Eureka Factor[iv] so we can all have a clear understanding of how these AHA Moments occur in the brain, and how exactly we can foster our own creative insights for unique and immediate improved performance. ✔ Tap into the power of the AHA moment, and learn how to foster these spontaneous occurrences for instant performance improvement. ✔ 5 Simple Steps for Illuminating our Personal and Professional Life with AHA Moments of Creativity. ✔ What Does Neuroscience Say About These AHA Moments of Creativity? Today we dive into Chapter 7 of Grant Bosnick's book as we cover “The Science Behind Insight” which came out as MEDIUM importance (orange score) for me, alongside mindfulness and flow.  If you have taken the self-assessment, you'll know it's how you answer the questions, based on what's of high priority for you, that determines the lessons that are important to begin now, or ones that you might think you have a handle on, so they show up as lower priority, or medium,  like this topic did for for me. I do block out time every day for mindfulness, and am working on getting into “flow” with my work, but insight is a new skill for me. I've never sat down to see “what insight” will come into my mind today, as these types of moments happen spontaneously, like Alexis Samuels mentioned on EP 328[v] when he made the connection with financial literacy and gamification, in the shower. What I loved about Grant Bosnick's book Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership is that he opens up chapter 7 with a story of how insight was used by an organization to help solve the problem with the high number of babies that die within a month of their birth, specifically in developing countries.  This organization solved this specific problem using a thought process that took insight using “materials and human resources that could be used to address this issue” (Chapter 7, Bosnick) by building incubators made out of Toyota cars that were readily available in these developing areas. Instead of using their analytical mind and thinking “how do we get more incubators to these areas” someone on their team used insight and creativity to come up with the best solution. So how do we think up these creative ideas? Grant asks us to ponder where we have our best ideas. In the shower (like Alexis Samuels)? While exercising? At your desk while doing work? Just before falling asleep or waking up? While walking or hiking? While taking with a friend? Grant suggests that few people will come back with “at their desk while working” since this type of creativity involves breaking away from the analytical, thinking mind, and tapping into our “nonconscious” (Chapter 7, Bosnick) part of our brain. It was here I had to look deeper into how this type of thinking happens, and I found the fascinating book, The Eureka Factor: AHA Moments, Creative Insight and the Brain by John Kounios and Mark Beeman that Alexis Samuels mentioned during our interview, and I mentioned I had just started to read it. If you want to dive deeper into the science behind insight and creativity, I highly recommend this book. I wanted to know HOW to create these “AHA” Moments at will, not by chance and this is what these two cognitive neuroscientists who wrote this book, set out to do. Their goal of writing this book was to “explain how these Eureka experiences happen—and how to have more of them to enrich our lives and empower personal and professional success.” (The Eureka Factor). In the very beginning pages of The Eureka Factor, we learn that “insight is creative” (Page 9, The Eureka Factor, Kounios and Beeman) and when the authors went on to define “what creativity is” they suggest to not define it (yet) since “everyone intuitively recognizes creativity when he or she sees it” (Page 9, The Eureka Factor, Kounios and Beeman). I thought back to when we covered “Improving Creativity” on PART 4 of The Silva Method[vi] on “Improving Creativity and Innovation in our Schools, Sports and Modern Workplaces” and we tapped into Dr. Andrew Huberman's research on creativity here. Dr. Huberman explains that “when we see something that's truly creative, it reveals something to us about the natural world and about how our brains work….It must reveal something that surprises us” for it to be truly creative. So, going back to The Eureka Factor, John Kounios suggests that “creative insight is not an exotic type of thought reserved for the few. In fact, (he says) it's one of the few abilities that define our species….most humans—have insights. It's a basic human ability.” (Page 11, The Eureka Factor, Kounios and Beeman). HOW CAN WE BE MORE CREATIVE TO HAVE MORE INSIGHT? So now I want to know how we can we all have MORE insight to solve problems in our personal and work lives? How can we be more creative on purpose? Grant Bosnick has an exercise in his book to help foster this ability, and it begins with quieting the mind, and letting it drift.  Next, he suggests having a positive mood, and then be open to pattern completion, allowing new connections to form. Finally, he reminds us to NOT directly focus on the problem. In The Eureka Factor, Kounios and Beeman cover this concept of “pattern completion” and explained that we be open to unique solutions to our problems, letting the brain do what it was designed to do. They reminded us with a few fascinating discoveries in health, as well as an Oscar Winning Character that was created while the film writer was at a baseball game, that sometimes the answer we are looking for is opposite to what we commonly think to be true. I remember the advice that the Legendary speaker Bob Proctor[vii] would give to people every time they would have a problem they were looking to solve. He would say “go somewhere quiet and think” which covers Grant Bosnick's first suggestion. I remember people coming to me when I worked with Proctor, saying “OK, I did that” I went somewhere quiet, and I'm still stuck” and I always wondered what else I could suggest to someone who really was stuck in this process. After reading Grant's book, I can now connect the understanding of neuroscience to this equation. Having a positive mood is important, while you are quietly thinking, and also understanding that the brain doesn't like incompleteness. When you are quiet, thinking of a solution, your brain will do the work to make the connections where you might never have thought before.   While reading The Eureka Factor, I came across an image that helped to explain this idea so we can ALL improve our ability to generate new and creative insights that will empower our personal and professional lives. IMAGE CREDIT: The Eureka Factor (Kounios, Beeman) Page 24 If someone were to ask me “Where do I begin to improve my ability to create NEW insights in my life?” I would say, start here: STEP 1: Go somewhere quiet and think.  We've mentioned a few times on this podcast that “Every man has the natural and inherent power to think what he wants to think, but it requires more effort to do so”[viii] (Wallace D. Wattles). I recently heard Professor Hod Lipson[ix] from Columbia University, speaking about the future with AI, and while his whole presentation was forward-thinking, eye opening and brilliant, what caught my attention the most was when he mentioned that while working with students with AI and robotics, the hardest part for them was to come up with a name for their robot, because he said “it takes a lot of effort to be creative.” Take the time needed for this process. STEP 2: You might think you are stuck, and might see a brick wall in front of you, metaphorically speaking, but know that there is always a solution to every problem. You just haven't figured it out yet. It's here that I share ways I've moved past where I'm stuck, and that's by using The Silva Method. I'm reminded daily that many of our current listeners found us from the first episode we did in this 4-part series[x] that ended with an episode on “How to Be More Creative and Innovative”. I just heard from Fatima Kahedi this weekend that she found our podcast through Spotify, just by searching for The Silva Method. Then, this weekend, I was listening to a recent episode Dr. Andrew Huberman did an “Ask Me Anything[xi]” Episode from Melbourne, Australia. On this episode he reminded us of the work of Dr. David Spiegl on Hypnosis[xii] saying that there is a simple way to tell if someone is hypnotizable or not. It has to do with what Dr. Spiegl called an “eye roll” at the beginning of the test where he asked Dr. Huberman to look up, and then close his eyes. If the whites of his eyes showed for a certain amount of time, as his eyes were closing, (which they did) he would score a 4/4 on this test and be highly hypnotizable. I heard this and thought “That's the Silva Method!” Jose Silva gets us to relax somewhere quiet by going to the alpha state (by counting backwards) and then by rolling our eyes upwards in our head while relaxed. It's here he asks us to practice seeing things on the screen of our mind. Now that I've heard the science connected to this practice, I can see that by using The Silva Method, we are relaxing ourselves deeply enough to begin to “see” things more clearly. Or in essence, we are practicing self-hypnosis. STEP 3: Keeping your mood positive, break away, and do something that makes you happy. It could be going for a walk, or a hike, or playing tennis like the image from The Eureka Factor. Just break away and divert your attention away from the problem. If you are in a meditative state, just be sure to have positive, elevated emotions flowing through you. Looking at the image in the show notes from The Eureka Factor, we see a person playing tennis. You can use whatever method you want here (The Silva Method of Meditation, your own mindfulness practice, going for a walk or hike) whatever it is for YOU where you feel calm, rested and at peace. STEP 4: Be open to new ideas that might pop into your head. Be prepared for ideas that might be completely opposite to how you were originally thinking of solving the problem. We are all different here. Think back to the beginning of this episode, when Grant Bosnick asked us to consider where our creative ideas flow into our minds. Mine come in that time just before I go to sleep, or just before I wake up. Others might come in the shower, or while exercising. Be open to NEW ideas coming into your mind, and be ready to write them down. STEP 5: Know that there is much work going on from your unconscious mind. You'll will become more self-aware in this process. Grant Bosnick lists a few inventions that were developed this way, in chapter 7 on Insight, and I found an article that lists “Great Eureka Moments in History: From Issac Netwon to Sir Paul McCartney, (where) inspiration arrived suddenly”[xiii] to help them with their famous AHA Moments. DID YOU KNOW that when Albert Einstein created his masterwork on the theory of relativity that he was “taken aback” when his breakthrough came suddenly? His mind kept wandering as he pondered the thought “if a man falls freely, he would not feel his weight.” It was “by linking accelerated motion and gravity (where) Einstein eventually created his theory of relativity.” (Dan Falk) John Kounios also lists some “concrete examples that illustrate the steps and features of the insight experience itself—in particular, their expanded perspective, sudden occurrence, reinterpretation of the familiar, awareness of the unforeseen relationships, subjective certainty, and emotional thrill.” (Page 18, The Eureka Factor). REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #330 on “The Neuroscience of Insight” DID YOU KNOW that “the moment a solution pops into someone's awareness as an insight, a sudden burst of high-frequency EEG activity known as “gamma waves” can be picked up by (EEG) electrodes just above the right ear?” (Page 70, The Eureka Factor). “Gamma waves represent cognitive processing in the brain, such as paying attention to something or linking together different pieces of information.” (Page 70, The Eureka Factor). John Kounios recalled in Chapter 5 of The Eureka Factor with excitement after years of work that they “had found a neural signature of the aha moment: a burst of activity in the brain's right hemisphere. Almost literally (he says) this is the spark of insight” but he did add to this conclusion that “in the world outside the lab, insights may need to be evaluated, verified, refined and applied, and this requires contributions from the more analytic left hemisphere” (Page 82, The Eureka Factor). Just like when Einstein came up with his famous AHA Moment of The Theory of Relativity, “it took him 8 years (using the analytical left hemisphere of his brain) to work through the mathematical details.”[xiv] So while we need both the left and right hemispheres of our brain to come up with these insightful AHA moments, there was another important key finding that they discovered with a patient who had a stroke that damaged the right part of his brain more than the left. The stroke didn't interfere with this particular patient's ability to speak and understand the spoken language, but the patient himself knew he was missing something important. This discovery led to an important finding that takes place in the right hemisphere of the brain, and is important “for filling in the gaps to make sense of things” (page 75) and that is the ability to “read between the lines” (Page 76, The Eureka Factor). Which is essentially what the brain is doing when it's “filling in the gaps” and solving our problems with our AHA Moments. We covered 5 STEPS for How to Have MORE AHA Moments to Enrich our Personal and Professional Lives: STEP 1: RELAX: Go somewhere quiet and think.  STEP 2: LOOK PAST THE BRICK WALL: You might think you are stuck, and might see a brick wall in front of you, but know that there is always a solution to every problem. You just haven't figured it out yet. STEP 3: KEEP POSITIVE: Keeping your mood positive, break away, and do something that makes you happy. It could be going for a walk, or a hike, sit somewhere quiet and meditate, or play tennis like the image in the show notes illustrates from The Eureka Factor. Just break away and divert your attention away from the problem. STEP 4: THE MAGIC HAPPENS HERE! Be open to new ideas that might pop into your head. Be prepared for NEW ideas that might be completely opposite to how you were originally thinking. If you decide to read The Eureka Factor, on top of the suggestions that Grant Bosnick suggests, you will learn how the left hemisphere of your brain and right must work together to “fill in the gaps.” This is where we open up our minds to NEW creative ideas. This concept is exactly like when someone tells you a joke, or uses sarcasm, or irony. Our brain that doesn't like “gaps or incompleteness” taps into the right hemisphere to interpret language in this way. This is a prime example that demonstrates just as our “ability to use language requires two intact hemispheres, so does effective, practical, creative performance” (Page 82, The Eureka Factor) and it's within “the right hemisphere (of our brain that) where the spark that ignites the creative fire” begins.  (Page 82, The Eureka Factor).  The magic happens when we can relax, with a positive mindset, close our eyes, and see what messages come “in-between” the lines. STEP 5: Know that there is much work going on from your unconscious mind. EPISODE #295 on “Unleashing the Power of our Subconscious Mind” is a good place to revisit as we peel back the layers and uncover who we truly are. Self-awareness is at the root of this process. To close out this episode, I'll end with a poem that reminds me of how the AHA Moment is formed that we covered recently.[xv]   Isn't it amazing how we acquire wisdom? When we suddenly “see” something that escaped us for so long. Stewart Edward White explains how AHA Moments of Learning can change us, in his poem where he writes: “Curious how we acquire wisdom! Over and over again, the same truth is thrust under our very noses. We encounter it in action; we are admonished of it; we read it in the written word. We suffer the experience; we gradually assent to the advice; we approve, intellectually, the written word. But nothing happens inside us. Then, one day, some trivial experience or word or encounter stops us short. A gleam of illumination penetrates the depth of our consciousness. We see! Usually it is but a glimpse; but on rare occasions a brilliant flash reveals truth fully formed. And we marvel that this understanding has escaped us so long.”   I hope you've enjoyed a deeper dive into the Neuroscience of Insights. We have one last interview to release this weekend, and we'll see you in a few weeks (once I've got my footing) when we return to finish our review of the final chapters of Grants Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership.         REFERENCES:   [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #72 with De. Shane Creado on “Sleep Strategies That Will Guarantee a Competitive Advantage” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-shane-creado-on-sleep-strategies-that-will-guarantee-a-competitive-advantage/   [iii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iv] The Eureka Factor: AHA Moments, Creative Insight, and the Brain by John Kounios and Mark Beeman Published April 14, 2015 https://www.amazon.com/Eureka-Factor-Moments-Creative-Insight/dp/1400068541   [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #328 with D. Alexis Samuels  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/exploring-neuroscience-and-gamification-in-financial-literacy-education-with-d-alexis-samuels/     [vi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 264 “The Neuroscience Behind The Silva Method: Improving Creativity and Innovation in our Schools, Sports and Modern Workplaces”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-silva-method-improving-creativity-and-innovation-in-our-schools-sports-and-modern-workplaces/   [vii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 66 with The Legendary Bob Proctor https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/   [viii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 315 “Thinking and Acting in This Certain Way PART 2 Review of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich book https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/   [ix] https://www.me.columbia.edu/faculty/hod-lipson   [x]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 261 PART 1 of our Deep Dive into Applying The Silva Method https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-1/   [xi] Dr. Andrew Huberman “Ask Me Anything” Melbourne, Australia  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-event-q-a-dr-andrew-huberman-question-answer/id1545953110?i=1000650096634   [xii] Dr. Andrew Huberman is Hynpotized by Dr. Spiegl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlTzVB6TGT0   [xiii] “Great Eureka Moments in History: From Issac Netwon to Sir Paul McCartney, inspiration arrived suddenly” by Dan Falk, Published September 2, 2005 https://magazine.utoronto.ca/research-ideas/culture-society/great-eureka-moments-in-history-famous-inspirational-moments/ [xiv] IBID [xv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 314 PART 1 of our Review of The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D Wattles https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/    

Join us in the riveting Season 11 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast as we delve into the exciting world of neurotechnology. Our featured guest, Nolan Beise, is the CEO of Circl, a path-breaking Canadian neurotechnology company, whose pioneering strides in brain-computer interfaces and brainwave-sensing technology are reshaping our understanding of the human mind. Raised in Toronto, Nolan's academic pursuits led him from a secluded town in Northern Vancouver Island to become a top academic at the University of Toronto and later found companies like Suva Technology and Circl. In this episode, we discuss the scientific insights behind brain health, cognitive performance, and the possible applications of neurotech in various sectors from dementia care and first responder training to professional sports. Watch our Interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/J78FZ9CTHTg As mental health issues surge globally, innovative technological advances offer a new spotlight of hope. From detecting early signs of cognitive impairment to managing the brain's capacity for a 'mental garbage can', this episode touches upon personalized intervention strategies, monitoring brain health, and enhancing treatment efficacy. We also delve into the associated health risks that may arise from mental burnout, such as sleep disruption and reduced cognitive prowess. With an aim to offer affordable and accessible brain health technology, Nolan envisions a future where tools akin to Fitbits for the brain can help people understand their brain's evolution and proactively tackle changes detrimental to their mental wellbeing. This episode is a must for anyone interested in exploring neuroscience, brain health, technology, and optimizing human potential.   EPISODE #329 with the CEO of Circl.com Nolan Beise, we will cover: ✔  Nolan Beise's vision to help the world to improve their brain health and cognitive performance in the future. ✔ How his Circl Headset takes older brain scan tools to new heights with measuring our brain's function as it relates to our health, detecting early signs of cognitive impairment.  ✔ Why we should be paying attention to our brain health TODAY to prevent major neurodegenerative diseases in the future and the health risks associated with burnout. ✔ Where Nolan's focus is with this headset today, and his vision for this device in the next 5-10 years. Today, we meet with someone who is from my hometown, Toronto, Canada, but now is in Victoria, British Columbia. Our next guest, Nolan Beise is the CEO of Circl[i], a Canadian neurotechnology company pioneering brain-computer interfaces designed to understand the human mind by producing research-grade brainwave-sensing headbands and related software applications. Before Circl, Nolan founded Suva Technology, a company specializing in mobile EEG research software. He also brings a wealth of experience from his time as a Senior Advisor at Mitacs. In addition to these, Nolan holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Victoria. With his extensive background in both science and business, Nolan is dedicated to advancing neurotechnology and shaping the future of brain-computer interfaces. When I see someone like Nolan, dedicating his career to helping the world to improve brain performance using brain wave tracking technology that he has pioneered, I want to have a conversation with him. I have some questions for Nolan that I hope will spark some innovation in our thinking as it relates to the future of health and wellness. Let's meet Nolan Beise and see what we can learn together about ways to improve our mind and brain health in the future. Welcome Nolan! Was I correct that while you went to school at the University of Toronto, you are now in British Columbia?   INTRO: I went to Teacher's College in Toronto, at U of T back in the late 1990s. I remember all of dreams I had back then, of how I would change the world. Can you share where your mindset was when you were a student, walking around those streets in downtown Toronto? What was your vision for the world back then? Q1: I've said this over and over again on this podcast, where our goal is to connect the most current brain research to our daily life (whether we work in our local schools, sports environments or modern workplaces). Back in the day, no one EVER asked me “what are you doing for your brain health.” When did you FIRST start to consider the importance of your brain, and think that the world needs help with optimizing this important, yet complex organ? Q2: What have you invented, how does it work? Q2B: How are regular people using this headset that measures brain performance? I can guess there would be an interest from the sports world? How does tracking how our brain processes visual stimuli help us? Q2C: How would the headset help our first responders? Q3: I became interested in Alzheimer's Prevention strategies around the time of the Pandemic, and have focused a few episodes on this topic. I even took my husband to Dr. Daniel Amen's clinics[ii] to get our brain scanned to see if either of us showed signs of any disease, since I know that our brain health is what would drive our future success. Not everyone can get a SPECT image brain scan, (they are expensive and not covered by insurance). Tell me how most people gain access to your headset. I know your headset costs significantly less than a SPECT image brain scan for those who also want to look at their brain. Q4: I saw that your company was founded recently, in 2021, consisting of a team of neuroscientists, mathematicians, engineers, and designers. Who is your team, and tell me about this award you won for creating such innovative technology? Q5: Why did you want to create something that allows us to see our brain performance? What's YOUR WHY behind your work? Q6: What makes your headset stand out from the crowd? What are you hearing from those who use it? Q7: Where would you like to see this technology go in the next 5-10 years? Q8: What stumbling blocks do you face with your goals? Q9: What have I missed that's important? Nolan, I want to thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. Who knows, we could have walked past each other in the streets of Toronto back in the day. You never know. I've always got my eyes wide open to learn more about what's innovative in the world, and I look forward to seeing more from you in the future. For people to learn more about you, is the best place https://circlbrain.com/? SOME FINAL THOUGHTS:  I learned so much for speaking with Nolan Beise! He emphasized that while people can go to his website and purchase a headset, that wasn't his main motivation for meeting us today. His goal was just to let the world know about his vision, and let others know about him. I did connect him to Dr. Shane Creado, and think that when 2 powerful like minds come together, they form a third mind, with potential to take creativity and innovation to greater heights. If you want to connect with Nolan, you can visit the Contact Us page of his website https://circlbrain.com/pages/contact Most importantly today, I hope we all have a renewed vision for the importance of our brain health. I'll see you next week!   CONNECT WITH NOLAN BEISE   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolanbeise/   Website https://circlbrain.com/   Learn More About the Circl Headset https://circlbrain.com/products/circl-headset   REFERENCES: [i] https://circlbrain.com/ [ii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EP #84 PART 3 “How a SPECT image Brain Scan Can Change Your Life” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/how-a-spect-scan-can-change-your-life-part-3-with-andrea-samadi/  

Join us in episode 328 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast for an insightful discussion with D. Alexis Samuels, the founder of Brain Game Learning Systems, FineLitX, Global Corporation, and Prosperity Nation. Discover how he integrates neuroscience and gamification to educate and uplift underserved communities, with a special focus on financial literacy, socio-emotional learning, and legal and ethical understanding. Watch this interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/R8FUuCR403o Alexis Samuels uses game-based learning systems rooted in neuroscience to make complex topics accessible and enjoyable. Here, you will learn how his innovative approaches are not only educating but altering behaviours and perspectives, instilling hope and inspiring success in individuals and communities. You will get a glimpse into the founder's journey, from his humble beginnings to his endeavours to tackle financial illiteracy and fear, and why he believes financial literacy is vital for mental well-being and socio-emotional learning. We delve deep into the workings of Brain Game Learning Systems, FinLitX, and Prosperity Nation, explaining how concepts from neuroscience are incorporated into games and curriculum. Hear how the companies collaboratively tackle challenges of poverty, targeting school systems and non-profits alike, and partnering with institutions like Notre Dame University on groundbreaking research studies. This episode provides a unique look into the link between neuroscience and financial literacy, shedding light on the role of dopamine in learning and the effectiveness of rewards and affirming feedback in education. As a major takeaway, experience how the combination of neuroscience, gamification and financial literacy can create compelling, immersive, and educationally-rich experiences, with potential to greatly impact cognitive and social development in societies. We also talk about real-life applications of these techniques through a credit score-based game, showing how such innovative approaches can reduce fear and anxiety towards adult responsibilities, and spark much-needed conversations. Get ready to transform the way you view education, financial literacy, and neuroscience, and begin to see the game-changing potential when these fields intersect. Lastly, we touch on the broader societal relevance of neuroscience today, underlining its potential for personal improvement and the urgent need for more active discussions to raise awareness. Join us in unpacking how neuroscience can hold the key to unlocking a world of possibilities in cognitive and social development. EPISODE #328 with D. Alexis Samuels on “Making the Neuroscience and Money Connection for our Next Generation” we will cover: ✔ Discover how Alexis integrates neuroscience and gamification to educate and uplift underserved communities, with a special focus on financial literacy, socio-emotional learning, and legal and ethical understanding. ✔ Learn about his game-based learning systems rooted in neuroscience to make complex topics accessible and enjoyable. ✔ What BIG NAMES have taken notice of Alexis Samuels and his work on ending generational poverty? ✔ Learn how his innovative approaches are not only educating but altering behaviours and perspectives, instilling hope and inspiring success in individuals and communities. ✔ Look closer into the link between neuroscience and financial literacy, shedding light on the role of dopamine in learning and the effectiveness of rewards and affirming feedback in education. ✔ How you can get involved with D. Alexis Samuels to help him reach more people with his noble mission On today's episode #328 we meet with someone who caught my attention through LinkedIn. He sent me a direct message, like people do often (I do appreciate these messages), and he was letting me know he was enjoying the podcast, highlighting that his passion was to help bridge the gap with the latest discoveries in brain science and mental health interventions to underserved populations. He went on to explain how he was doing this, and I was captivated. First because I still find it difficult to bridge this gap with science that we were not taught in schools, but come to find out it's really important for us to understand. ALL of us, not just as teachers, educators and members of society, but this understanding is coming to be as close to what oxygen is for our survival.  It's of critical importance that we understand this organ that controls everything that we are, and everything that we do. And I know what it takes for me to work on grasping this knowledge, breaking it down so that I understand these concepts first, and then work on a way to explain it to others, so we can all work on implementing these powerful ideas for change in our lives. I find this difficult work, but something I'm dedicated to doing, and then while talking with our next guest, I come to find out that he has created something to help us with this understanding-- a game, curated in neuroscience, that educates and addresses mental wellness in a way that we all can understand, using gamification.  Our next guest has a vision of evening out the playing field, using neuroscience with a game, that teaches economic power, specifically towards our underserved populations. I can't wait to see what we can learn from our next guest, D. Alexis Samuels, the Founder of Brain Game Learning Systems, FinLitX (Fine-Lit-X) Global Corporation and Prosperity Nation to help us to all open our eyes to new ways we can bridge this gap with making neuroscience more applicable for all of us in our day to day lives, especially those in our underserved populations, who need it the most.   Welcome Alexis, it's wonderful to meet you! Let's start from the beginning, Who is D. Alexis Samuels? You are the Founder of Brain Game Learning Systems, FinLitX Global Corporation, and Prosperity Nation. That's a lot! What are these companies and what motivated you to found them? Have you worked with any science or research institutions? Tell me more about the societal issues that form your missions' focus. Specifically, what aspects of neuroscience do you incorporate in your service, and what results have you achieved? Do you have case studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of introducing neuroscience in learning environments? What do you feel is the future of neuroscience adapted curriculum in general education? Others write books, but you create games. Is that intentional? Speaking of neuroscience, what's next for D. Alexis Samuels? Where can we learn more about your games, online curriculum, and platform? If someone wanted to speak with you, partner or collaborate, how can they reach you? Thank you very much for reaching out to me. You did stand out from the crowd as you offered ways to make my understanding of this complex topic to greater heights. I'm grateful to have had this time with you. CONNECT WITH Alexis Samuels LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-alexis-samuels/ Website https://finlitx.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/d.alexis.2330/?hl=en Get on the Road to Prosperity Board Game https://youtu.be/2Dq88VoDlrk   REFERENCES   NBA Kenny Smith Endorsement https://youtu.be/YJjz7PsJvHk   John Kounios and Mark Beeman The Eureka Factor: AHA Moments, Creative Insight and the Brain Published 2015 https://www.amazon.com/Eureka-Factor-Moments-Creative-Insight/dp/1400068541    

Join us as we revisit episode 327 of the "Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast", where we hone in on the critical relationship between hydration and brain health. Host Andrea Samadi delves into the sixth chapter of Grant Bosnick's book during an 18-week self-leadership series, elucidating how focusing on our physical health can sharpen our cognitive performance. This episode is a paradigm shift, captivating listeners with the powerful impacts of nutrition and hydration on the brain. Andrea explores the benefits of water for our brain health and productivity, explaining how adequate hydration can improve concentration, cognition, mood and memory. The episode also explores other aspects of physical health like exercise, sleep and mindfulness, and how they contribute to overall wellness, well-being, achievement and productivity. Welcome back to SEASON 11 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's episode #327 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] just a few weeks ago.  Now that we have started this series, I hope you can see how practicing and strengthening the skills we are learning each week, is cumulative. Each week, we are learning something new, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. In this 18-week Series that we began in the beginning of February, we are covering: ✔ Powerful tactics from this Grant Bosnick's award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success by applying the neuroscience Grant has uncovered in each chapter. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels while we map out our journey over this 18-week course. There is great power and self-awareness that comes along with mapping out a plan designed specifically for YOU and I do encourage everyone to take Grant Bosnick's Leadership Self-Assessment[ii] so you can see the areas for you that score a high, medium of low level of importance for you to focus on this year. For Today, EPISODE #327, Chapter 6, “The Science Behind our Physical Health” we narrow our focus from a wide and complex topic to something we can implement immediately: Today we will consider “The Hydrated Brain for Improving Our Cognitive Performance” ✔ A Review of the Top Health Staples that we have covered on this podcast over the years, specifically since the Pandemic. ✔ How Dehydration Affects Our Cognitive Performance ✔ Tips Grant Bosnick Suggests for Keeping Our Brain Hydrated ✔ Focusing on One Area of Your Physical Health at a Time Today we dive into Chapter 6 of Grant Bosnick's book as we cover “The Science Behind Our Physical Health” which came out as LOW importance (red score) for me, alongside emotion regulation.  If you have taken the self-assessment, you'll know it's how you answer the questions, based on what's of high priority for you, that determines the lessons that are important to begin now, or ones that you might think you have a handle on, so they show up as lower priority like this topic did for for me. Not that physical health, or emotion regulation is of low priority for me, it's quite the opposite, but I block out time in the day for both of these topics, and this time is non-negotiable. I will say that while the broad term of physical health (that Grant covers in Pathway 4 of his book) is extremely important to me, it is a very complex topic and one we've been focused on since the pandemic geared us into looking closer at our physical and mental health. We created the Top Health Staples[iii] That Are Scientifically Proven to Boost Our Physical and Mental Health where we've now added a 6th with stress reduction, for Podbean's Wellness Week back in 2020, when I was asked to cover this topic. It was here where we shifted our attention to be equally as focused on the health of our mind (our mental health) in addition to our physical health. You can't have one without the other. When guests have approached me over the years to join us on the podcast, if they fall into these health staples with an angle I've not yet covered, it's easy to say yes, so we can keep moving our physical and mental health forward. We are always looking for WHAT'S NEW and INNOVATIVE in this area. How many times have we seen Dr. Gregory Kelly[iv] from Neurohacker.com who is focused on pioneering systems for human optimization and longevity? Twice so far and he's on the schedule the middle of April to cover Qualia NAD+ where we will learn more about NAD+ that is often called the “aging” molecule due to its profound influence on how well (or how poorly) we will age. We recently met Dimitri Leonov[v] with a new nanotechnology I've been wearing since our interview the end of this year, that's been spotted on celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. We are always looking for what's new to take us to new heights with our physical and mental health, with some exciting and NEW innovators who we will be covering in the next few months. So what does Grant Bosnick say about physical health is his book “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership?” He begins with the importance of looking at what we eat and asks “what is it doing to your brain?” (Chapter 6, Bosnick). What I like about Grant's book, and why I wanted to cover EACH chapter over the next 18 weeks, is because it's a paradigm shift for us to think about how ANYTHING we do impacts our brain. THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MINUTE: 25 years ago, when I was setting goals for my future, no one said to me “Hey Andrea, think about how your brain will tie into the goals you are setting” or “what foods are you eating for your brain health” or even “Did you know that exercise will build a stronger, more resilient brain?” I didn't even begin to consider my brain until 2014 when Jeff Kleck, an Arizona School Administrator that we met on EP 246[vi] shared all his notes, books and resources with me, urging me that understanding how our brain operates, will be of critical importance in our future. Boy was he ever right. I still keep in touch with him, and let him know all the time just how grateful I was for the time he spent explaining what he had learned about the brain with me.   Grants goes over foods that are important for our brain health and productivity, specifically foods that have a low glycemic index “which means they release energy slowly into the bloodstream.” (Chapter 6, Bosnick). We've covered this topic on various episodes, specifically with “The Damaging Impacts of Sugar on the Brain and Body”[vii] and we've even used a glucose monitor to test what happens to our body with too much sugar, and how it can tank our overall health and productivity. While reading this chapter, Grant echoed many of the experts I'm sure you've heard us mention, like Dr. Daniel and Tana Amen, from their Brain Warrior's Way Podcast who reminded us to always make decisions with our brain in mind by thinking or saying out loud with everything that we do “Is this decision GOOD for my brain, or NOT” Dr. Amen said many things that caught my attention while listening to his podcast years ago, and I often took his words of wisdom and created graphics to keep his thoughts close. While talking about our daily habits and aging (which I know we all want to do gracefully) he reminded us that “your everyday habits and decisions are either boosting or stealing your brain's reserve and are either accelerating the aging the process (which none of us want to do on purpose) or rejuvenating your brain.” It was Dr. Amen[viii] who first caught my attention with the importance of loving my brain, this organ that controls everything that I am and everything that I do. Finally, it was when Dr. Amen mentioned that “Your competitive advantage or disadvantage is the actual physical functioning of your brain.” (Dr. Amen from The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast) This statement made me take a good look at whether I was boosting my brain reserve and rejuvenating the aging process, or accelerating it. Grant covers many of the Top Health Staples in chapter 6, highlighting what many experts have been hitting home for us over the past few years, like the importance of sleep, taking power naps and adding in ideas for relaxation with mindfulness, and massage, but it was his focus on breathing that “helps with emotion regulation and memory recall” (Chapter 6, Bosnick) that caught my attention in Chapter 6. I remember watching Stanford Professor Dr. Andrew Huberman demonstrate how to “Self-Regulate Your Brain in Less Than a Minute”[ix] on one of his podcast episodes and it was so impactful to me that I use his method all the time now. I love how Grant covers how to use pranayama breathing for “emotional recognition and memory” (Chapter 6, Bosnick) as well as for “increasing concentration.” This topic of Physical Health is complex, and we can go into many different directions, which is why we created the Top 6 Health Staples to stay focused on moving the needle towards physical health with one idea at a time. I noticed that I would work on one area, like sleep for instance, and could see improvements here, but another area would suffer. It's a balancing act for sure, requiring focused attention. So today, to keep it simple, I want to focus on something that we might forget about our brain, and our physical health and that is that “our brain is 75% water. (And) When our brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, we will be able to think faster and be more focused and experience greater clarity and creativity.” (Chapter 6, Bosnick). Grant reminds us in Chapter 6 of the importance of hydration, and says that “water is essential for delivering nutrients to our brain and for removing toxins. When our brain is fully hydrated, the exchange of nutrients and toxins will be more efficient—thus ensuring better concentration and mental alertness.” Grant mentions that our brain is “75% water” (Chapter 6, Bosnick) and of the importance of hydration, and I remembered learning that “90 minutes of sweating can temporarily shrink the brain as much as one year of aging does.” From Deane Alban's 72 Amazing Brain Facts. This brain fact brought home for me, just how important hydration is for our brain health. You will need to read Chapter 6 of Grant's book to receive all of his tips, but he does cover the many BENEFITS of drinking water. He says that keeping our brain hydrated helps us with: Improving concentration and cognition Helping to balance our mood and emotions Maintaining a good memory Boosting our brain's reaction time Increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain Preventing and relieving headaches Reducing stress REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #327 on Chapter 6 on Physcial Health, we narrow our focus to “Our Hydrated Brain.” DID YOU KNOW: “That our brain is 75% water and when our brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, we will be able to think faster, be more focused and experience greater clarity and creativity?” (Chapter 6, Bosnick). Grant reminds us that “everyone is unique and needs different amounts of water per day (but suggests) an adequate intake for men is roughly around 3 liters (100 fluid ounces) a day, (and) for women it's about 2.2 liters (74 fluid ounces) a day. THINK ABOUT THIS? Knowing how important water is for the brain, do you know how much water you drink?  I've definitely started paying more attention to this, especially knowing how “sweating can temporarily shrink the brain.” I've been using an infrared sauna, and another health device that calls for an increase in water intake, and I can tell with 100% certainty that when I'm not drinking enough water, it shows up with my ability to think with clarity. What do you think? Could you improve your water intake? Just by thinking about ways to improve our brain health, we will over time begin to move the needle in the direction of physical health and wellness, which was the concept that Grant wanted us to uncover in Chapter 6. I hope you learned something new, perhaps a new angle for your physical health, as you think about ways to stay hydrated as we all look for new ideas to improve our health in 2024. REVIEW Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5 It's here I'm hoping we will take the information we are learning, connect the dots to form knowledge and then apply this knowledge to become wise. This is where we go from theory to practice with this podcast. REFLECT Back to Chapter 2 on The Neuroscience of Goals (and Kurt Lewin's Force Field Theory): What are you doing today to gain the momentum needed to reach NEW and HEIGHTENED levels of performance this year? How are you improving your mental and physical health to gain the momentum we talked about in this chapter? REFLECT Back to Chapter 3 on The Neuroscience of Inspiration: How are you using people or places that inspire you, to take your results to greater heights? Think about this as it relates to your physical and mental health. What inspiration do you need to take more action in this area? REFLECT Back to Chapter 4 on The Neuroscience of Mindfulness: Where are you in your Mindfulness Journey? Mindfulness, and breathing was listed often in Chapter 6.  How is mindfulness helping you with your physical health? REFLECT Back to Chapter 5 on The Neuroscience Behind Peak Performance: How are you practicing “getting into flow?” When do you notice it the most?  Is it during physical exercise, or meditation? Are you practicing this state to gain 5x more productivity in this state? I'll close out this episode with a quote that I'm hoping will urge all of us to grab a glass of water as we THINK about how we will implement this powerful concept into our week. Loren Eisley said “If there is Magic on this planet, it is contained in water” and I'll have to agree.  Grant taught us how drinking water helps us, improving our concentration, cognition, mood, emotions, memory, reaction time, increasing oxygen to our brain, preventing head aches and reducing stress. So go grab a glass of water, and I'll see you next week with Chapter 7 on Insight.  REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast BONUS EPISODE Recorded for Podbean's Wellness Week “The Top 5 Health Staples” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-a-deep-dive-into-the-top-5-health-staples-and-review-of-seasons-1-4/   [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #285 with Dr. Gregory Kelly on “How to Beat Aging and Stress with Qualia Senolytics”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-gregory-kelly-from-neurohacker-collective-on-how-to-beat-aging-and-stress-with-qualia-senolytics/   Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #305 with Dr. Gregory Kelly on Qualia Synbiotics https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/returning-guest-dr-gregory-kelly-on-qualia-synbiotic-optimizing-digestion-and-mood-with-prebiotics-probiotics-and-postbiotics/   [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #318 with Dmitri Leonov on Taopatch, Nanotechnology for Health and Wellness of the Future https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dmitri-leonov-on-taopatch-understanding-nanotechnology-for-health-and-wellness-of-the-future/   [vi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #246 with Jeff Kleck on “Using Neuroscience to Inspire Thinkers in our Schools, Sports and the Workplace”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/jeff-kleck-on-using-neuroscience-to-inspire-thinkers-in-schools-sport-and-the-workplace/   [vii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #275 “The Damaging Impacts of Sugar on the Brain and Body” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-the-damaging-impacts-of-sugar-on-the-brain-and-body/   [viii] The Daniel Plan by Dr. Amen https://www.danielplan.com/change-your-brain-change-your-life-2/   [ix]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #273 On Self-Regulation  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-self-regulation-using-neuroscience-to-regulate-automatic-negative-thoughts-emotions-and-behaviors/   Click here for more episodes of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast

Welcome back to the 11th season of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast. In today's enlightening episode, we unfold the phenomenon of 'flow'—a state of profound immersion leading to peak performance. Our exploration is rooted in the teachings of Grant Bosnick and psychologist Mike Csikszentmihalyi, as we look at how strategies like rigorous self-awareness, customized planning, and potential improvement assessment contribute to achieving this state of blissful productivity. We delve deeper into the neuroscience of flow by understanding the brain changes that occur during this state. This discussion is enriched with insights from neuroscientist Arne Dietrich. We learn about the shift from conscious to subconscious intrinsic system that results in heightened creativity and enhanced mood—making tasks appear effortless and enjoyable. The episode also sheds light on the key neurochemicals responsible for inducing and sustaining the flow state - dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, and endorphins. This understanding paves the way to comprehend the ecstasy felt during flow, accompanied by an absence of pain and hunger, resulting in a beautifully enhanced mood. Flow is reported to multiply productivity and happiness. It accelerates learning and creativity while improving problem-solving skills. We conclude the episode with practical tips to help you understand better, induce and maintain flow and thus multiply productivity, reach your goals, and experience profound joy in your efforts. On today's episode #326 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] just a few weeks ago.  Now that we have started this series, I hope you can see how practicing and strengthening the skills we are learning each week, is cumulative. Each week, we are learning something new, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. In this 18-week Series that we began in the beginning of February, we are covering: ✔ Powerful tactics from this Grant Bosnick's award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success by applying the neuroscience Grant has uncovered in each chapter. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels while we map out our journey over this 18-week course. There is great power and self-awareness that comes along with mapping out a plan designed specifically for YOU and I encourage everyone to take Grant Bosnick's Leadership Self-Assessment[ii] so you can see the areas for you that score a high, medium of low level of importance for you to focus on this year. EPISODE #326, Chapter 5, “The Neuroscience of Flow” we will cover: ✔ A Review of Peak Performance and Using Flow for Increased Productivity in the Workplace with EP 27 with Friederike Fabritius. ✔ What is the Flow State? ✔ How to prepare for the Flow State. ✔ What does the Flow State feel like? ✔ Getting into Flow ✔ The Neuroscience of Flow ✔ The Benefits of Flow in the Workplace and Beyond ✔ 4 TIPS for Getting into the Flow State to Increase Productivity     Today we dive into Chapter 5 of Grant Bosnick's book as we cover “The Neuroscience of Flow” which came out as MEDIUM importance (orange score) alongside the topics of Mindfulness[iii] that we covered last week. Flashback to Friederike Fabritius on Peak Performance What I loved about seeing this topic included in Grant's 18 chapters was that I remember watching Pioneer in Neuorleadership, Friederike Fabritius presenting on “The Recipe of Peak Performance and Flow” that I shared on our first interview together back on EPISODE #27[iv] in October 2019.  When I watch some of these earlier interviews I remember what life what like before I had invested in a high-tech recording system. You will hear some bugs that today, AI can erase, taking our peak performance to new heights. Talking about Peak Performance, these days, I record as usual, (using a Rodecaster Pro Recording System) and then after production, AI cleans up every recorded for me. It's new, and still ironing out some bugs with it, but mind-boggling to see where we started out, and where we are today. We can always strive forward and improve where we were yesterday. What I remember loving the most about Friederike's first talk that I found back in 2017 that she did for high level executives in Barcelona, Spain, was that she accurately described what the psychologist, researcher and “father of flow”[v] (known in his work environment as Mike C) that he devoted his entire lifetime to. And that is, what constitutes a happy life. “Mike C,” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (from Claremont Graduate University in CA) along with Professor Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania (who we've mentioned before on this podcast “set out to develop a focus on happiness, well-being, and positivity with a goal to create a field focused on human well-being and the conditions that enable people to flourish and live satisfying lives.”[vi] Friederike explained this concept of “flow” or “peak performance” as an optimal state that occurs when our brain releases three chemicals: noradrenaline (released with a challenge), dopamine (released with anything that gives you pleasure), and acetylcholine (released when you have focused attention). She reminded us about learning to find our “optimal level” of performance by knowing thyself. Some people she says, need challenge to perform optimally (I'm like this for sure), and other people, you must take the challenge or pressure away for them to perform at their best.  One person performs better with an element of “threat” that they perceive as a “reward” and this motivates them, while another person shuts down with this “threat.” To reach peak performance levels with YOUR work, it helps to know how you reach your optimal levels best. Take This Understanding to Create Flow in the Workplace How can we create this “flow state” with our work? If you are working in an environment that's too easy, or not challenging, you will be under challenged, and reaching peak performance in this scenario is difficult as you will be bored. Or, be careful if you are in a workplace with too much challenge, where you are over aroused, constantly putting out fires, and under high stress or pressure, all the time. Over time, without balance, this person will burn out. At the brain level, their amygdala grows bigger, and they will begin to see threats where there are none. Friederike reminds us to find a workplace where we can reach optimal levels of challenge, (if you look at the image in the show notes, it's at the peak of the curve). Boredom or too easy on the left of the curve, and stress/anxiety at the right of the curve, with optimal levels, or our sweet spot for peak performance at the top.  It's working here where we can access peak performance or flow where we are able to get into the zone with our work, and lose track of time. [vii] (Image credit: Achieving a flow state) You can see why it's important to find your optimal level of performance for this magical brain state to occur. THINK ABOUT THIS! When have YOU accessed flow? What were you doing? Maybe you've lost track of time reading an enjoyable novel, or while writing, or running? There are two activities where I've experienced this state: hiking in the mountains, or writing these podcast episodes. I can be running through the mountains, and hours can go by before I look at my watch and decide to turn back before darkness hits, or I run out of time, or I can sit down at my desk in the early morning, to write one of these episodes, and find myself still there, and the whole day has gone by. I can easily lose track of time in both these scenarios, and feel exactly what the research supports, that this state of mind “is accompanied with a sense of accomplishment, meaningfulness, and positive mood.”[viii] So what does Grant Bosnick say about flow in his book “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership?” He mentions the “father of flow” in the second paragraph, and defines flow as “the mental state of being fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of an activity we are doing. In essence, it is characterized by complete absorption in what we do, performing at the edge of our capabilities, peak performance. In this state, it feels effortless, as if things are flowing together.” (Chapter 5, Bosnick).  Grant mentions that “we are in micro flow all the time. When we look for it, we can ride it into jacked flow. We can train ourselves into flow. And heighten our performance.” (Chapter 5, Bosnick). Now we are talking. I've only noticed flow AFTER it has occurred, and have not been in the habit of training myself into flow, so this is going to be a new practice for me this year. PREPARING FOR THE FLOW STATE: Grant prepares us for flow, just like Friederike, who suggests that we find the right amount of challenge, and then says that “it's something that we make happen; it is not something that happens to us.” (Chapter 5, Bosnick). “Flow depends on our ability to control what happens in our consciousness moment by moment. Each of us has to achieve it on the basis of our own individual efforts and creativity. We are in control of consciousness when we have the ability to focus attention at will, to be oblivious to distractions, and to concentrate for as long as it takes to achieve a goal, and not longer.” (Chapter 5, Bosnick). We have talked about ways to develop our higher faculties of our mind[ix], like our will, on recent episodes, which is one way to help us to focus our attention, moment by moment and block out distractions, and Grant brings us back to chapter 4 on Mindfulness that he mentions helps us to control our attention at will. See how all of these chapters work together? Developing Mindfulness, will help us to strengthen our ability to access the flow state. HOW DOES THIS STATE FEEL? Grant gives some examples from a dancer who describes flow as “your concentration is complete” or a rock climber who says “you are so involved in what you are doing that you aren't thinking of yourself as separate from the immediate activity.” (Chapter 5, Bosnick).  Grant shares that he feels this state while drumming, or designing a presentation saying that “his body and mind are one, working together.” (Chapter 5, Bosnick. When I'm running in the mountains, in this state, it's like me and the mountains are one. I don't see what's around me, just the small area of pathway right in front of me.  Or when I'm writing at my desk, it's just me, the keyboard and the computer screen. All sounds are blocked out, and it's difficult to break me away from the desk, mid-thought. I have to finish writing, or the flow is gone, and my family knows when I'm in this state, and not to knock on the door, which will break this state of deep focused concentration. GETTING INTO FLOW: Grant has a reflection activity to help us to practice getting into this flow state.  He suggests: THINK: When have hours passed by without you realizing it? THINK: When did things just click into place and felt effortless? OBSERVE: Once you know what flow feels like for you, notice the type of activities you were doing to obtain this state in other areas of your life. The Neuroscience of Flow DID YOU KNOW that in flow “as our attention heightens, the slower and energy-intensive extrinsic system (conscious processing) is traded off for the far faster and more efficient processing of the subconscious, intrinsic system?” (Chapter 5, Bosnick). Grant quotes Arne Dietrich, a neuroscientist from the American University of Beirut who says “It's an efficiency exchange of the energy in our brain—trading the energy we normally use for resource-intensive conscious thinking activity for (resource-efficient) heightened attention and awareness. The technical term for this exchange is transient hypofrontality.” (Chapter 5, Bosnick). Grant also explains the changes in our brain waves. “When we are in flow, we transition from the faster-moving beta waves of normal waking consciousness to the slower, deeper alpha waves and even borderline theta waves. Alpha waves are like a day-dreaming mode…theta waves are the ones we experience during REM or just before we fall asleep, where ideas combine in amazing and unique ways.” (Chapter 5, Bosnick). When I got to the part of this chapter where Grant wrote about the neurochemistry of flow, I stopped and remembered Friederike's presentation from 2014 and the graphic I created with the three brain chemicals she listed that were important for getting into flow; noradrenaline, dopamine and aceylcholine. Grant sited the research from Neuroscientists at Bonn University who determined 5 neurochemicals present during this flow state. They found that endorphins (that help with pain and stress relief), norepinephrine which is the same neurochemical Friederike mentioned, noradrenaline (not sure why scientists have two words that mean the same neurochemical…maybe they couldn't agree on this name and so now we've got two words for the same thing (that's released with a challenge), anandamide (that regulates pain, anxiety and hunger) and serotonin (that plays a key role in our mood) that are all present during the flow state. Understanding the functions of these neurochemicals helps me to understand why during this state of flow I don't notice aches and pains I have, hunger and thirst disappears, and I'm happy for hours at a time.  WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FLOW? When you are in flow, I'd say it feels almost dream-like, or trance-like as our brain waves slow down, allowing us to access higher levels of creativity. In Chapter 5, Grant points out that “In a ten-year study at McKinsey, top executives reported being five times more productive in flow.” “Flow helps us to learn faster. Recent research says somewhere between 400% and 500% faster according to research by Advanced Brain Monitoring and DARPA, subjects had a 490% increase in skill acquisition in the state of flow.” “Flow enhances creativity and problem solving. The University of Sydney tested flows impact on creative problem-solving abilities…in a flow state, creative problem-solving increases by 430%” The father of flow, Mike C “Csikszentmihalyi also found, through his research, that the people on earth who have the most flow in their lives are the happiest people on Earth.” “When we are in flow we forget the unpleasant aspects of life.”   I knew that the flow state was powerful, but until reading the research that Grant put into this chapter, I didn't realize just how powerful the flow state really is. Now I'm thinking I want to use this state to make life more enjoyable and help me to develop new skills at a faster rate. HOW TO GET INTO FLOW You'll have to read chapter 5 for all of Grant's tips. I liked his tips on Getting into Flow Through Mental Stimulation, since this is what I'm doing while writing this episode. I've been sitting at my desk, writing this episode since early this morning, and I just looked at the time and it's well into the afternoon. I've been in flow, writing for at least five hours. How can I use Grant's Tips to ride myself into what he calls “jacked flow” that will help me to 5x my productivity and accomplish more with less effort? Grant suggests: PICK A GOAL: Think of whatever it is you are working on a decide on the goal. Finish the presentation, or write the proposal or for me, finish writing this episode so I can record it tomorrow. PRIME YOUR BRAIN FOR FLOW: Next he suggests bringing in mindfulness, that takes us back to our last episode where we learned about PQ reps. Use mindfulness to filter out your distractions and maintain control with your attention. I found it does help to let others around you know you've blocked off a time where you cannot be interrupted. THINK ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE GOAL: Why do you want to complete the thing you are working on. For me, with each podcast episode I write, record and release, it helps me to not only implement these new ideas into my own life, but I know I'm gaining skills that help me far beyond the content. Hosting this podcast, writing and recording these episodes, helps me to improve my presentation skills, communication, which improves my overall levels of confidence, let along what I'm gaining from implementing these ideas myself. What benefits do YOU receive from whatever it is that YOU are working on? PUT YOURSELF ON THE EDGE: Ask yourself, is this challenging me? If it's not, it might not get you into the flow state. If it is, then keep working, and see how far you can get. How long can you stretch your flow state. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #326 on “The Neuroscience of Flow” we asked the question: DID YOU KNOW THAT “When we are in flow, we transition from the faster-moving beta waves of normal waking consciousness to the slower, deeper alpha waves and even borderline theta waves” and “we are five times more productive in this state.” (Bosnick, Chapter 5).  We reviewed an early episode with Friederike Fabritius where she taught us about Peak Performance and How to Create Flow in the Workplace. We dove deep into how to prepare for the flow state, what it feels like, urging us all to think about WHEN we access this state ourselves. We looked into The Neuroscience of Flow, the neurochemicals that are present in our brain during flow, with some additional ones that were new for me. We covered the benefits of flow, that opened my eyes to how important this brain state is for workplace productivity, creativity and innovation. The research from McKinsey mentioned productivity soared by 5x while using the flow state, making me decide it was time to work on inducing flow more often in my work week. We ended with 4 STEPS to getting into “jacked flow” as Grant calls it, to give ourselves 5x more productivity, with less effort. Grant tells us to: PICK A GOAL: With what we want to accomplish is this state. PRIME YOUR BRAIN FOR FLOW: By using PQ reps from our episode on Mindfulness, and blocking out all distractions. KNOW THE BENEFIT OF THE GOAL: Which takes us back to the deeper meaning of “why” we do what we do. PUT YOURSELF ON THE EDGE: You must be challenging yourself. This made me think of something my mentor Bob Proctor would say all the time. He'd say “If you aren't sitting on the edge, you're taking up too much space” and I used to think about this. What exactly does he mean? Don't slouch in our chairs? He meant always lean in, take on difficult, challenging work, or you are wasting valuable time.  It's here I want us to think back to where we began on the map of Grant's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership.  REVIEW Chapters 2, 3, 4 EPISODE #323, Chapter 2, “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Your 2024 Goals” ✔ What is Kurt Lewin's “Field Theory” and how can we use it to improve our performance towards our goals in 2024? REFLECT: What are you doing today to gain the momentum needed to reach NEW and HEIGHTENED levels of performance? EPISODE #324, Chapter 3, “The Neuroscience of Inspiration” ✔ Uncover WHO or WHAT inspires you. ✔ Learn what happens to our brain when we are inspired (by a person or a thing). ✔ Apply the Neuroscience of Inspiration to our life in 3 steps: WRITE, THINK and LEARN to Level Up Our Results in 2024. REFLECT: How are you using people or places that inspire you, to take your results to greater heights? EPISODE #325 Chapter 4 “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” ✔ A review of our past episodes where we covered the topic of Mindfulness. ✔ Defining Mindfulness and where many people begin their practice. ✔ Putting Mindfulness into practice using PQ Reps, coined by Positive Intelligence Founder, Shirzad Chamine, to build our mental muscles over time. ✔ My challenge to you to keep working on Mindfulness for improved productivity in our personal and work lives. REFLECT: Where are you in your Mindfulness Journey? Which leads us to connect the dots to chapter 5 on The Neuroscience of Flow. REFLECT: When do you experience this brain state, and how can you use it intentionally to reach 5x your usual levels of productivity in your work life? With that thought, I'll close out this episode, with a quote from the “Father of Flow” Mike C, who reminds us The best moments usually occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. Optimal experience is thus something that we make happen. No one is going to do this work for us. I'll see you next week for our review of Chapter 6 on Physical Health. See you next time. REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #325 on “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insight-from-grant-bosnicks-tailored-approaches-to-self-leadership/   [iv]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #27 with Friederike Fabritius on “The Recipe for Peak Performance”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/pioneer-in-the-field-of-neuroleadership-friederike-fabritius-on-the-recipe-for-achieving-peak-performance/   [v] https://www.cgu.edu/people/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/   [vi] IBID [vii] Achieving a flow state by Allaya Cooks-Campbell March 7, 2022 https://www.betterup.com/blog/flow-state   [viii] The Neuroscience of Flow: Involvement of the Locus Coeruleus Norepinephrine System by Dimitr van der Linden et al Published April 14, 2021 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645498/full   [ix] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #294 “Beyond our 5 Senses and Using the Six Higher Faculties of the Mind”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/beyond-our-5-senses-understanding-and-using-the-six-higher-faculties-of-our-mind/  

Dive into the deep corners of mindfulness and neuroscience in this captivating episode of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. Join us as we delve into Grant Bosnick's insightful book, 'Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership' while exploring the neuroscience of mindfulness. In episode 325, we introduce you to PQ Reps, a robust method to build mental muscles for better mental resilience and executive control over daily distractions. Unpack how to effectively apply neuroscience to amp up your mindfulness practice and make noticeable progress over time. Learn about the impressive benefits of incorporating PQ Reps into your routine, from the perspective of Positive Intelligence founder Shirzad Chamine. Enhance your understanding of concepts such as Lewin's field theory, the practice of setting concrete goals, and the neuroscience of inspiration. You will find out how to effectively use your mind to create your future by design instead of letting it happen by default. Whether you're seeking to deepen your existing mindfulness practice or exploring ways to kick-start one, this episode offers practical guidance backed by science. Remember, every giant leap begins with a small step. Start today with the PQ Reps and set yourself up for a more mindful 2024. In this 18-week Series, we will cover: ✔ Powerful tactics from this NEW award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels. EPISODE #325 Chapter 4 “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” ✔ A review of our past episodes where we covered the topic of Mindfulness. ✔ Defining Mindfulness and where many people begin their practice. ✔ Putting Mindfulness into practice using PQ Reps, coined by Positive Intelligence Founder, Shirzad Chamine, to build our mental muscles over time. ✔ My challenge to you to keep working on Mindfulness for improved productivity in our personal and work lives. On today's episode #325 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321.[i]  During this interview, I told Grant that his book contained a thorough and deep overview of the Neuroscience of Self-Leadership, and I felt like each of the 18 chapters could be covered in 18 weeks, for all of us to gain a better understanding of the application of the science he picked out for each chapter. So I decided to cover EACH chapter here, with a map towards our progress over the next 18 weeks, and to set our season theme to the Neuroscience of Self-Leadership that will be our focus until June of this year. Today we will be looking at Chapter 4 of this book on “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness.” This is a topic that scored on the MEDIUM side of urgency for me, (ORANGE) on the Leadership Self-Assessment.[ii]  I hope that you have taken your self-assessment[iii], so you can follow along with your most urgent to least urgent areas of importance with your year. This area surprised me a bit, because I think Mindfulness is a huge part of my day. It's something that I spend time doing every morning, or else it's noticeable to me that I've missed it. Then I looked back over all the episodes we covered starting with some of our early episodes when I was just learning the ropes with interviewing guests. We started covering mindfulness on EP #25[iv] with Mick Neustadt, a mindfulness expert, to EP #28[v] with Dr. Dan Siegel, the well-known clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, on his concept of Mindsight that he said was the basis for social and emotional intelligence.  Then on EP #60[vi], we covered Dr. Siegel's' Wheel of Awareness Meditation, and the insights I gained from practicing the 3 segments he has created over a two-month period, and then into Dr. Dawson Church's Bliss Brain Meditations[vii] that still sits as our MOST watched YouTube interview[viii] from December 2020 on The Science Behind Using a Meditation Practice. It feels like yesterday, but it was 2 years ago that we met with psychologist Darshan Pindoria for EP 266 on “Bringing Mindfulness and Meditation to Our Daily Lives.” So what does Grant Bosnick say about mindfulness in his book “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership?” He opens up chapter four by talking about the benefits of mindfulness to help us to gain more “executive control” over our daily distractions. I like how he asks “What is Mindfulness?” and lists the many definitions on the topic that talk about this practice as a “mental state achieved by concentrating in the present moment” to “creating a feeling of calm” to “a moment-to-moment awareness of one's experience without judgement.” Then he did not miss the father of mindfulness, who we've quoted often on this podcast, especially after I took his Masterclass, Jon Kabat-Zinn who gently reminds us that mindfulness is “an awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally.” Bosnick shares that “it seems to be a mental state AND the practice of reaching that state” and he likens it to the Jedi's Mind from the movie series Star Wars. He says “It's like the force.” Now I think I saw Star Wars when I was a kid, and knew about “the force” but had to look up the meaning as it's been a few years. Bosnick reminds us that in the original Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker “Well, the force is what gives a Jedi his power. It is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us: it binds the galaxy together.” (Ch 4, Bosnick). Now for someone who hasn't watched Star Wars since childhood, this sounds a lot to me like content we cover on this podcast, specifically our Science of Getting Rich Series[ix] where we talk about the fact that “there is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates and fills the interspaces of the universe.” (Wallace D. Wattles, SGR, The Syllabus). Or, our interview with Dr. Konstantin Korotkov, from EP 307[x] where we learned about the energy field that surrounds our body. Bosnick reminds us that the movie warned us to “Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware: Anger, fear, aggression—the Dark Side, are there” so we learn to keep our emotions in check, by practicing mindfulness. PUTTING MINDFULNESS INTO PRACTICE: BUILDING OUR MENTAL RESILIENCE OVER TIME Bosnick tells us that “in order for us to be mindful, to focus and keep focus, we need to have “executive control” over our attention.” (Ch 4, Bosnick) and I'll add that we will all be at different levels of being able to “block out” our distractions. I remember the first time I laid down, and tried to listen to a guided meditation in the early days of learning this practice, and is all I could hear was my kids running around, when they were little. There was no chance I was going to be able to focus back then, but I just kept trying. I can say that one day, I noticed, that I could be sitting somewhere busy, like an airport, and am now able to block all outside distractions in order to go within. Wearing certain headphones has definitely helped with this. But this didn't come easily to me. I hear many people say “yeah, I gave up trying to meditate, it just doesn't work for me.” Other than telling you to sit there and listen to whatever meditation program you connect with, and keep trying, I don't have a strategy for HOW to build your mental muscles either, or how to build the resilience that comes over time, or how to take your meditation practice from the comfort of your home, where you begin, to your busy work day, when you need it the most. But Grant Bosnick does and he introduces us to New York Times Best Selling Author, Shirzad Chamine's strategy[xi] that guarantees we will quiet our mind over time. Bringing in the science to Mindfulness, DID YOU KNOW there is a concept called PQ Reps, coined by Positive Intelligence Founder, Shirzad Chamine[xii] that builds our mental muscles over time? PQ Reps stand for “positive intelligence quotient repetitions” (Ch 4, Bosnick) “and they are small, laser-focused exercises that consciously and purposely deploy our attention to one specific sensation.” These exercises are a way to train your brain in the same way that you would if you were meditating, giving you all of the benefits we are talking about with this practice. Shirzad Chamine discovered PQ Reps when he was looking for a way to build mental resilience for people who struggled to begin a mediation practice. Through fMRI scans, he could see that by activating a certain part of the brain, the PQ Area, in 10 second intervals, by taking your index finger and rubbing it on your thumb, while focusing on the sensation of this feeling, they could see that this PQ area in the brain was slightly activated, while the survival part of the brain was slightly quieter.[xiii] HOW DO WE PRACTICE PQ REPS? By rubbing your finger and your thumb together, involving your any of your 5 senses for 10 seconds. I suggest involve the sensation of touch, and notice what it feels like to touch the top of one finger on the ridges of the other. By doing this, you are shifting your attention to your body and focusing on the sensation. It's a lot like Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness practice that has you focused on one body part at a time (from head to toe) and feeling the sensation of your thoughts as it goes from one body part to the next. Who knew I was practicing PQ Reps while doing Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness Meditation and improving my mental fitness? It really does help to understand the science behind developing a mindfulness practice, so you can continue to strengthen yours. Shrizad Chamine recommends that if we want to use PQ Reps to build up this part of our brain, that we should do this practice for 12 minutes/day or 136 reps/day. To put this into perspective, Dan Siegel's Full Wheel of Awareness practice[xiv], is 37 minutes in length. Visiting his website that I've linked in the show notes, you can see this one, as well as a shorter one, and a NEW one on the Plane of Possibility. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #325 on “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” we asked the question: DID YOU KNOW there is a concept called PQ Reps, coined by Positive Intelligence Founder, Shirzad Chamine[xv] who used fMRI scanners to discover that by doing these PQ Reps we can actually build our mental muscles by activating this PQ Region in the Brain?  For those who have a mindfulness practice in place, putting PQ Reps into practice helps to reaffirm the benefits that comes along with building your mental muscles, and for those who have found it difficult to begin a mindfulness practice, PQ Reps is a proven way to bridge the gap for you to begin. HOW DO WE PRACTICE PQ REPS? By rubbing our finger and thumb together, and involving any of our 5 senses for 10 seconds. I suggest that we feel the touch of our fingers on each other. By doing this, we are shifting our attention to our body and focusing on the sensation. It is this activity, that build us the PQ Area of our brain, while the survival part goes quieter. If you next listen to Dan Siegel's Wheel of Awareness Meditation you will see how Dr. Siegel's Mindfulness Practice is essentially teaching you to do PQ Reps involving every part of your body and feeling the sensations from your head to toe. Start small, practicing PQ Reps one day at a time, and eventually you will learn to focus your attention for longer periods of time, building your mental muscles and resilience in the process.   With each lesson we cover in this review of Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, I'm hoping to show us how we can gain the momentum needed to activate Lewin's Field Theory, (remember from Chapter 2 on goals, EP 323[xvi] that place where we gain momentum and suddenly, life becomes easier. The resistances fades away, and our goals or whatever it is we are working on, are not far off in the distance, but they are within our reach. Then I'm hoping that we have a clear understanding of Chapter 3, EP 324[xvii] on The Neuroscience of Inspiration where we became clear with WHO or WHAT inspires us. This is when we know we can use our MINDS and understanding of our BRAIN, to turn MIND into MATTER, and create our own futures by design, rather than let them happen by default. I suggest using the MAP that Bosnick created to check off when you think you have integrated each skills into your daily life. In Chapter 2 on Goals, do you see how to gain the momentum needed for your success this year? In Chapter 3 on Inspiration, do you know WHO or WHAT inspires you, and are you using this knowledge for motivation? And now in Chapter 4 on Mindfulness, where are YOU in your mindfulness practice? Does this understanding of PQ Reps help you to build up the PQ area of your brain? Can you do a few reps in the day, until you build up to 12 minutes a day like recommended for this part of the brain to see the changes we all seek? I hope you have found this episode on Mindfulness helpful for sharpening your mindfulness practice, if you have one, or looking for alternative ways to build one, if you have found the process to be difficult. I can't forget that I wondered how I could improve my own meditation practice early last year, so we dove deep into The Silva Method, covered in 4 PARTS, that we just reviewed on EP #322[xviii] as our most downloaded series in 2023. The point of this episode today is that we learn to improve Mindfulness in our day to day life, not just for more “executive control” but to think beyond this. Jose Silva reminds us that “Once we learn to use our minds to train it, it will do some astounding things for us, as you will soon see.” Remember that some of the leading experts in the world have used Mindfulness (from The Silva Method) for outstanding results.   ✔ A marketing company used it to create 18 new products. ✔ 14 Chicago White Socks players used it to boost their scores. ✔  Celebrities have used it and credit Jose Silva for improving their focus and creativity. ✔  Colleges and universities have used it to help students study less, but learn more. If you are not using your mind to its fullest potential, don't worry, awareness is the first step. Start small today, and you'll be miles ahead in 2024, than you've ever been! I'll end with a quote to highlight the self-awareness we will build once we've implemented this lesson into our daily life, since our goal with this 18-week series is to help each of us to become more self-aware. “To know yourself, you must sacrifice the illusion that you already do.” — Vironika Tugaleva And I'll see you next week for an interview, and the week after that with Chapter 5 on Flow. REVIEW Chapters 2, 3 EPISODE #323, Chapter 2, “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Your 2024 Goals” ✔ What is Kurt Lewin's “Field Theory” and how can we use it to improve our performance towards our goals in 2024? ✔ 3 STEPS for Applying Field Theory into our Daily Life to Reach Heightened Levels of Achievement in 2024. EPISODE #324, Chapter 3, “The Neuroscience of Inspiration” ✔ Uncover WHO or WHAT inspires you. ✔ Learn what happens to our brain when we are inspired (by a person or a thing). ✔ Apply the Neuroscience of Inspiration to our life in 3 steps: WRITE, THINK and LEARN to Level Up Our Results in 2024. RESOURCES and OTHER EPSIODES ON MINDFULNESS Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #154 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/author-and-film-producer-tom-cronin-on-the-portal-book-and-movie-how-meditation-can-save-the-world/   Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #170 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/cognitive-neuroscience-researcher-john-harmon-on-our-brain-and-mind-under-pressure/ REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iii] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/   [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #25 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/mindfulness-and-meditation-expert-mick-neustadt-on-how-meditation-and-mindfulness-changes-your-life-results-and-potential/   [v]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #28 with Dr. Dan Siegel   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/clinical-professor-of-psychiatry-at-the-ucla-school-of-medicine-dr-daniel-siegel-on-mindsight-the-basis-for-social-and-emotional-intelligence/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #60 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-science-behind-a-meditation-practice-with-a-deep-dive-into-dr-dan-siegel-s-wheel-of-awareness/   [vii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #98 with Dr. Dawson Church  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-dawson-church-on-the-science-behind-using-meditation-rewiring-your-brain-for-happiness-resilience-and-joy/   [viii] Dr. Dawsom Church on “The Science Behind Using Meditation” https://youtu.be/bH8yVKHjFN4   [ix]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #314 PART 1 The Science of Getting Rich Book Review on Prosperity Consciousness  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/   [x] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #307 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-konstantinkorotkov-on-bridging-thespiritualworld-with-rigorousscientific-method-methodtappingintothe-powerof-our-thoughtsenergy-fieldsandlimitless/ [xi] Shirzad Chamine Quieting the Mind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDOqPrfNaq0 [xii] Shirzad Chamine https://www.positiveintelligence.com/about/   [xiii] Shirzad Chamine Quieting the Mind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDOqPrfNaq0   [xiv] https://drdansiegel.com/wheel-of-awareness/   [xv] Shirzad Chamine https://www.positiveintelligence.com/about/   [xvi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #323  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-season-11-of-the-neuroscience-meets-sel-podcast/   [xvii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #324 on “The Neuroscience of Inspiration”   https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-self-leadership-series/   [xviii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #322 with “Transforming Minds and Paving the Future: A Review of The Silva Method” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/transforming-minds-and-paving-the-future/      

Welcome back to Season 11 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast! Today we are diving into episode 324, where we continue our transformative 18-week Self-Leadership series. We explore the riveting application of practical neuroscience and uncover how it influences our daily life, productivity, and overall well-being. In this episode, we delve into the third chapter of Grant 'Upbeat' Bosnick's book, focusing on the Neuroscience of Inspiration and Motivation – a topic that scored highest in my self-assessment. Grant emphasizes the importance of self-motivation and inspiration in propelling us towards our goals, and we explore how these elements chemically affect our brains. Discover the powerful role inspiring stories and images play in our lives, producing neurochemical oxytocin (facilitating feelings of trust) and dopamine (associated with motivation and reward). Learn how the individuals, places, or things that inspire us can connect, rewire our brains and form new ideas through the process of neuroplasticity. This episode aims to provide listeners with practical steps to integrate the neuroscience of inspiration into their lives. Identify the individuals and factors that inspire and motivate you, visualize the chemical reactions occurring in your brain during moments of inspiration, and finally, understand the implication of this knowledge on a deeper level. Join us as we continue our journey of self-discovery, blending neuroscience with everyday practices to reach unparalleled heights in productivity and performance, creating a future by design, not default. EPISODE #323, Chapter 2, “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Your 2024 Goals” ✔ What is Kurt Lewin's “Field Theory” and how can we use it to improve our performance towards our goals in 2024? ✔ 3 STEPS for Applying Field Theory into our Daily Life to Reach Heightened Levels of Achievement in 2024. EPISODE #324, Chapter 3, “The Neuroscience of Inspiration” ✔ Uncover WHO or WHAT inspires you. ✔ Learn what happens to our brain when we are inspired (by a person or a thing). ✔ Apply the Neuroscience of Inspiration to our life in 3 steps: WRITE, THINK and LEARN to Level Up Our Results in 2024. On today's episode #324 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321.[i] During this interview, I told Grant that his book contained a thorough and deep overview of the Neuroscience of Self-Leadership, and I felt like each of the 18 chapters could be covered in 18 weeks, so I decided to set our season theme to the Neuroscience of Self-Leadership that will be our focus until June of this year. My goal with EACH of these next episodes, covered over the next 18 weeks, is that the application of the neuroscience within each lesson, will change us in some way, create new meaning, giving us NEW AHA Moments, open up NEW portals of creativity, that we can use to accelerate our results in 2024. Before we do this, I highly encourage you to take your own Leadership Self-Assessment so you can see which chapters of Grant's book come out for you as GREEN or important to focus on now, which chapters are ORANGE and not as important, and which ones for you, came out as RED, and lower priority. As we go through these lessons, just keep an open mind to what it is that you might learn from these three areas. Take note of AHA Moments of learning- from each lesson. Did something jump out at you as important in an area that was of lower priority? (RED) Be sure to circle, or write out the NEW learnings from these lessons that you will put into action to improve your results this year. Remembering that it's not just thinking in a certain way that will change our results, but we've also got to take action with what we learn. Whatever concepts we learn within each chapter, I hope that the science gives you something NEW to help you to THINK DIFFERENTLY this year, and move you to greater heights with more momentum like we learned from Kurt Lewin's Field Theory last week. For today's episode #324, we will be looking at Chapter 3, “The Neuroscience of Inspiration and Motivation” which came out as my highest scoring area on the Self-Assessment Quiz. Grant opens up Chapter 3 by saying “we cannot motivate others; we can only inspire them. Motivation comes from within. Inspiration can come from anywhere—within us, around us and through us.” (Ch 3, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). Next, he says that “inspiration is moving people, or being moved ourselves, to be excited about achieving something. It's about seeing or doing things differently, or changing our thinking, feeling or who we are, now and for the future.” Ch 3, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). I'm looking at this chapter, as one of the positive forces that can help us to gain momentum towards our goals, thinking about Kurt Lewin's Field Theory from our last EP 233.[ii] Using motivation (that comes from within) and inspiration to drive us towards our goals, I'm hoping this chapter will help us to uncover some new ideas that we can use to push us forward, and help us to gain that feeling of momentum as we are in pursuit of our goals. Grant asks us to think about what inspires you? People or things? I find inspiration in both and use ideas from other people to help me to write these episodes, while also can gain inspiration from nature, or being near beautiful places, and buildings. Who inspires you? What inspires you? Next, think about why this person or thing inspires you. Does it give you more hope for the future, or help you to see things differently? What else comes to your mind when you think about people or places that inspire you? The Neuroscience of Inspiration DID YOU KNOW “that inspiring stories and images produce oxytocin in our brain? Oxytocin is the neurochemical that facilitates feelings of trust. Inspiration also produces dopamine in our brains (Ashby et al., 1999, Depue and Collings, 1999) which is a neurochemical associated with motivation and reward.” Ch 3, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). Think about this for a minute. Those people who inspire us, we will tend to trust more, because of the neurochemical oxytocin that was released into our brain. We covered the Neuroscience of Trust on EP #206[iii] right before our interview with Greg Link, who wrote a book on this topic with Stephen M.R. Covey (the son of the late Dr. Stephen R. Covey) called Smart Trust: The Defining Skill That Transforms Managers into Leaders.[iv] Dr. Stephen Covey would say that “Trust in the highest form of human motivation. It brings out the very best in people. But it takes time and patience.” We also learned that trust “frees up the brain for other activities like creativity, planning and decision-making”[v] which to me shows on a brain level why “the act of extending trust is an act of leadership.” (Stephen M.R. Covey). Then we can look at inspiration that produces dopamine in our brain, and is associated with motivation and reward, so people and places that inspire us, can also motivate us, magnifying the trust we feel, and lead us forward. AHA Moment of Learning! Does the Neuroscience of Inspiration give you a whole new outlook on certain people and places in your life? Does it help you to understand yourself on a deeper level? Maybe you wondered “what about this person or place motivates me?” or “Why do I feel trust towards one person, and not another?” I do believe that trust is a feeling that can be felt, since everything going on inside is expressed on the outside. You can see and feel these vibrations and frequencies that we covered in depth with David Wong[vi], and frequencies don't lie. I agree with Dr. Stephen Covey that this trust we feel through inspiration is “a performance multiplier which takes your trajectory upwards, for every action you engage in, from strategy to execution.” I think it's interesting to see how the chemicals in our brain draw us towards certain people or places, connected to whatever it is that inspires us. Wait there's more! Grant goes on to explain that “the concept of neuroplasticity underpins inspiration” and that “Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to form new connections and reorganize itself as a result. Through inspiration, our brain is literally restructuring itself as we connect ideas together to form new ideas. The process of inspiration carves our new pathways inside the brain.” Ch 3, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). Our brains are literally being changed by people or places that inspire us. They are not only motivating us, but these people and things (like places, or artwork, or nature) rewire our brain, helping us to form new ideas.  If you ask me, this is a key piece of information for us to understand if we want to be more innovative and creative this year, and take our results to new heights. Grant's book, and chapter 3, dives deeper into motivation and inspiration, and crosses into later chapters of the book, but for now, we will end here, as we take The Neuroscience of Inspiration, and see how we can apply it in our own life, to help us to overcome negative challenges, and create the momentum needed to reach heightened levels of performance towards our goals this year. PUTTING THE NEUROSCIENCE OF INSPIRATION INTO PRACTICE: WRITE: Write a list of: Who inspires you, and why? Do you feel trust with this person that could be a performance multiplier? Think about this. Why, or why not? What inspires you, and why? Do you feel motivation from places that we know can rewire our brain and make new neural connections? THINK: Think of your brain being bombarded by oxytocin (the neurochemical that facilitates the feelings of trust) and then dopamine (the neurochemical associated with motivation and reward) and then the NEW neural pathways that are being rewired into your brain with whatever it is that you are drawing inspiration from. LEARN: What does this mean to you? Does it help you to make sense of your world in a new way?  Does this connection to science help to motivate you in a NEW way, perhaps pushing you past some of the obstacles that once held you back? Does this NEW understanding energize you in some way, or give you more self-awareness towards your goals? My goal with these bite-sized chapters connecting Neuroscience and Self-Leadership to our daily practice, is that we begin to see how simple it is to connect an understanding of how our brain works, to our best practices, that we tap into daily, taking us to new heights. Applying the Neuroscience of Inspiration to my life, I can clearly see what's most important to me, why I'm drawn to certain people or places, and how important it is for me to keep learning, and applying what we uncover together on these episodes. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #324 on “The Neuroscience of Inspiration” we asked the question: DID YOU KNOW: “that inspiring stories and images produce oxytocin in our brain? Oxytocin is the neurochemical that facilitates feelings of trust. Inspiration also produces dopamine in our brains which is a neurochemical associated with motivation and reward.” Ch 3, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership). Next, we put The Neuroscience of Inspiration into action in our daily life with 3 steps: STEP 1 WRITE: A list of who or what inspires you, and why. STEP 2 THINK: Of what is happening to your brain when it's being inspired (by a person or thing). It's being bombarded by oxytocin, which is why you will feel trust, and dopamine is released which will motivate you in a new way. STEP 3 LEARN: What does the Neuroscience of Inspiration mean to you? How can you use this understanding to help you to gain momentum towards your 2024 goals, and push you towards higher levels of achievement? Once we have our list of who or what inspires us, and we can imagine the neural pathways in our brain making NEW connections, we just keep learning, growing and moving forward, with NEW momentum, in the direction of our goals. With each lesson we cover, I'm hoping to show us how we can gain the momentum needed to activate Lewin's Field Theory, and suddenly, life becomes easy. The resistances fade away, and our goals or whatever it is we are working on, are not far off in the distance, but they are within our reach. This is when we know we can use our MINDS and understanding of our BRAIN, to turn MIND into MATTER, and create our own futures by design, rather than let them happen by default. I'll end with a quote to highlight the self-awareness we will build once we've implemented this lesson into our daily life, since our goal with this 18-week series is to help each of us to become more self-aware. “The first and best victory is to conquer self” – Plato I hope the Neuroscience of Inspiration has helped you in some way, to move closer to whatever it is you are working on this year. I'll see you next week with Chapter 4 on Mindfulness.     REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #323 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-season-11-of-the-neuroscience-meets-sel-podcast/   [iii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #207 Brain Fact Friday on The Neuroscience of Trust  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-the-neuroscience-of-trust/   [iv] Smart Trust: The Defining Skill That Transforms Managers into Leaders by Stephen M.R. Covey and Greg Link Published September 3, 2013 https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Trust-Defining-Transforms-Managers/dp/1451652178   [v] The Neuroscience of Trust https://headheartbrain.com/brain-savvy-hr/the-neuroscience-oftrust/#:~:text=High%20levels%20of%20trust%20are,amygdala%20and%20trust%20decreases%20activation.   [vi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #312 with David Wong on Mastering Your Frequency  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-frequency-expert-david-wong-on-master-your-frequency-and-take-control-of-your-personal-professional-life-and-health/  

Welcome back to Season 11 of the "Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning" podcast. Our host, Andrea Samadi, an author and an educator, introduces a compelling 18-week series devoted to self-leadership, drawing on insights from Grant Bosnick's book on the subject. The series, framed through the lens of neuroscience and psychology, aims to empower listeners onto individual pathways of self-discovery. By building stronger and more resilient versions of oneself, we anticipate a transformation in well-being, achievement, productivity, and success. We lay the foundation of this self-discovery journey by looking within – nurturing self-awareness. It is a revisiting of ancient wisdom, as we echo Aristotle's words, "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." In conversation with Grant Bosnick, we ponder upon multiple facets of neuroscience and self-leadership. We hope this series evokes new revelations about our neural circuits, catalyzed by the application of neuroscience embedded in each lesson. Being self-aware, acknowledging and overcoming obstacles, and utilizing the forces that propel us, can transform our performance towards our goals in 2024. To fully grasp these concepts and apply them meaningfully, we highly recommend taking your own leadership self-assessment. Equipped with a nuanced understanding of personal strengths and areas of improvement, we hope to inspire a fresh, empowered approach to thinking and leading in 2024. Concluding with a powerful sentiment from Peter Drucker, "Being a self-leader is to serve as chief, captain, president, or CEO of one's own life"—we welcome you to join us in this journey of self-discovery and self-leadership, underpinned by the magnificent world of neuroscience. On today's episode #323 we will begin our Self-Leadership Series based on Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321.[i] During this interview, I told Grant that his book contained a thorough and deep overview of the Neuroscience of Self-Leadership, that I felt like each of the 18 chapters could be covered in 18 weeks, so I decided to set our season theme to the Neuroscience of Self-Leadership that will be our focus until June of this year. This series will help each of us on our pathways of self-discovery….to get to know ourselves on a deeper level as we build stronger more resilient versions of ourselves in 2024. Since we know that “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” Aristotle This is where our podcast began back on episode #2[ii] on Self-Awareness: Know Thyself where we covered 6 Steps for Becoming More Self-Aware back in July of 2019. Remember: Mastering others is strength; mastering oneself is true power” - Lao Tsu While speaking with Grant Bosnick on our recent interview, I let him know that I took his Self-Assessment to leadership that I've linked in the resource section below, and that when I was given my results, I scored very low on some areas where I think I might have answered the questions thinking “I've got this” (in my head) until I actually read his book, and realized there was much more to some of these areas than I thought. So, for the next 18 weeks, we are going to work through the science in Grant's book, and see if we can together, apply the research he's uncovered in his timeless self-leadership principles, to learn something NEW with ourselves, building stronger, more improved 2.0 versions of ourselves with whatever it is we are working on this year. I'm hoping that the science reveals something NEW that you might not have thought of in the past, like we mentioned on PART 4[iii] of our Review of The Silva Method, Dr. Andrew Huberman's research taught us that “when we see something that's truly creative, it reveals something to us about the natural world and about how our brains work. It must reveal something that surprises us” for it to be truly creative. Dr. Huberman explains that “something pops out at us…we see something, feel, or experience something...this reveals something about our brain/our auditory system, creating NEW meaning for us.” AND “when we see, hear, feel or experience something that's truly creative, the way our neural circuits function is changed. When our neural circuits are changed simply by what comes into our eyes, ears, or the way we experience our feelings, there's a release of chemicals like dopamine that make us feel surprised, delighted or excited in anticipation that we will see it again.” (Dr. Huberman) This is my goal with EACH of these next episodes, covered over the next 18 weeks, with the goal that the application of the neuroscience in each lesson, will change us in some way, create new meaning, giving us NEW AHA Moments, that we can use to accelerate our results in 2024. Before we do this, I highly encourage you to take your own Leadership Self-Assessment so you can see which chapters of Grant's book come out for you as GREEN or important to focus on now, which chapters are ORANGE and not as important, and which ones for you, came out as RED, and low priority. Whatever concepts we learn with each chapter, I hope that the science gives you something NEW to help you to THINK DIFFERENTLY in 2024, and move you to greater heights this year. I'm currently in the middle of studying Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich book, with Paul Martinelli who I've be studying this book every year with since 2019, and he is reminding us on a daily basis that in order to change our results, we must learn to think differently. We opened up our review of our 6 PART Series on Think and Grow Rich back in 2022[iv] with a quote from author Grant Cardone that said:  “In order to get to the next level of whatever you're doing, you must think and act in a wildly different way than you previously have been. You cannot get to the next phase of a project without a grander mind-set, more acceleration, and extra horsepower.” Grant Cardone, author of the 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure[v] This reminds me of Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, the World's #1 Leadership Thinker, who wrote the foreword to Grant's book, of his best-selling book, What Got You Here, Won't Get You There.[vi]  I hope this 18-week series will help us to all THINK and ACT differently in 2024, so we can all break through to new heights this year. In this 18-week Series, we will cover: ✔ Powerful tactics from this NEW award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation and the impact of a self-assessment system. ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels. For today's episode #323, we will be looking at Chapter 2, “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Your 2024 Goals” ✔ What is Kurt Lewin's “Field Theory” and how can we use it to improve our performance towards our goals in 2024? ✔ 3 STEPS for Applying Field Theory into our Daily Life to Reach Heightened Levels of Achievement in 2024. DID YOU KNOW: there is a force that drives us towards our goals? On page 20 of Grant's book, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, he mentions that “according to Kurt Lewin's Field Theory[vii], a goal is embedded not only in the individual but also exists within the field around the individual. Between us and the target, there is a “drive force” or “drive field” and as we get closer to the target (or the perception of being closer), the strength of the force increases.” When I read this part of the book, I almost fell off my chair. I'm always looking for ways to connect science to age-old principles, and Grant explained something we've been looking at the past year.  We know that our energy field matters whether by the thoughts we are thinking, or the actions that we are taking. We covered this in depth with Dr. Konstantin Korotkov's EP 307[viii] where we bridged the spiritual world with rigorous scientific method. So how can we improve our performance towards a goal, using German-born American social psychologist, Kurt Lewin's Field Theory[ix] that Grant Boswick wrote about in his chapter on Goals? IMAGE: Hand drawn from Kurt Lewin's Force Field Change Explanation[x] I've got 3 STEPS to do this, that go along with an image I hand drew in the show notes. STEP 1 RECOGNIZE THE NEGATIVE FORCES THAT PUSH US AWAY FROM OUR GOALS: Know that whenever we are moving towards a goal, there will be a force that pushes us down from our current state of attaining our goal, (a negative force) and there's also a force that helps us to change (a positive force). Identify the forces that are pushing you down as you move towards your desired end result. In our schools: it could be limited time to study for a test. In our sports environments: it could be our competition, or whoever is at the top of the league. Finally, in our workplaces: it could be a competitor charging lower pricing, and taking all the business in your area. STEP 2 RECOGNIZE THE POSITIVE FORCES THAT PUSH US TOWARDS OUR GOALS: Recognize that just as there is a negative force pushing us down, there are also positive forces that pushes us up, and can assist us to change. It's this force pushing us up that Grant talks about in his chapter on goals. He says that “the closer we get to our target (or perception of being closer to the target) the strength of the force increases.” (Page 20, Grant Bosnick, Tailored Approaches to Leadership). STEP 3 FIND THE MOMENTUM THAT TAKES YOU TO A NEW LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE:   It's here in the diagram where I drew a RED arrow, showing a person moving from their current state, leveling up to a new, heightened level of performance, when there are MORE positive forces pushing us up, than negative pushing us down. BEFORE we can get to our new heightened level of performance, we must overcome the forces against whatever it is we are moving towards, (like by overcoming our competition) and create as many positive forces to help us to move towards our NEW end result. Create a plan for how you will overcome your resistances, while building up positive forces for change (like through study, identifying ways you can improve your mental and physical health so you can use these forces to push up against the negatives, or from understanding your “why” so this internal force drives you when times are difficult.                                                                                           PUT KURT LEWIN'S FIELD THEORY INTO ACTION INTO YOUR LIFE: So how can we use Kurt Lewin's Field Theory to improve our level of performance towards our goals in 2024? We can create our own, built in weapons that will reduce our known resistances (negative forces) and create new habits that will strengthen the positive forces. Grant had us thinking about this “driving force” as we move towards our goals in Chapter 2 of his book. But right now, we are starting a new year, and many of us will be feeling the resistances that comes along with a New Year. What can we do to get to the point where Grant mentions this “powerful feeling” or excitement as our goals can be seen and felt on the horizon? How can we level ourselves up to the RED arrow I drew in the diagram? If we want to DRIVE change in our organization, (in our schools, sports environments, or workplaces) then our driving force for change will need to be stronger than the resistance to change.   IMAGE CREDIT: Force Field Examples[xi] TO APPLY KURT LEWIN'S FORCE FIELD THEORY: Write out the negative forces that impact your work on a daily basis. Write out the positive forces you have in place. Are there MORE positive driving forces than negative? Where can YOU or YOUR organization improve? REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #323 on “Using Neuroscience to Level Up Your 2024 Goals” we asked the question “DID YOU KNOW: there is a force that drives us towards our goals?” With this understanding we also looked at the forces that drive us away from our goals. We broke down Kurt Lewin's Field Theory into 3 steps. STEP 1 RECOGNIZE THE NEGATIVE FORCES THAT PUSH US AWAY FROM OUR GOALS Like our competition or whatever it is that's causing us grief on a daily basis as we are working on our goals. Use the diagram in the show notes to list out what forces hold you back from your goals on a daily basis, so you can see them clearly. STEP 2 RECOGNIZE THE POSITIVE FORCES THAT PUSH US TOWARDS OUR GOALS Like knowing our “why” that Simon Sinek[xii] is famous for teaching, that will help us through difficult times, and then think about the weapons we will build into our day to improve our mental and physical health, giving us more capacity towards our goals. We created our TOP 5 Health Staples[xiii] to move us to heightened levels of performance on a Bonus Episode in 2022, and I'm always looking to improve these. While speaking with Dr. Gregory Kelly, I added a 6th Health Staple for Stress Reduction, and am always looking at what else I can add to build a stronger, more resilient version of myself. STEP 3 FIND THE MOMENTUM THAT TAKES YOU TO A NEW LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE:   Once we are clear on the forces that are pushing against us, we can create our own WEAPONS to combat these resistances, helping us to gain that momentum that Grant Bosnick mentioned in his 2nd chapter on Goals. Grant asks us in Chapter 2 to “think about a big goal that you had from the past. When you first started it, how much pull did you feel towards it? Then, as you got closer to achieving it, how much pull did you feel toward it? We can use this pull of “drive force” to propel us as we get (or perceive ourselves getting) closer to our goals. It's a powerful feeling” Grant tells us. I hope that by breaking down Kurt Lewin's Field Theory, it helped to reveal something NEW for all of us that can help all of us to find that RED arrow of heightened achievement, that once we have arrived there, it will be easier for us to keep the momentum going with our 2024 goals. I'll end with a quote to highlight the self-awareness we will build with this lesson. “Being a self-leader is to serve as chief, captain, president, or CEO of one's own life” – Peter Drucker an Austrian American consultant and educator. See you next week for Chapter 3 on Inspiration and Motivation. RESOURCES: Self-Assessment http://www.selfleadershipassessment.com CONTACT grant@grantbosnick.com Website: https://grantbosnick.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantbosnick/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantBosnick Learn more about The Tailored Approach to Leadership Book https://grantbosnick.com/books/ Signature Keynotes and Solutions https://grantbosnick.com/signature-solutions/ FOLLOW ANDREA SAMADI:  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AndreaSamadi   Website https://www.achieveit360.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samadi/  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Achieveit360com   Neuroscience Meets SEL Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2975814899101697   Twitter: https://twitter.com/andreasamadi   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreasamadi/    REFERENCES: [i]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #323 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #2 Self-Awareness: Know Thyself https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/self-awareness-know-thyself/   [iii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast PART 4 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-silva-method-improving-creativity-and-innovation-in-our-schools-sports-and-modern-workplaces/     [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast PART 1 of our Think and Grow Rich Book Study https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/think-and-grow-rich-book-review-part-1-how-to-make-2022-your-best-year-ever/   [v] Grant Cardone, The 10XRule https://www.amazon.com/10X-Rule-Difference-Between-Success/dp/0470627603   [vi] Marshall Goldsmith https://marshallgoldsmith.com/book-page-what-got-you-here/   [vii]  German American Psychologist Kurt Lewin's Field Theory “Field theory and experiment in social psychology” American Journal of Sociology, 44 (6), 858-96, May 1939   [viii] https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-konstantinkorotkov-on-bridging-thespiritualworld-with-rigorousscientific-method-methodtappingintothe-powerof-our-thoughtsenergy-fieldsandlimitless/   [ix] Kurt Lewin's Field Theory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HERRi8SktJo   [x] IBID   [xi] https://www.edrawsoft.com/force-field-analysis-examples.html   [xii] Simon Sinek https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/   [xiii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast BONUS EPISODE on “The Top 5 Health Staples” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-a-deep-dive-into-the-top-5-health-staples-and-review-of-seasons-1-4/    

In this masterly episode of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast, host Andrea Samadi offers an enlightening retrospective view of the year 2023's most impactful episodes, focusing primarily on the critically-acclaimed four-part series about The Silva Method. Dive into the archives with Andrea as she revisits this profound exploration of the mind, emphasizing the power of a winning attitude, visualization, and the transformative potential of the Silva Method. The episode is a treasure trove of wisdom, insights, and powerful takeaways, offering listeners a unique blend of personal anecdotes, philosophy, and neuroscience, revolving around the theme of harnessing the mind for unparalleled progress. Tune in and join Andrea on this enriching journey as she uncovers the timeless principles that define success and looks forward to exciting developments on the horizon. Learn the secret techniques of diving into various states of human brain - beta, alpha, theta, delta. The discussion dig deeper into the art of mental screening, visualization and dynamic meditation. Listen on as the Silva Method unfold its potential in transforming everyday lives, envisioning a promising future, and maximizing one's innate creativity. This episode also shares the effective use of Dr. Joe Dispenza's meditations for chakra-opening and energy field-expansion through the studies of Dr. Konstantin Korotkov in conflating spirituality and scientific practices. More importantly, listeners are encouraged to appreciate the power of dreams and REM sleep in unlocking the subconscious and boosting creativity and intuition for problem-solving. Regardless of whether you are a first-time listener just joining us in 2024, or a dedicated follower since the podcast's inception, this episode promises an invigorating learning experience, highlighting the role of the Silva Method in personal growth, and its potential for turning life's stumbling blocks into stepping stones for a brighter future. “Before you look at your future, reflect on your past.” (Sam Ade, author of the book Wisdom Untold[i]). (From top 10 2023)   On today's episode #322 REVIEW of the TOP 4 Episodes from 2023” we will cover: ✔ PART 1: PRACTICING THE 3 STEPS TO ACCESSING THE ALPHA STATE, USING YOUR MENTAL SCREEN FOR HEIGHTENED VISUALIZATION AND MAKING USE OF WHAT YOU SEE. ✔ PART 2: PRACTICE THE 3-SCENES TECHNIQUE WITH A PROBLEM YOU WANT TO SOLVE ✔ PART 3: TAKE THE DREAM WORLD SERIOUSLY AND SLEEP LONG ENOUGH TO LEARN FROM YOUR DREAMS. ✔ PART 4: USE YOUR IMAGINATION TO TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVE MIND. Welcome back to SEASON 11 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's episode #322 we will be taking a close look at the Top episodes of last year as we reflect on our past year. While we are now in the middle of Q1 of 2024, I still think it's important to “study the past, to define the future” like Confucius said. While thinking about this episode, my good friend and paranormal researcher Ryan O'Neill who we met on EP 203[i] tagged an image he created for me on Facebook, from 11 years ago, and reminded me of this concept when he said “it's good to look back to see how far you travel.”[ii] Ryan's post helped me to stop, reflect on the past 11 years, and see that progress forward happens one step at a time. Imagine yourself at the top of a spiral staircase, looking down, and you'll see how far you've come. Or like Steve Jobs said in his famous speech, it's much easier to connect the dots looking backwards. The graphic Ryan O'Neill created 11 years ago talks about the importance of “always maintaining a winning attitude” and I can say it's not always easy to do this, when times are difficult, (thinking of the stairs we must climb, the barriers or obstacles to break through on the way). We might trip, and it feels like we are going backwards, but maintaining a winning attitude along the way is one of those timeless principles that I know has shaped where I've ended up. IMAGE: The beautiful Bramante Staircase[iii] from the Vatican Museum. What about you, the listener? Take a look at the image in the show notes of the beautiful Bramante Staircase from the Vatican Museum. Imagine yourself at the top, and then reflect back on the past 10 or 11 years of your life, (like looking down a spiral staircase) and think about what do you notice. What timeless principles have kept you on track over the years? Looking backwards, what do you see? This episode is definitely written with you, the listener in mind. Looking back at the past year and the episodes that you were drawn to the most, at the end of 2023, I was initially surprised to see all 4-PARTS of The Silva Method hitting the top of the list. I wanted to Dive Deeper into The Silva Method to see how I could improve my own meditation practice, and I had no idea how impactful this episode series would be. It was actually a video series created by Spotify of my Year in Review that caught my eye. It told me that: PART 1 of The Silva Method was our most downloaded episode ever. I could see that with over 6,000 downloads. Spotify shared this episode was streamed 999% more than our average episode telling me that the topic of improving intuition, creativity and focus is of high interest to the world. That 95 % of our listeners discovered our podcast in 2023. Thank you for tuning in. And 46% of our listeners started listening to us with PART 1 of The Silva Method. Now I'm so glad that I took the time to study and learn The Silva Method alongside our new listeners. For this recap of our TOP episodes from 2023, I decided to review the Top 4 episodes from our Deep Dive into The Silva Method, since they were downloaded significantly more than others, and I've got to say that they are thorough, they require deep thought and effort for the results we are all seeking to be revealed. And only with the application of these episodes, we will learn to “use our mind in a special manner to do astounding things for us, as we'll soon see.” (Jose Silva). What we are talking about in this 4 PART SERIES is The Creative Process. The series was designed to walk us through the steps to take, to turn MIND into MATTER. I'm studying this concept deeply right now, this month with Paul Martinelli with his Think and Grow Rich book study, but this is essentially what this 4 PART series was about. We've all heard of MIND OVER MATTER, but this is not the same. We are not using force here to coerce others to do anything, or to use our will power to urge other people (or ourselves) to do something we want to occur. We are using our MIND (working from the inside-out, rather than using anything or anyone from the outside-in), allowing our MIND to work by DESIGN not DEFAULT. We are teaching ourselves to see the possibility that exists in the world, around us, and show us ALL that we can CREATE whatever it is that we want, using these timeless principles. Before I go on, just look around you right now, and take inventory of what you see. I'm sitting at my desk, in my home office, writing this episode, and I see a few pens, a highlighter, some fancy water to help me to focus while writing, my Rodecaster Pro microphone and audio equipment to the right of my desk. Now look at what you see, and take inventory of where you are right now. Now think, every single thing that you see, was created twice, as it was someone's dream to create the things we see and use in our everyday world. Someone dreamed up the fancy water I'm drinking, or the yellow highlighter, or the high-tech mic that I record these episodes with. My message here is “Don't ever wonder if your idea will work, (there's a market for everything in this world) and think of the opportunity that surrounds you, every day, and with the development of our MIND, we can say for certain that FAILURE is impossible.” We'll cover this closer at the end, but what I'm saying here is not that things will go smoothly for you, with whatever it is that YOU want to create, and that by studying this 4-part series, you'll be able to make all your dreams come true.  This we know isn't how the story goes. There will be ups and downs, twists and turns, and times you will feel defeated. But Napoleon Hill would say this is “temporary defeat” which is not at all a failure. Before seeing the results from Spotify about this 4-PART Series, and even before I decided to cover The Silva Method, I had no idea just how deep the book and program would go, and mentioned that we'll review the online course at a later time, but for now, this review will give us all plenty of new ideas for how to improve our visualization/mental screen method to help skyrocket our short term and long term goals for 2024, and solidify the fact that failure is impossible. I'd love to hear from you what you have thought of this 4-part series, where we tied in the most current brain research to Jose Silva's work, reminding me that “once we learn to use our minds to train it, it will do some astounding things for us, as you will soon see.”[iv] On today's episode #322, we'll review the 4 parts of The Silva Method and see what else we can add to the strategies learned, keeping in mind that I'm learning and implementing these ideas alongside you, wherever you are listening in the world.  Before we look at The Silva Method, there's something important to think about first, to orient this study in our current year.  It's now the beginning of February, and you've probably already got 2024 planned out already, but before we leap into the actions we are taking in this New Year, if you haven't reflected on the wins you've attained in the past year, this is probably the most important step of closing out an old year, and moving into a new one, and it's never too late for this reflection. I learned this year-end ritual from Jim Bunch[v], who has been walking me through this year-end wrap up for the past 9 years at least, preparing those who tune in all over the world to his method, for a fresh mind moving into the New Year. We did cover his process of creating energy from your 9 environments on EPISODE #103[vi] that launched our year back in 2021, with “The Neuroscience of Leadership: 3 Ways to Reset, Recharge and Refuel Your Brain.”  On this episode recorded 3 years ago, we reviewed the process of self-reflection, to evaluate the areas of your life (your 9 environments) to notice where energy might be leaking, that you could direct somewhere else in the New Year. This self-reflection activity is a good way to close out an old year, and move into a new one, as it allows you to put some thought into your WINS, and what worked well for you in the past year. He has a printable download that goes with this activity, and what's interesting, is that without looking at your calendar, just by going off the top of your head, see if you can write out some of your wins. Without some deep reflection, you will notice that it's EASY to see the things that went wrong last year (the losses) but to see the WINS, it takes serious thought, because of our built-in negativity bias, that Dr. Rick Hanson tells us to remember--“our brain is like Velcro for negative experiences (we are attracted to the negative experiences) but our positive experiences, slide off like Teflon.” We must be intentional about reflecting on the positives that we incurred, and integrate these wins into our identity, before moving into a New Year. Let the losses roll off us. This practice will guarantee that you are building a stronger, better, more resilient, and improved version of you, each year.   Now for the TOP 4/10 most listened to episodes of 2023-as voted by you, the listener! #1 The Silva Method- Part 1[vii]  This episode opened up with a quote that we went back to often in the year.  “Once we learn to use our mind to train it, it will do some astounding things for us, as you will soon see.” Jose Silva (August 11, 1914-February 7, 1999) author of The Silva Mind Control Method. This episode launched a series taking us on a deep dive into the benefits of developing a meditation practice.  This was before we dove deep into Joe Dispenza's meditations, and a good place to begin to look closer into the depths of our mind.  The goal of this series initially, was to help all of us to reduce stress with this deep mind practice, but also to see if we can learn something new, and refine our practice for those who work in our schools to improve learning, in our sports environments for improved focus and concentration towards a specific goal, and in the corporate workplace for ideas to improve creativity and focus. We began this series reviewing Jose Silva and Philip Miele's The Silva Mind Control Method[i] that's based on the Revolutionary Program by the Founder of the World's Most Famous Mind Control Course. On PART 1 of this book review covered:  ✔ CH 1- Using More of Our Mind in Special Ways: An Introduction to the Silva Mind Control Method ✔ What this program has done for others (in business, the sports world, or just regular people looking to improve their life in some way).  ✔ Ch 2- We met Jose Silva ✔ Ch 3- We looked at How to Meditate: A review of the brain states (BETA,ALPHA,THETA,DELTA). ✔ How to quickly access the ALPHA STATE to improve creativity, and intuition. ✔ Using A Mental Screen in Your Mind for Heightened Visualization (how to access this screen) and finally  ✔ How to Help Ourselves and Others With this Practice How Do We Use the Silva Method to Access the Alpha State Where All the Magic Begins? STEP 1: HOW TO ACCESS THE ALPHA STATE: YOU CAN ACCES THE ALPHA STATE WHEN YOU FIRST WAKE UP, BEFORE BED, and ANY OTHER TIME YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES TO RELAX YOUR MIND. The Alpha State is the easiest state to access as we will already be in this state the first 5 minutes after we wake up. Jose Silva suggests the 40 Day Technique to guarantee you are at the Alpha Level where you begin by counting backwards from 100 to 1 for 10 mornings, then you can count from 50-1 for the next 10 mornings, then from 20-1 for 10 mornings, and then 10-1 until you get to 5 to 1.  PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE: Begin using the 100-1 countdown at night, in the morning, or whenever you plan to access the alpha level to begin to improve your current practice. In my first few days of practicing this method before sleep, and the first couple of nights, I fell asleep before I could get to 1. Keep trying. After 10 days, you can progress to the next step, until you are able to access the alpha state from counting from 5-1. Eventually you can access this state quickly, and even while walking around as Dr. Dispenza teaches us.  STEP 2: ONCE YOU REACH THE ALPHA STATE, THEN WHAT? Next, you will learn to use a Mental Screen for Heightened Visualization Once you have accessed the Alpha State, Silva reminds us:  “right from the beginning, from the very moment you reach your meditative level (what he calls accessing the Alpha State), you must learn to practice visualization.  The better you learn to visualize, the more powerful will be your experience with Mind Control.” There's an important part to this visualization process that I have to add here.  I actually started writing this review over the Christmas holiday break, and I'm always looking around for what I can “see” that will add to what I'm writing and then I saw it. In the lobby of a hotel I was staying in, I saw a sand timer sitting on the counter reminding me of this exact concept from a lesson that Brian Proctor shared with us on EP 292[viii]. I thought it was really weird to see a sand timer sitting in the middle of a hotel lobby, but when you pay attention to what you are seeing, there are messages everywhere. Here's what I saw with the sand timer that ties into this lesson. Let go of the past, (the sand that's sitting in the bottom of the timer) it's gone. Next, don't worry about the future, it hasn't happened yet, but what's important is for us to do every day, is to stay focused on the present moment, just like what we learned from Dr. Joe Dispenza. How do we learn to drop into the present moment?  THE SILVA METHOD: With the Silva Method. And we may all be at different stages of our journey here, and we'll have all learned from many different teachers. But for this review, will we be putting Jose Silva's Meditation INTO PRACTICE: When you close your eyes, what do you see? Raise your eyes up a bit (about 20% upwards above the horizon of what you see). Is it black on your mental screen, or can you use your mind to “see” things? Begin with simple things like an orange or an apple. This takes time and practice. This mental screen will help you in many ways as we move through different lessons, and is important, but don't be tied to what you think you should see. We are all at different stages of learning. I started seeing things on the screen of my mind starting in my late 20s, and things would flash sometimes when I was relaxed. I never did have control over what I was seeing. It just happened, and I would either know what I was seeing, or be wondering “what on the earth is that” and with time, effort and practice, I have gained more control over what I'm able to visualize, or “see” on this mental screen, so I can put it to better use. Looking back at this step now, a year after putting it into practice, I noticed if I want to “see” something on the screen of my mind, it helped to say what I wanted to see in thought, and then patiently wait. When I'm relaxed, without trying to force anything, I could then “see” the world on this mental screen.   This is an extraordinary practice to experience. You can be in one part of the world, and running through the mountains in another, all on your mental screen. What you see and feel in your mind can be used to enhance whatever you are working on when you open your eyes, in the “real” world. Isn't this astounding? STEP 3: Now Utilize This Power With time and practice, it will be this screen that you will learn to use, to help yourself and others. You begin with creating simple things, until you are ready to solve small problems in your daily life, from work, to health, and improve learning/creativity. This is the power of putting The Silva Method into practice and it just takes a bit of patience.  PUTTING PART 1 INTO PRACTICE: Just begin here with playing around with what you can create on the screen of your mind in the Alpha State. If you do nothing else, other than these 3 steps, you will experience what William Wordsworth called “a happy stillness of mind.” (Page 27, The Silva Method). Think of this as a journey within your mind. Each day you will be getting better and better, mentally stronger, and remember the quote we opened this episode with? “Once we learn to use our mind to train it, it will do some astounding things for us, you will soon see.” (Jose Silva) TO REVIEW PART 1 of THE SILVA METHOD: We covered: ✔ CH 1- Using More of Our Mind in Special Ways: An Introduction to the Silva Mind Control Method ✔ What this program has done for others. ✔ Ch 2- Meet Jose Silva and learned about his passion for helping others to improve their ability to learn. ✔ Ch 3- How to Meditate: A review of the brain states (BETA,ALPHA,THETA,DELTA). ✔ How to quickly access the ALPHA STATE to improve creativity, and intuition  using the countdown Method. ✔ Using A Mental Screen in Your Mind for Heightened Visualization ✔ It Will Be This Screen That We Will Use to Help Yourself and Others in Future Chapters. #2 The Silva Method-Part 2[ix] TO REVIEW PART 2 OF THE SILVA METHOD:  We covered: ✔ Ch 4- Dynamic Meditation ✔ The 4 Laws that must be in place BEFORE you visualize something. ✔ We Solved a Problem with 3 STEPS (Problem, Action, Solution) with ideas to use this method for schools, sports or the workplace. ✔ Ch 5- Improving Memory ✔ The 3 Finger Technique If you want to review all of these topics, I'll link each of these episodes in the show notes.  Chapter 3 on Dynamic Meditation involves “training your mind for organized, dynamic activities” that Jose Silva thinks is what our mind was designed for.  He says “once you have reached the meditative level, to simply stay there and wait for something to happen is not enough. It is beautiful and calming and it does contribute to your good health, but these are modest accomplishments compared with what is possible.” This is where The Silva program gets exciting as we step past passive meditation techniques, to use it dynamically to solve problems. Now we'll see why it's so important to perfect what we see on the Screen of our Mind, and why daily practice of these skills is crucial. Let's use our mind for something that's useful for us—something of value. It all begins with our imagination, on this screen of our mind, but Silva says there are 4 important laws we must follow next. The Silva Program says that --Whatever it is that you want, you must: Law 1: You must desire that the event take place. (just like Napoloeon Hill's Think and Grow Rich book. His chapter 2 dove deep into the concept of Desire. Law 2: You must believe the event can take place. We have covered the topic of belief so often on this podcast. When someone has the belief in what they are moving towards, this belief goes deep into their identity, and changes the person so much, that we could look at a photograph of that same person without the belief, and see a completely NEW and changed person, once the belief has been instilled deep within them. Law 3: You must expect the event to take place. Expectation hooks you up to your source, and with action, faith develops as you draw yourself closer to whatever it is you are working on.   Law 4: You cannot create a problem. How Do We Use the Silva Method to Solve a Problem We Are Facing? STEP 1: PICK A PROBLEM YOU WANT TO SOLVE Follow the steps that will get you into the Alpha Brain State, (counting backwards from 100-1) and then lift your eyes upwards, and with your mind, create a mental screen where you will re-create the problem you want to solve. Relive the problem by seeing it and feeling it. For Schools: A problem could be a poor grade on a test, resulting in a low overall grade. For Sports: The problem could be a losing streak, or poor performance leading to a loss. For the Workplace: The problem could be a lack of sales in your organization, or poor performance somewhere. Pick the problem you want to solve, and visualize it on the screen of your mind. STEP 2: TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION IN THE PRESENT MOMENT Next, in you mind, you will gently push the problem scene off to the right which Silva explains in his book will represent the PAST. The past is now over, so push the problem aside. Just like the sand timer example in the hour glass from our episode with Brian Proctor. The past is now gone. We are now focused on the PRESENT moment. To the left of the problem, (that represents the PRESENT MOMENT), create a NEW mental screen with the SOLUTION. Whatever you imagine will require ACTION showing you solving the problem. Most of us don't spend time thinking about the present moment or the future. We can easily get bogged down in what happened in the past. This is what I love about Silva's Method. The past is over, moved off to the side and we now focus ONLY on the present (taking action to solve the problem) and the FUTURE, which will highlight the changed outcome. For Schools: A solution could involve a student studying with more focus. For Sports: A solution could involve practicing a skill that is known for needed improvement. For the Workplace: A solution could involve presenting your product to a group of people who see its value, and decide they will purchase a large order. STEP 3: THE SOLUTION Finally, the action you have taken pays off, and you will envision the solution on the screen of your mind. Everything here is positive, and all of the feelings associated with the problem have been resolved. You celebrate the WIN here in as much detail as you can. What does this win feel like? Who's there watching you? What do you hear? What do you see? Involve all of your senses. For Schools: Picture the student celebrating when they see their efforts were rewarded with an A+ grade. This A+ will lead to many more, eventually allowing the student to receive an honor roll award at the end of the year. For Sports: You'll picture your team celebrating when the practice pays off with a WIN that eventually leads to a trophy or award at the end of the season. For the Workplace: You'll picture your team celebrating when they receive the large order that came from the hard work from the recent presentation. The team celebrates by hosting a lunch where all those involved are recognized for their efforts. It's here that you can look back to the past, like through the rear-view mirror we have in our car, and it should look different to you now that you've created a NEW future. You might still be able to “see” and remember things from those days when you had a problem to solve, but now, looking back, my hopes are that the vision of the future changes whatever it was that you didn't like in the past.  The past is over. Now we are living in the present moment, building a new future. These are some examples of using The Silva Method to train our brain towards our desired outcome. Does it always work? No, Silva says, but with time and practice, we'll start to see improvements that we might chalk up to be coincidences. He suggests stopping this practice altogether, and the coincidences will also stop. Start back up again, and they will reappear. You'll see…just practice this, and let me know what YOU see. With practice, the results you will see will be more and more astounding. This entire exercise, with practice, can be done with just 15 minute blocks of time, once you've got the hang of it. #3 The Silva Method- Part 3[x] In Part 3 we covered: ✔ Ch 3- How to Meditate: A review of the brain states (BETA, ALPHA, THETA, DELTA).   ✔ How to quickly access the ALPHA STATE to improve creativity, and intuition.   ✔ Using A Mental Screen in Your Mind for Heightened Visualization   ✔ How to Help Yourself and Others Using a Mental Screen in Our Mind   Before writing this episode, I wondered how exactly could our mind be trained... Was daily meditation not enough? If it was, how do I even know if I'm meditating the right way? What was I missing from my current practice? What can we learn from the years of research behind Jose Silva's popular program that could help all of us to refine our current meditation practice? A year later, Dr. Joe Dispenza's meditations helped me to understand why meditation helps to train our mind, especially with the concept that it opens up our chakras, and expands our energy field, allowing us to have more capacity. Our interview #307[xi] Dr. Konstantin Korotkov on “Bridging the Spiritual World with Rigorous Scientific Method” gave us the science behind this practice. The quote I chose for PART 3 makes more sense to me today, with a year of practice behind me.   A genius is a man who has discovered how to increase the intensity of thought to a point when he can freely communicate with sources of knowledge not available through the ordinary rate of thought.” –Napoleon Hill, author of the Best Selling Classic Book, Think and Grow Rich. This ability is available to all of us. Practice each of these parts of the Silva Method and take your time.  In PART 3, we were reminded that Jose Silva took the dream world very seriously, and he was interested in using dreams to solve problems. His programs teach us to first of all remember your dreams and suggests writing them down as soon as we wake up. MAKE SURE YOU ARE SLEEPING LONG ENOUGH TO ACCESS YOUR REM SLEEP: Author Stephanie Gailing reported in her Complete Book of Dreams[xii] that “since dreams that arrive in the early morning are thought to be more vivid and complex” to be sure you are sleeping long enough that you don't miss out on this last REM stage of sleep. How would you know WHEN your REM sleep is? You can use a sleep tracker to measure this. You can see an example below where my sleep was logged with the wearable tracker called Whoop, showing my REM sleep as 53% than my 30-day average. Whoop reminded me that “REM sleep is key to processing new memories, learnings and motor skills.” When I saw this, I immediately wrote down the dream that I had (that I could remember) to see what I could learn from this dream. We've covered dreams on this podcast with EPISODE #224[xiii] with Harvard Neuroscientist Dr. Baland Jalal on “Sleep Paralysis, Lucid Dreaming and Premonitions” or EPISODE #104[xiv] with Antonio Zadra and his book “When Brains Dream” and I even took a stab at explaining “Why Our Dreams Are So Weird, Highly Emotional and Often Forgotten” on EPISODE #226[xv] as I've personally been interested in deciphering the messages that come through in our dream state. To find answers in your dreams, first of all, have the intention that you will remember them. Then pay to attention to: -who was in my dream? -what did they say? -what can I learn from this? Like Jose Silva, I take the dream world seriously and find tremendous value from consolidating new learnings and then being open to discovering valuable insights that could possibly help me, or others close to me.  TO PUT PART 3 INTO ACTION: WRITE DOWN YOUR DREAMS as soon as you wake up TAKE THE DREAM WORLD SERIOUSLY MAKE SURE YOU ARE SLEEPING LONG ENOUGH TO ACCESS ALL OF YOUR REM SLEEP HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER YOUR DREAMS WRITE DOWN ANY INSIGHTS FROM YOUR DREAMS THAT COULD HELP YOU OR OTHERS CLOSE TO YOU. #4 The Silva Method- Part 4[xvi] For PART 4 we covered: ✔ Ch 8-Your Words Have Power ✔ Ch 9-The Power of Imagination ✔ Ch 10-Using Your Mind to Improve Your Health ✔  We will connect the most current neuroscience research to Jose Silva's program, using Dr. Andrew Huberman's podcast on "The Science of Creativity" ✔  The 3 Parts to Your Creative Brain (Central Executive Network, Default Mode Network, Salience Network). ✔ 2 Types of Thinking Involved with Creativity (Divergent and Convergent) ✔ Putting Creativity to Practice with an example from our schools, sports and modern workplace environments.  with some clear examples and next steps for all of us to APPLY the Silva Method for improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus…right in time for a New Year. This part opened up with the importance of the power of our imagination. This is really what Jose Silva is encouraging us to do with his Method. Open up our creative minds, through the use of our imagination, and CREATE. We talked about it in the beginning of this review, that we ALL have the ability to create something new and that temporary defeat is not the same things as failure. If you are working on something, and it's been a difficult treck from your starting point, to where you'd like to go, take a look back over the past 10 years, from where you are standing now (like you are at the top of a spiral staircase) and see how far you have come. What you do with the Silva Method is up to you. You can practice and refine each part until you're ready for more, and then look up The Silva Ultramind Program. This is when you'll now be taking these concepts and bending your mind in ways I never could have imagined on my own. It's here that I highly suggest looking into Mind Valley[xvii], where Vishen Lakhiani recreated Joe Silva's program with The Silva Ultramind system. NOTE- I'm not affiliated with MindValley in any way. I've just taken this course to keep learning and applying The Silva Method.   You can look through the 30-day curriculum and see how this system was designed to help the learner to “develop their mind …” I don't think reviewing this course on this podcast in words could ever do it justice. You've just got to experience it for yourself and notice what you learn from the meditations tied to each of the lessons. If you got to PART 4 of this program, and nothing creative is jumping out at you yet, keep going. This is what I learned from Ultramind Program: Day 1-5 the program helps you to develop and use the mental screen in your mind. I love the activity on Day 5, “projection into your home” because it taught me to become familiar with my own home, a place I see every day, in a whole new way, helping me to open my eyes to the beauty not just in front of me every day, but in the rest of the world. Days 10-15 the program helps us to perfect the “3 scenes technique” and create whatever it is that our heart desires. We learn about psychometry, clairvoyance, clairaudience, and clairsentience. That's all it I'm going to say about this program other than how it's something that has to be experienced. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION: To review and conclude EP 322 and our review of the 4 PARTS of the Silva Method, I've got to say that the goal of this 4 PART review of Jose Silva's Program, was to encourage all of us to see if we could learn something new, to take our results to new heights in 2024. Before I began this review, I had no idea just how deep the book and program would go, or how much our listeners would be drawn to these lessons. If you are one of the 46% of our new listeners who found our podcast from PART 1 of The Silva Method, I want to welcome you, and thank you for tuning in this year. Our past listeners will know that we cover topics to help us to take our results to new heights tying the most current neuroscience research to improve productivity and results in our schools, sports environments and modern workplaces, and The Silva Method is about self-mastery, self-awareness and learning to look within for answers. I'd love to know what you have learning from implementing The Silva Method in your life. Send me a message and let me know. THEN PRACTICE: And keep refining each part. PART 1: PRACTICING THE 3 STEPS TO ACCESSING THE ALPHA STATE, USING YOUR MENTAL SCREEN FOR HEIGHTENED VISUALIZATION AND MAKING USE OF WHAT YOU SEE. PART 2: PRACTICE THE 3-SCENES TECHNIQUE WITH A PROBLEM YOU WANT TO SOLVE PART 3: TAKE THE DREAM WORLD SERIOUSLY AND SLEEP LONG ENOUGH TO LEARN FROM YOUR DREAMS. PART 4: USE YOUR IMAGINATION TO TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVE MIND. Remember that if you do nothing else than practice the 3 steps in PART 1, you will be experiencing what William Wordsworth called “a happy stillness of mind.” (Page 27, The Silva Method). If you want to go beyond PART 4, look up MindValley's Ultramind Course. And with that, I'll close out this episode, and encourage all of us to keep learning, growing and practicing what we are learning. Like the quote we used for PART 4 of this review from Dr. Andrew Huberman, “The ability to be creative resides in everybody.” Keep working on looking how you can “reveal something new to the world, something entertaining, thrilling or useful) that changes the way we access the world—acting as portals into the world and ourselves.”  If you get stuck here, just look around you, at all the creative ideas you can see.   If you are still stuck, think about this. The oldest person alive today is 116 year old. Go back 116 years ago, and this is not far off from when The Wright Brothers discovered the ability to fly an airplane. (1903). Think of all the inventions made over the past 100 years, and then imagine someday, that something that YOU create, could possibly be sitting on my desk, used by the world like the fancy water I'm drinking, or the Rodecaster Pro microphone.   What will you create with The Silva Method?   If you are stuck in temporary defeat, find something that inspires you to get unstuck, and keep moving. I find inspiration and motivation in people who move quickly past difficult times and challenges, as well as in things. Look up some of the oldest Cathedrals in Europe and imagine the creativity behind these buildings. Then keep going.   Let me know what you create…and I'll see you next week.     RESOURCES:   MEDITATION  1: How to Enter the Alpha Level of Mind, Step by Step Process, The Silva Method https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpMJWT6EsNs MEDITATION 2: Jose Silva Method Alpha Exercises by Sommer Leigh Published on YouTube June 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SY0kajVITA MEDITATION 3: 20 Minute Silva Centering Exercise with Vishen Lakhiani https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_4GDXWBPCk   Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #261 PART 1 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus. https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-1/   Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #262 PART 2 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus.  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-2/   Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #263 PART 3 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-speed-learning-and-creative-sleep-part-3/ Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast PART 4 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-silva-method-improving-creativity-and-innovation-in-our-schools-sports-and-modern-workplaces/     REFERENCES:   [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE#203 with Ryan O'Neill  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/case-study-with-paranormal-researcher-ryan-o-neill-on-making-your-vision-a-reality/   [ii] Ryan O'Neill Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SuccessCoachRyan/posts/pfbid013GKasSayhQPi28Qui7rhUZiyFnvVdhHJgApfrHjANM6CXzFbkYCTYa12Z6PmTsXl?comment_id=697035065922357&reply_comment_id=7281858451877023¬if_id=1706773747021477¬if_t=comment_mention&ref=notif   [iii] https://www.cnn.com/style/article/spiral-staircases/index.html   [iv] Email Andrea Andrea@achieveit360.com   [v] https://jimbunch.com/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE#103 The Neuroscience of Leadership: 3 Ways to Reset, Recharge and Refuel Your Brain for Our Best Year Ever  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-leadership-3-ways-to-reset-recharge-and-refuel-your-brain-for-your-best-year-ever/   [vii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #261 PART 1 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus. https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-1/   [viii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #292 with Brian Proctor on “My Father Knew the Secret”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-proctor-on-my-father-knew-the-secretgrowing-up-with-bob-proctor/   [ix]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #262 PART 2 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus.  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-2/   [x] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #263 PART 3 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-speed-learning-and-creative-sleep-part-3/   [xi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #307 with Dr. Konstantin Korotkov on “Bridging the Spiritual World with Rigorous Scientific Method” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-konstantinkorotkov-on-bridging-thespiritualworld-with-rigorousscientific-method-methodtappingintothe-powerof-our-thoughtsenergy-fieldsandlimitless/   [xii] Stephanie Gailing Complete Book of Dreams Published October 20, 2020  https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Dreams-Illustrated-Encyclopedia/dp/1577152131   [xiii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #224 with Harvard Neuroscientist Dr. Baland Jalal who Explains “Sleep Paralysis, Lucid Dreaming and Premonitions: Expanding Our Awareness into the Mysteries of Our Brain During Sleep” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/harvard-neuroscientist-drbaland-jalalexplainssleepparalysislucid-dreaming-andpremonitionsexpandingour-awareness-into-the-mysteries-ofourbrainduring-sl/   [xiv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #104 with Antonio Zadra on “When Brains Dream” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/sleep-scientist-antonio-zadra-on-when-brains-dream-exploring-the-science-and-mystery-of-sleep/   [xv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE#226 “Using Neuroscience to Explain Why Our Dreams Are So Weird, Highly Emotional and Often Forgotten”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-using-neuroscience-to-explain-why-our-dreams-are-so-weird-highly-emotional-and-often-forgotten/   [xvi]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast PART 4 of Apply the Silva Method for Improved Intuition, Creativity and Focus https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-silva-method-improving-creativity-and-innovation-in-our-schools-sports-and-modern-workplaces/   [xvii] www.mindvalley.com      

Don't miss this comprehensive episode of the "Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning" podcast, where leadership guru and bestselling author, Grant 'Upbeat' Bosnick, discusses powerful tactics from his latest book for mastering self-awareness and personal transformation. Bosnick, recognized by reputable figures such as Scott Friedman and Marshall Goldsmith, presents his unique combination of neuroscience research and practical wisdom with a focus on self-improvement and growth. Watch on YouTube here https://youtu.be/vGweJ0sCJ14 The episode dissects the concepts of his award-winning book "Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership," illustrating how change and improvement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success. Explore practical strategies for habit formation, the significance of sequentially reading chapters, and the impact of a self-assessment system. Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals. Dive into the information-rich conversation that uncovers the art of learning and the fascinating intricacies of engaging the mind with real-time applications of knowledge. Ultimately, embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels. Round-off this enlightening experience with the rich resources that Grant provides, from beautifully illustrated maps to enhance tracking of personal growth, to video series and companion workbooks designed for tailoring self-leadership strategies. So, ready yourself for a transformative journey of the mind into the world of self-leadership with this gripping episode. On today's episode #321 with Guest: Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” we will cover: ✔ Powerful tactics from this NEW award-winning book that illustrates how change and achievement are truly achievable both from internal ('inside out') and external ('outside in') perspectives. ✔Listeners will grasp the immense power of self-leadership and its transformative effect on personal growth and success. ✔Explore practical strategies for habit formation, the significance of sequentially reading chapters, and the impact of a self-assessment system ✔Gain insights from Grant's expert advice on maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses while chasing after your goals ✔Embark on an intellectual journey that has the power to elevate personal achievement and self-awareness to uncharted levels. ✔Round-off this enlightening experience with the rich resources that Grant provides, from beautifully illustrated maps to enhance tracking of personal growth, to video series and companion workbooks designed for tailoring self-leadership strategies. Another example that shows us that failure is not an option. Here's what Scott Friedman, the author of Celebrate! Lessons Learned from the World's Most Admired Organizations has to say about the book we are going to cover today: Today's episode really is going to be a journey of the mind… Welcome back to SEASON 11 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. On today's episode #321, we will be speaking with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick[i], the Managing Director of YES (Your Empowering Solutions), author, consultant, keynote speaker and executive coach. He has worked with 100+ Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies to co-create people strategies to help organizations build a trusting, collaborative culture and develop leaders to transform their behavior to lead themselves, others and perform at a higher level. Originally from Toronto (where I grew up) and now based in Singapore, he has lived in Asia Pacific for over 20 years. When Grant reached out to me, earlier this month, it was not WHAT he said to me that caught my eye, but HOW he said it. Maybe because I was in the middle of writing the final part of our Science of Getting Rich book study, that's all about Thinking AND Acting in This Certain Way. Grant said that he uses “psychology and neuroscience, (and works) with Leaders and Teams in great organizations to go from human to superhuman, by tapping into the more resource-efficient parts of their brains, achieving more and being happier.” This sounds exactly like what I am trying to do for our listeners on this podcast, helping us to build stronger 2.0 versions of ourselves, and if Grant has some knowledge about how to do this, I want to know what he suggests, especially after all the high-level companies he has been working with over the past 20 years. I kept on reading what he had written in an email to me, and next I learned about his award-winning book, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, that was published last year by Routledge, with a Foreword by Marshall Goldsmith.  “Marshall Goldsmith[ii] wrote the Foreword to his book?” I'm reading with a different lens now.  I don't know anyone in the field of leadership/coaching who doesn't know Marshall Goldsmith. He's known as the “World's #1 Leadership Thinker” with an unusual ability to help other people succeed. His mission in life to help successful leaders to get even better, so now I know the level that Grant Upbeat Bosnick has attained, before I've even read his book! Let's meet the author of Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership and see if we can learn how to use this book as our guide in 2024, to apply neuroscience and psychology is a whole NEW way, taking us to the high levels of achievement expected by those who work with him, and those who work with those who he learned from like Marshall Goldsmith and the late Dr. Covey. Welcome Grant 'Upbeat' Bosnick! I'm looking forward to speaking with you today, and learning Intro Q: A book on leadership with a foreword written by Marshall Goldsmith! Before I ask you about your book, that's masterfully written, I wonder how did you cross paths with Marshall Goldsmith, “World's #1 Leadership Thinker” and how did he influence your work? The Foreword itself tells me about you before I've even read your book!  Q1: Then I read on to see all the others who have influenced you along the way, a couple of your influencers are mine (Dr. Stephen Covey) who we spoke about when we interviewed Greg Link, the co-founder of Covey Link, and Dr. Covey's long-time business partner from EP 207[iii] Can you share how Dr. Covey and others you mention have influenced your leadership journey?  ((This book is dedicated to all those who have influenced me to navigate my self-leadership journey: Marshall Goldsmith, Dr. Stephen R. Covey, Ken Blanchard, people close to me, among others; and to all of you reading this, to chart and navigate your personal self-leadership journey. May you choose your own leadership venture and transform your self.)) Q2: There's 18 chapters in the book, with each one exploring a different theme related to self-leadership and are written in such a way that we can read them in any order.  Q3: Can you explain how you picked the 18 leadership principles, and how do we now create change from the inside-out (using neuroscience/how our brain works) and outside-in (how we understand others and how others see us)?  How do you use practical activities, reflective questions personal anecdotes and Illustrations to help us to create change? Q3B: How did you create a map for this self-leadership journey? Q4: I think I'm answering my own questions here, but with the choose your own adventure theme, does it begin with the Self-Assessment[iv]? Q4A: Before we look at the tailored approach that was designed for me, I wonder if you can tell me off the top of your head, what areas YOU are focused on this year, and why? Q4B: Can we look at my Tailored Approach to Leadership to help others who listen, to know where they begin with their journey? Based on how I filled out the self-assessment, it pinpointed to me that Pathways 1 (goals/time management), 4 (physical health/emotion regulation) and 5 (change/resilience) are my lowest priorities.  I can tell you for sure these are carved into my daily habits (the highest importance for me with time management, health and pathway 5 seems to be hardwired into me, but these 3, I think I've got, so probably why they are showing up low. Pathway 2 (inspiration/motivation/influence/presence) is a high priority (100%) especially with the podcast, always looking for WHAT'S NEW and innovative that I can share/learn from and help others with, and Pathway 6 (relationships/authenticity, biases, trust, empathy) I know is also a high priority for me, with wanting to keep learning, interviewing high level guests, and helping us to take our results to the highest levels possible. Pathway 3, Mindfulness, Flow and Insight is of MEDIUM priority for me from the assessment. Like my low priority areas, I do think this one is important, and I also have time carved out daily for these, but I think the more interviews I'm doing, the more this leads to enhancing this area. Q4C: Once someone completes the self-assessment, how do they know which of the 18 chapters they should begin with? Just from lining up the chapters? For me, I skip Ch 2 (goals), and go straight to Ch 3 (inspiration and motivation?) Q4D: Before I even get to the book, how would you suggest I use this beautiful map you've drawn for me? It looks like the map outlines the book from Ch 1-18 starting with goals, and ending with resilience?  I like checking off things I've worked on…how do YOU use this colorful map? Q4E: I know I'm going to be focused on Pathway 2 (Motivation and Inspiration) but as I read Chapter 1 on goals, that was low priority for me, the science revealed something I've always wondered about. It was about the Force Field Driving Us according to Kurt Lewins Field Theory you mention in Chapter 2 on Goals. I'm always looking to connect science to some of the well-known books we've grown up studying (like Wallace D Wattles The Science of Getting Rich) who talks about taking action in our present environment.  As you take this action, you begin to change and will outgrow your present environment, preparing you for the NEW environment you will be moving towards.  Can you explain the science in the chapter on goals? How do we now create change from the inside-out (using neuroscience/how our brain works) and outside-in (how we understand others and how others see us) within each chapter? Do you think it's because you are making us think with the questions you ask us, and then point us in the direction of neuroscience? How do I know I've met with the change I set out to attain? Q5: For those out there who want to discover their own tailored approaches to leadership, (for themselves or their teams) what is the best route for them to take? Q6: Is there anything important Grant, that I've missed today? This book was much deeper than I realized when I started to see the neuroscience you've included, along with the activities included. For those who want to reach you, is the best place your website? I've listed your email, website, LinkedIn and YouTube below for people to find you. I want to thank you for the time you've taken to walk me through a very thorough Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership that you've created in your book. I'm going to take the time to learn and implement each chapter, and am grateful to have had this opportunity to learn directly from you. Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick CONTACT grant@grantbosnick.com Website: https://grantbosnick.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantbosnick/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantBosnick Learn more about The Tailored Approach to Leadership Book https://grantbosnick.com/books/ Signature Keynotes and Solutions https://grantbosnick.com/signature-solutions/ RESOURCES: Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/ Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #68 “The Neuroscience of Personal Change with Stephen R. Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-of-personal-change/ REFERENCES:   [i] http://grantbosnick.com/   [ii] https://marshallgoldsmith.com/   [iii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EP 207 with Greg Link https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/co-founder-of-coveylink-greg-link-on-unleashing-greatness-with-neuroscience-sel-trust-and-the-7-habits/   [iv] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/          

Welcome back to SEASON 11 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to help us to APPLY this research in our daily lives. Welome back to PART 7, of our review of Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich. In this classic book on thinking, this book describes how each of us shapes the events around us, creating much of the positive riches in our own personal and professional lives. Rhonda Byrne, creator of the movie The Secret[i], said she stumbled across The Science of Getting Rich and has "never been the same." This was one of the first seminars I sold when I worked with Bob Proctor back in the late 1990s, and he mentioned to me in our interview on EP 66[ii] that his business took off after Rhonda Byrne's The Secret took off. There is true magic within the words written within these pages, and like all of the books we dive deep into, it's the application of what we read here that has the potential to change our life forever. If you enjoyed our Deep Dive into Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich[iii] book, or the 4 Part Series of The Silva Method,[iv] (that I'm going to revisit after this study is complete) the concepts we will cover in this review go hand in hand with those Deep Dives. I'm currently studying Hill's “Think and Grow Rich” with Paul Martinelli[v], who teaches this book like no one else and I'm constantly reminded of how important our ability to “think” really is. Napoleon Hill titled his book with four simple words. He picked “think and grow” as the first three, and we covered in this series the power of our thoughts. Now, we are learning through the words of Wallace D. Wattles, that once we know how to think and grow, we can next add the rich part, and he shows us there is a science to this. I always add that it's not just rich financially, but we grow rich in our knowledge, rich in our potential, and we need money to keep learning, and growing, so yes, rich financially. Bringing us to Chapter 11: ACTING IN THE CERTAIN WAY Have you noticed that up until now, we have been focused on THINKING in a CERTAIN way in this book study? Now we are at a pivotal part of the book where we must shift from thinking, to now ACTING IN A CERTAIN WAY. This chapter caught me off guard while writing this review and was a huge AHA Moment of learning for me. I've been studying this book since June of 1999 when I attended my first live seminar with Bob Proctor on this book, and I sold this event over a span of 6 years, meaning that I had to convey to others what this seminar was about, in order for them to attend. It hit me when I got to this chapter, on “Acting in the Certain Way”, that up until NOW, 25 years later, I realized I wasn't thinking at all while reading, studying and learning this book. You know when you read something quickly, you can miss the meaning? Granted, this isn't the easiest book to read, written in 1910 with abstract concepts on thinking in a certain way that I didn't really understand. I thought this was ANOTHER chapter on “Thinking AND Acting” in this certain way and wondered why he wrote the book with ANOTHER chapter like Chapter 4, where he already covered “The First Principle in the Science of Getting Rich” that was about the power of our thoughts.  I misread the title that says “Acting in This Certain Way” and I MISSED the point that Wattles was making. This is why it's important to study these classic books on success, year after year, revealing new truths of understanding for us. Wattles spent the FIRST 10 chapters of the book talking about the importance of our thinking, and only now, at Chapter 11, did he approaching the Acting part of the syllabus. Another part of this book that I missed is that Wattles repeats the syllabus over and over again the book, but he doesn't read the whole syllabus at once. He adds the parts he is covering in each chapter, revealing a bit more of the syllabus for us, as we progress through the book. He only reveals the part of the syllabus on Acting in the Certain way at the END of this chapter when he adds the lines “That they may receive what he wants when it comes, a person must now ACT upon the people and things in his environment.” (Ch 11, SGR, Wattles).  A PERSON MUST ACT, AS WELL AS THINK: Wattles opens up Chapter 11 by bridging the first 10 chapters we've just read when he says “Thought is the impelling force that causes the creative power to act; thinking in a Certain Way will bring riches to you, but you must not rely on thought alone, paying no attention to personal action.” (Ch 11, SGR, Wattles). Once we perfect Thinking in This Certain Way, it's time to move onto Acting in This Certain Way. When I read the line “A person must act as well as think” (on line 10 of Chapter 11) I know it means taking action on whatever it was that we want, but I couldn't help but think of Stella Adler's The Art of Acting here, that we covered on EP 288[vi] last May. It was TODAY, January 15th, 2016, 8 years ago, that I attended my last live seminar with Proctor where I wrote about him talking on stage with Oscar Award Winner Phil Goldfine. Phil was a master at “Acting” in this Certain Way and I mean taking action, that would lead him to WHATEVER goal he had, whether it was what he did to become an Oscar Award winner, or the daily training he endured. In an article written about him in 2019, “Oscar and Emmy winner Phil Goldfine shares the five things you need to know to succeed in show business”[vii]  his first tip is to take “Action, action, action….every day to get things done.” It's this chapter of the book that I think can change a person's ENTIRE life, if they read this early in their lives. The action that we take, on a daily basis really matters. There's many layers of meaning in this chapter, and I hope to unravel them all in this review, tying together many of our recent episodes, like Dr. Joe Dispenza's work, that jumps out at me while reading this chapter. On line 19 of Chapter 11, Wattles says “By thought you can cause the gold in the hearts of the mountains to be impelled towards you. But it will not mine itself, refine itself, coin itself into double eagles, and come rolling along the roads into your pockets.”  Like Phil Goldfine said “It takes action, action, action.” Next Wattles reviews ALL concepts in prior chapters by saying “You must give each person more in use value than he gives you in cash value (and that) you must use your faith and purpose to positively impress your vision upon the formless substance, which has the same desire for more life than you have. And, this vision, received from you, sets all the creative forces at work in and through their regular channels of action, but directed toward you…(and) All you have to do is retain your vision, stick to your purpose, and maintain your faith and gratitude.” (Chapter 11, SGR, Wattles). Then he says it. “You must act in this certain way” and if you can hear what “this certain way” is especially for young adults, this concept is worth all the gold in the mountains that Wattles was describing. I'm so grateful to have started to read this book in my late 20s, but I'm 52 now, and still “sharpening” these ideas. Wattles gives us what I think is one of the “key secrets” to Thinking AND Acting in This Certain Way here when he says “By thought, the thing you want is brought to you. By action, you receive it.” If I was to write ANYTHING down, or highlight anything, it's where Wattles bridges the concept of Thinking and Acting in This Certain Way. Next he warns us that “if you act in the present with your mind in the future, present action will be with a divided mind and it will not be effective. Put your whole mind into present action.” (Chapter 11, SGR, Wattles). Isn't that what Dr. Joe Dispenza taught us with his “Predictable Timeline” where we must learn to focus on the present moment? Wattles describes this similarly, but adds an important angle by saying “You cannot act where you are not. You cannot act where you have been (the past), and you cannot act where you are going to be (in the future). You can only act where you are.” (Chapter 11, SGR, Wattles). IMAGE CREDIT: Andrea hand drew the image from Chapter 2 Becoming Superhuman This is what I think changed everything I do in all areas of my life. Even though I missed the title of Chapter 11, these next three words come into my head over and over again over the years. He says, “Do not dwell on whether yesterday's work was well or poorly done. Do today's work well. Do not try to do tomorrow's work now, there will be plenty of time to do that when tomorrow comes.” (Chapter 11, SGR, Wattles). Then he reminds us “Do not wait for a change of environment before you act. Cause a change of environment through action.” (Chapter 11, SGR, Wattles). Whenever you are unhappy in your present environment, Wattles suggests to “act on your present environment with all your heart and with all your strength and with all your mind. Hold the vision of yourself in the right business –with the purpose to get into it and the faith that you will get into it. But, act in your present business.” (Chapter 11, SGR, Wattles). I've been in exactly this spot, where I've known I'm in the wrong place of work, and the natural urge is to stop working hard, and focus on the place of work that you desire to be in, but Wattles would say this is not going to get you there according to his “Science.” He would suggest that you “hold the vision of yourself in the job you want, while you act with faith and purpose on the job you have, and you will certainly get the job you want.” (Chapter 11, SGR, Wattles). “You vision and faith will set the creative forces in motion to bring it towards you. And, your action will cause the forces in your own environment to move you towards the place you want.” (Chapter 11, SGR, Wattles). As you take action in your present environment, you will begin to change, and will outgrow your present environment, preparing you for the NEW environment you will be moving towards. As you move towards it, it also begins to move towards you. How does this happen? This is where Wattles timeless book, connects back to what we covered in such depth with Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. By “Thinking” and “Acting” in this certain way, we change our frequency or vibration, until we are on the same frequency as whatever it is that we want. Wattles ends this chapter, by revealing the last part of the syllabus on Acting in the Certain way when he adds the lines “That he may receive what he wants when it comes, a person must ACT now upon the people and things in his present environment.” (Ch 11, SGR, Wattles).  Not past environment, and not future environment. ACT NOW. ACTIVITY TO PUT CHAPTER 11 into PRACTICE: Write out in clear detail what it is that you WANT. I remember the first time I did this activity, I sketched a house that I wanted to live in (that looks a lot like the house I'm currently living in), and see if you can strengthen how you see what you want on the screen of your mind. Next, write out some next steps, or actions you can take, to bring what you want closer to you. This is where I always will say to “DREAM BIG” or be careful what you wish for, or dream about, because you may just end up one day living the dream in reality, that you shaped so carefully on the screen of your mind. CHAPTER 12: EFFECTIVE ACTION Just as there is an effective and ineffective way to THINK, there is also an effective and ineffective way to ACT. What is effective action? When we take any productivity course, we learn how to plan our day the night before, so we can make use of the time in our day. Time wasting is one of my biggest pet peeves. I don't like wasting my time, or other people's time and it's probably because I can see how detrimental it can be for my own goals as well as other people's. Wattles believes in not just taking action in the present moment, but by making sure it's EFFECTIVE action with EVERYTHING that you do.  This is why I like interviewing others, especially those who are high performing, to see how they THINK and ACT, every day, to hit such high levels of achievement. While writing these episodes, I do like to go back and look at past interviews to see how connections can be made, and revisiting EP 38[viii] and EP 166[ix] makes sense here, to see how pro athletes and their coaches THINK and ACT in this certain way to attain such high levels of achievement. When you watch a professional at work, you'll see it. They are involved in effective action. Wattles brings our attention to the fact that every day is either a SUCCESS or a FAILURE and it matters what ACTION we take every day. Funny thing, while writing this episode, my oldest daughter came to me with something I had to sign for her school work (high school level) with any suggestions I might have for her to improve on.  She passed me this sheet of paper and said “just sign it and say you agree with it” and I read what she had written and she hasn't even completed the sentences on the page she asked me to sign. She was not taking effective action, and was asking me to sign and say I was ok with her putting in half the effort. You'd better believe this led to a discussion on doing your best with EVERYTHING you do. Taking EFFECTIVE ACTION is not just for our work, it's for how we live our life. Do we make our bed with half the effort? Do we wash up half the dishes? Do we clean half of our house, or keep only half of the interiors of our cars clean? If we can teach this concept to our children when they are young, they will be living one of the most important and timeless lessons I've seen in all my years studying the characteristics of high performers. Wattles reminds us in this chapter that “the world is advanced only by those who more than fill their present places.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles) and that “every day is either a successful day or a day of failure.” This sentence almost haunts me with my daily work when he says “if there is something that must be done today and you do NOT do it, you have failed insofar as that thing is concerned.” (Chapter 12, SGR Wattles). Have you ever said you will do something, like go to the post office to mail something for an example, and the day gets away, and you have not done the things that you said you would do, Wattles would say that you have FAILED with that action. When you fail to take action, you mess up all of the future possibility associated with the action you were supposed to take. He says “You cannot foresee the results of even the most trivial act. You do not know the workings of all forces that have been set moving on your behalf.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles). THINK to all the times when massive change happened in your life. I bet it was because you were taking efficient action and it was not by chance or luck. So, if I write down I'm going to the Post Office tomorrow, I will be haunted by Wattles words, until I have done what I said I was going to do. “Do, every day, all that can be done that day.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles). He does remind us that we are “not to overwork or to rush blindly into our business in the effort to do the greatest possible number of things in the shortest possible time.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles).  “Do every day, all that can be done today.” to live with EFFICIENT ACTION consistently every day. But, if for some reason something does not get completed, it goes at the TOP of the list to be completed tomorrow and I remember “It's not the number of things that I do, but the efficiency of each separate action that counts.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles). He also says that “every action is either weak or strong. When every one is strong, you are activating in the certain way that will make you rich. Every act can be made strong by holding your vision while you are doing it and by putting the whole power of your faith and purpose in it.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles) Aim to do everything with strength and he says that “every success (you encounter) opens up the way to other successes. Successful action is cumulative in its results.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles). This is incentive enough to always do our very best. “Do every day, all that you can do that day, and do each act in an efficient manner” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles) and you will find the right balance for you. Wattles ends this chapter by slightly changing the closing statements on the syllabus to bring us to where we are now in our study, by reading the syllabus as we know it, and adding “He must form a clear mental picture of the thing he wants. And, he must do with faith and purpose all that can be done each day—doing each separate thing in an efficient manner.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles). If you do what Wattles suggests here, and turn The Science of Getting Rich into a habit, I can guarantee that: “When riches begin to come, they come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding all those lean years.” (Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill). ACTIVITY TO PUT CHAPTER 12 into PRACTICE: Write out the list of what you intend to accomplish the night before your work day, and while going about your day, ask yourself “did I execute that task with effective action?” Next to each of your daily tasks, put a check mark if you think you accomplished this. If not, work on doing all you can, effectively, every day, until you can honestly put a check mark next to everything that you do. EXTEND THIS ACTIVITY Once you have begun to execute every task effectively, and it becomes a habit, keep your eyes open for doors that open up to because of this. This is what I would like to know. If you have noticed that you were able to advance yourself forward in this way, using these principles, please send me a message.[x] I'm always looking for people who THINK and ACT in this Certain Way. CHAPTER 13: GETTING INTO THE RIGHT BUSINESS I always remember LOVING this chapter because it separates those who will work hard for what they want, from those who won't. Wattles says “success in any particular business depends for one thing upon you possessing in a well-developed state the faculties required in that business.” (Chapter 13, Wattles) He reminds us that “Without good musical faculty no one can succeed as a teacher of music” and he goes on to explain that many people can be working in a certain field (he gives examples like blacksmiths and carpenters who have excellent mechanical ability) “but they do not get rich.” (Chapter 13, SGR, Wattles). It's here that Wattles talks about the “various faculties of your mind” that are the “tools with which you must do the work which is to make you rich.” (Chapter 13, SGR, Wattles). He says “it will be easier for you to success if you get into a business you are well-equipped with mental tools.” He's talking BEYOND our God-given talents and abilities. It will be with the use of our “mental tools” or the “Faculties of our Mind” that will bring us riches. We covered going beyond our five senses, developing the Six Higher Faculties of the Mind on EP 294.[xi] Have you ever wondered “where am I best fitted?” in your career? It's here we must do some soul searching and answer the question we asked in PART 6 of this series. What is YOUR desire that's seeking expression with and through you? This desire in you is “the urge of the Original Substance, containing all the possibilities of life.” Listen to the quiet voice within you to know for certain that you are working in the right business because that “desire” seeking expression with and through you has tremendous power. “Where there is a strong desire to do a thing, it is proof that the power to do it is strong and only needs to be developed and applied in the right way.” (Chapter 13, SGR, Wattles). It's this desire, with this power attached to it, that will keep you working and applying effort during difficult times. He says “ Do not be afraid to make a sudden or radical change if the opportunity is presented and if you feel, after careful consideration, that it is the right opportunity” and don't worry you will end up in the wrong place, or miss the boat for the right place, because “as you go on in the certain way, opportunities will come to you in increasing numbers.” (Chapter 13, SGR, Wattles). ACTIVITY TO PUT CHAPTER 13 into PRACTICE: Chapter 13 ends with a reminder of the syllabus to “do all you can in a perfect manner every day, but do it without haste, worry, or fear. Go as fast as you can, but never in a hurry. When you see yourself hurrying, stop. Fix your attention on the mental image of what you want and begin to give thanks that you are getting it. This exercises of gratitude will never fail to strengthen your faith and renew your purpose.” (Chapter 13, SGR, Wattles). He's asking us in Chapter 13 to make sure we are living Chapters 4 (thinking in the certain way) 14 (the impression of increase) by reaching for more of what you want, and 7 (by connecting ourselves to our source with a deep feeling of gratitude). REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude PART 7 of our review of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, we covered: Chapter 11: ACTING IN THE CERTAIN WAY Where we looked at the importance of how “A person must act as well as think.” We spent some time on separating THINKING in a CERTAIN way (that Wattles covered in the first 10 chapters of the book) to “Acting in the Certain Way” that he covers in Chapters 11-17. We did an activity at the end of this chapter where we sketched out what we WANT on the screen of our mind (Thinking in this Certain Way) with action steps to take by (Acting in this Certain Way) to bring whatever it is towards us. CHAPTER 12: EFFECTIVE ACTION Where Wattles reminded us to “Do, every day, all that can be done that day.” (Chapter 12, SGR, Wattles) and of the importance of being effective with our daily actions. The activity we did at the end of this chapter was for us to self-evaluate whether we think we were effective with our daily tasks by putting a check mark next to our daily tasks if we thought that we performed them effectively. We extended this activity by making it a habit, to always execute our daily tasks effectively. Don't do anything half-way. Do all that you can effectively, in one day, without rushing. CHAPTER 13: GETTING INTO THE RIGHT BUSINESS It's here we revisit the question: What is YOUR desire that's seeking expression with and through you? And we make sure that we are doing everything we can every day, efficiently, while holding the image of what we want, and being grateful for every single good thing that comes our way. While writing these steps, it feels a bit like juggling. We started this book study by juggling the concepts of chapters 4, 14 and 7, (and were urged to read these chapters for 90 days so we can solidify the ideas into our mind), and then we started to work through the chapters of the book with the first 10 chapters being about Thinking in a Certain Way, and the last 7 are about Acting in a Certain Way. And if we can learn to juggle the chapters of this book, with accuracy, and not drop any concepts, we will meet with riches that will come so quickly and  “in such great abundance, that (we will wonder) where they have been hiding all those lean years.” (Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill). It's here that I can go back to PART 5 of our review, where we started into the chapters of this book and I'll read this again. At this point of our review, I look at what Wattles wrote here, and I don't think he's far off. He says: We have learned specific ways to THINK and ACT, that make sense to me that when we sharpen about mental abilities, and follow the formula that Wattles suggests, that Failure of What You Want, is Impossible. What do you think? Do you think that there is a Science of Getting Rich? CHAPTER 14: THE IMPRESSION OF INCREASE We covered Chapter 14 on The Impression of Increase on EP 316[xii] in PART 3 of our review.  We started this review with Chapters 4/14/7 in this order, because this was the order that we recommended to me to study this book for maximum results. CHAPTER 15: THE ADVANCING MAN I love this chapter!  Especially when I see this in others. This is not as easy to see in ourselves, since it takes time for us to see our own advancements, until one day, we look back, and BAM, we see it. Then we wonder, “How on the earth did we get to where we ended up?” or as Hill says, that one day, when we least expect it “we will meet with riches that will come so quickly and  in such great abundance, that (we will wonder) where they have been hiding all those lean years.” (Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill). Like Ryan O'Neill, from EP 203[xiii] who I watched over time, completely transform his career, reading this book. It's actually Ryan's copy of the book that I used in every graphic for each of these sessions.   Wattles says that “the advancing man who holds to a clear mental image of himself as successful and who obeys the laws of faith, purpose and gratitude—will cure every curable case he undertakes, no matter what remedies he many use.” (Chapter 15, SGR, Wattles). CHAPTER 16: SOME CAUTIONS This chapter is important to read to see what Wattles believes we should be “cautious” about. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SPEAK ABOUT: I'll never forget this line where he says “Never speak of times as being hard or of business conditions as being doubtful. Times may be hard and business doubtful for those on the competitive plane, but they can never be so for you. You can create what you want to create and you are above fear. When others are having hard times and poor business, you will find your greatest opportunities.” (Chapter 16, Wattles). This one is essential for anyone and everyone to practice. I remember in my early days of sales, that when someone would ask “how's business?” and it was difficult (it was never easy) I would say “BOOMING!” regardless of how it really was going. This is a habit that will get you through the rough snowstorms, and blizzards of life. I remember this caution now without even trying. Things were not easy for me in my early days of living in the US, but I knew they would be what would give me my character, backbone and determination to get me through the difficult times that are a natural part of this thing called life. You'll never hear me complaining of those days when money was tight, because looking back now, there was so much to be grateful for in those lean years. NEVER ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL DISAPPOPINTED: This one is valuable. You will save yourself so much heart ache if when something doesn't work out the way you want, that you grab hold of the lessons learned and keep moving. Wattles suggests “You may expect to have a certain thing at a certain time and not get it at that time. This will seem to be a failure. But, if you hold to your faith, you will find that failure is only apparent. Go on in a certain way, and if you do not receive that thing, you will receive something so much better that you will see that the seeming failure was a prelude to a great success.” (Chapter 16, Wattles, SGR). Practice this one. I can only say from experience that this one ALWAYS works. I rarely quote my Dad, but I will here. He used to always say “Andrea, what's for you, won't go by you” and this is true. You will never miss the boat for something that is meant for you. I've heard this said another way that if you miss the boat at some point, and the opportunity was meant for you, don't worry, keep working, and the boat will come back for you, time and time again, until you jump on it. STUDY THIS BOOK: He suggests to “make it your constant companion until you have mastered the ideas contained in it.” (Chapter 16, Wattles). Isn't this the truth. While you may come across some parts of the book that you disagree with, find out dated, or old fashioned, if you can get the main points of the book where he teaches us to THINK in a Certain way (Chapters 1-10) and then how to ACT in a Certain Way (Chapters 11-17) I'm certain your life will change. When we can make these concepts a habit, we will certainly notice that money flows easily to us and like I mentioned in the beginning of this study, once we have mastered these principles ourselves, our next course of action it to go out and see how we can help others. CHAPTER 17: REVIEW Wattles writes his review of this book in just over 2 pages. For those people closest to me, they know that I have a really hard time saying anything I think is important, in just a few words. To close out this book study, I can see that by far, the most important part of this review is The Syllabus. Maybe this is a lesson for me to learn. The Science of Getting Rich is ALL about the Syllabus. This  whole book can be summed up in 5 paragraphs, not 17! I have this Syllabus laminated so I can pin it up on my office wall to be read next to my goals. It's easy to look back now that we've reached the end of this study, and I can tell you that I sold this seminar without truly understanding the contents of this book, until now, 25 years later. I mentioned that I missed the fact that the first 10 chapters were about Thinking in this Certain Way, and the last 7 were about Acting in this Certain Way, and I wonder what else could I have missed, which is why Wattles suggests keeping this book as your Companion until you achieve the results you are looking for. So, if I read the book, without completely understanding it, implementing SOME, not ALL of Wattles concepts, and STILL created everything I've ever wanted over the years, (all the goals I've ever written out I've attained so I keep adding new ones each year for continual growth) then I can say to you, the listener, to just read the book, begin your study, and let me know where it takes you. You don't need to understand or implement EVERY chapter, but just begin.  I know there is so much more for me to learn, but what a life we can create, when we think it's IMPOSSIBLE to fail. I just saw that Lewis Howes, the podcaster who runs The School of Greatness Podcast, just covered Rhonda Byrnes[xiv], who read this book, was never the same, and used the concepts she learned from this book to form the ideas you see in the movie, The Secret[xv]. If you want to hear Rhonda Byrne's thoughts on this subject, I'll link this episode with her and Lewis in the show notes. She has some incredible tools that can help people to create prosperity thinking, which I thought is the MOST important part of this book study. To review and conclude this book study, I thought a good way to end this study would be with a practical real-life lesson learned attached to each of the 7 PARTS of this study, so we can begin to think about applying these concepts in our own daily lives. Putting PART 1 into ACTION: Prosperity Consciousness FINDING THE JOY IN LEAN OR DIFFICULT TIMES  “Money doesn't bring you happiness, but happiness brings you money.” (Lewis Howes, The School of Greatness). If any of you are listening to this series, and think you have a poverty mindset, join the club. This is where I was BEFORE studying this material, and it's been a process for me along the way. I told my story of running out of gas when I only had $16 in my bank account, but I knew in those early days (around 2001) how important prosperity thinking was and being truly happy, even in those lean times, since I was still selling this seminar back then. I look back now to those early days, and those difficult times hold such joy for me. It sounds odd to say this, but they really do. I remember working as a nanny at one of Arizona's most beautiful resorts, and I could hear the birds singing, while walking with someone's youngster, trying to create mystery and intrigue for them walking through the resort. I knew all of the “secret” passageways and would take young kids through these passage ways telling them the stories that only the walls could tell. They listened to my stories, and scavenger hunts with their eyes open wide. Prosperity thinking took me some time, but the key to all of it was to find the “joy” when times were difficult, and then be open to what I would discover.  Where would these lean times lead me? While experiencing those moments of “joy” I know I felt it from the inside out, and gave my best to each family I worked and interacted with. At the end of providing the best service, giving them more in “use” value with each family, I often received very large tips. Back then, a large tip for me was over $100. I'll never forget the families who gave back to me when I most needed this money, allowing me to remember when I was able to, I would do the same. “Every person naturally wants to become all they are capable of becoming...Success in life is becoming what you want to be.” Wallace D. Wattles Putting PART 2 into ACTION: The First Principle of the Science of Getting Rich: Getting Comfortable with Money This is a hard one to do when money is lean. How do you hold it, feel it, and get comfortable with it, when you haven't got it? In this chapter, I showed a photo of Grant Cardone and his children playing a game where they were fishing for $100 bills. If you can play games with money, even Monopoly money, teaching our children what it looks and feels like to touch it, hand it out, have a lot of it, throw it up in the air, you will be teaching them to become comfortable with money. Money is not to be feared. We can ALL earn it. It's given to us in exchange for services rendered. So how do I teach my children to become comfortable with money? When money was tight, (before I had my own kids) I showed children I worked with to see the natural beauty around them. We didn't spend any money on our nature walks, talking of the past history of some of Arizona's most precious landmarks, opening their eyes to ways they could create an innovate in their futures. These nature walks were behind the books I would write in the future. Now I have my own children, and want to teach them to be comfortable with money, and not fear it, so once in a blue moon, I will say when I have set aside some extra money, we will go to the shopping mall, and find something that we REALLY love. The important part with this shopping spree is that we DO NOT look at the price on the label of what we find. This is difficult, because we WANT to, but I instruct them to pick something, and they must not know the price. Not being afraid to spend money, if you have it, is important for getting comfortable with money. Also, not being afraid it will be spent, and you won't have any more.  We were at the mall, and our oldest daughter needed a pair of sunglasses. She had a concussion in the summer, and she was still sensitive to sunlight, and needed a pair. Instead of looking at the $20 glasses in one of the stores, I said to her “why don't you try on a pair of those sunglasses” as we walked passed some beautiful glasses all in cases. These were designer glasses and not something a teenager would usually buy, but for the point of learning this lesson (it was once in a blue moon) so she agreed to try on some glasses from this section she would normally not be looking in. She found 2 pairs. One was much cheaper than the first pair. I told her to NOT look at the price, but she did, and then the sales clerk came by and spoiled my plan when she said “oh these ones are double the price of those.” I knew she loved the expensive pair. I could just tell. When I asked her which pair she wanted, she picked the cheaper pair, and I asked her if she picked the cheaper pair to save us money, and she said “yes.” So, I said, “she would like this pair” and handed her the pair that was double the price. Now I can't make this up, but this is the whole reason why it's important to not look at pricing and pick what you love, if you have the money and not be afraid that you'll spend it all, never to have any more again. When the sales clerk rang up the expensive pair of glasses, she got this weird look on her face. She kept typing in numbers, and then she said “I don't know what's happening, but this pair, that should be double to price, is ringing up much less than the other pair you were looking at.” She knew what the price was, but there was a glitch in her system that she said would be more work to fix, so she charged us much less, for the expensive pair of glasses. #Mindset #Thinking #Thoughts #TheScienceofGettingRich #WallaceDWattles #Prosperity #WaltDisney #ArtLinkeletter #Abundance  Putting PART 3 into ACTION: Living the Impression of Increase So how do we take this concept and put it into action in our daily lives? It's all about taking the focus off ourselves, and directing it towards others. Since all people seek this increase, if we become someone who inherently gives this to others, we will become in demand. The example I wanted to share here is that we can all give increase to others, even if we are living in lean or difficult times ourselves, we just need to be aware, so we can act quickly. This is where I've got to say that I am guilty of sometimes not being aware. Sometimes I'm standing in line at a grocery store, and just zoning out, thinking of all the things on my plate. Go back 20 years, when I was in my lean times, and I was exactly the same. If we want to LIVE the impression of increase every day, we've got to be aware. One day, I was standing in line to pay for groceries, and this was a time when I had to make the money I was earning stretch far. I was tired, and was not paying attention to the fact that the guy ahead of me was trying to buy diapers for his family. He was trying to pay with some sort of voucher that this store didn't take. Now fast forward to when I had my kids, diapers were really expensive. This was something he needed, and I missed the opportunity to offer to help him. I had enough money that day to pay for my food and his diapers, but he was sent away. I remember trying to run after this young guy in the parking lot, to say I could help, but he was gone. Not a fun experience standing at the cash register and you can't pay for something. For this lesson, I would say, be aware of where you can help others, and if you can, lend a hand. I always regretted not paying attention, and missing an opportunity to help someone. “Increase is what all men and women are seeking: it is the urge of the Formless Intelligence within them, seeking fuller expression…All human activities are based on this desire for increase; people are seeking more food, more clothes, better shelter, more luxury, more beauty, more knowledge, more pleasure—increase in something, more in life.” Wallace D. Wattles #mindset #Thinking #thoughts #TheScienceofGettingRich #Prosperity #Neuroscience #TheImpressionofIncrease #abundance  Putting PART 4 into ACTION: GRATITUDE IS FAITH In ACTION Read chapters 4/14/7 for 90 days, paying attention to each chapter and this alone will change your world. I challenge YOU to read chapter 4/14/7 of this book for 90 days, and let me know what happens.  "Gratitude is an attitude that hooks us up to our source of supply. And the more grateful you are, the closer you become to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being." Bob Proctor on Chapter 7 of Wallace D. Wattles' SGR book.  #TheScienceofGettingRich #BobProctor #WallaceDWattles #gratitude #gratitudepractice #gratitudechallenge #gratitudejourney #thinking #thoughts #mindset  Putting PART 5 into ACTION: DEVELOPING A ROCK SOLID MENTAL MINDSET Reading chapters 1 (The Right to be Rich), 2 (There is a Science of Getting Rich), 3 (Is Opportunity Monopolized) and 5 (Increasing Life) we are working on our mental faculties. The first part of this book, or Thinking in a Certain Way, takes time. If you want to know how you are thinking, look at the results you are achieving. This is a clear sign. If you like the results that someone else is achieving, ASK them, “What is your mental mindset as it relates to your work” and you'll learn something new that you can apply to strengthen your own. Rome wasn't built in one day, and our mindset and ability to THINK in THIS CERTAIN WAY takes time and practice, but this is the foundation for what we are building here. Putting PART 6 into ACTION: UNCOVERING WHAT YOU REALLY WANT. "Never think or speak of what you want without feeling confident that it will arrive." Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich In part 6 we are still working through how to THINK in This Certain Way covering Chapters 6 (How Riches Come to You), 8 (Thinking in the Certain Way), 9 (How to Use the Will) 10 (Further Use of the Will). We looked at ideas for creating Multiple Sources of Income here, and ways to further strengthen our mental abilities by referring back to the Think and Grow Rich study, or The Silva Method. This whole time we are letting the Syllabus sink into our daily life, and becoming familiar with Chapters 4, 14 and 7. #TheScienceofGettingRich #WallaceDWattles #Mindset #Prosperity #2024Goals #TheWill #Thinking  Putting PART 7 into ACTION: Here we covered Chapters 11-17, the final chapters of the book that are focused around ACTING in THIS CERTAIN WAY. We are reminded that “A person must act as well as think” and how important our daily actions are. It's here that productivity courses come to mind, to sharpen our daily routines. Wattles believes in not just taking action in the present moment, but by making sure it's EFFECTIVE action with EVERYTHING that you do.  FINAL THOUGHTS: For a book that I was hesitant to cover, I'm so glad I did. It was a mindset shift for me to pick the Science of Getting Rich notes, study guides and worksheets out of the back of my closet, and begin this study the end of last year. I hope that you've enjoyed looking at the deeper meaning behind the words of Wallace D. Wattles, with me, where he shows us that there is a Science of Getting Rich, and it's all about Thinking AND Acting, in This Certain Way. PART 1: Prosperity Consciousness FINDING THE JOY IN LEAN OR DIFFICULT TIMES What's YOUR story for this example? PART 2: The First Principle of the Science of Getting Rich: Getting Comfortable with Money What's YOUR story for this example? How have your worked on your own prosperity consciousness? PART 3: Living the Impression of Increase How do YOU live the impression of increase? PART 4: GRATITUDE (FAITH In ACTION) How do YOU put faith into action in your life? PART 5: DEVELOPING A ROCK SOLID MENTAL MINDSET How do YOU strengthen YOUR mental mindset? PART 6: UNCOVERING WHAT YOU REALLY WANT Are you aware of what is seeking expression with and through you? What are you doing to develop your talents and abilities? What multiple sources of income can you set up with these talents? PART 7: REVIEW COMPLETE THESE 4 ACTION STEPS: CLOSING ACTION STEPS: I do encourage everyone to read Chapters 4/14/7 for 90 days as an action item to studying this book. Print a copy of the Syllabus, and put it somewhere you will be able to see it, and read it. Read the Syllabus every day, for 90 days, along with chapters 4/14/7. Finally, come up with your own examples that go with the 7 PARTS of the book. I had to THINK to create mine, and when you can see these principles in ACTION, along with a change in your THINKING, this is when the magic will happen. You will begin to ACT in this CERTAIN WAY. My goal for the END of this review, is to show that without a shadow of a doubt, we ALL have the ability to “Think and Grow Rich” like we learned from Napoleon Hill's study (with our potential as well as our finances) and That there is a Science to Doing This, using Wallace D. Wattles principles.  If we can do the hard work involved (using persistence like we did while reading chapters 4/14/7 for 90 days) sharpen our ability to think, make connections grow from what we've learned, and then finally, APPLY what we've learned, we will see that failure impossible. We just need to keep “thinking and growing” and then “Acting in This Certain Way.” RESOURCES: How to Manifest and Attract Financial Abundance w/ Rhonda Byrne (Creator of "The Secret") Lewis Howes: The School of Greatness with Rhonda Byrne In today's episode of The School of Greatness, we're diving into a topic that's close to my heart and likely yours too - the journey of manifesting money. I had the pleasure of sitting down with none other than Rhonda Byrne, the mastermind behind “The Secret.” Our conversation was nothing short of enlightening. As Rhonda shared her insights, I couldn't help but reflect on my own financial journey, from times of struggle to moments of abundance. This episode isn't just about money; it's about transforming your life through the principles that Rhonda and I have lived and tested. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your understanding of financial abundance, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-school-of-greatness/id596047499?i=1000641351452 REFERENCES:   [i] Rhonda Byrne 2006 The Secret https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0846789/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #66 with The Legendary Bob Proctor https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/     [iii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast PART 1 Think and Grow Rich Series https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/think-and-grow-rich-book-review-part-1-how-to-make-2022-your-best-year-ever/     [iv]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast PART 1 of The Silva Method  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-1/     [v] Join Paul Martinelli's Study of Think and Grow Rich for FREE https://www.freeprogram.yourempoweredlife.com/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #288 on “What Does Acting Have to Do With Our Self-Belief and Identity?” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-what-does-acting-have-to-do-with-self-belief-and-our-identity/   [vii]“Oscar and Emmy winner Phil Goldfine shares the five things you need to know to succeed in show business” Feb. 25, 2019 by Yitzi Weiner  https://medium.com/authority-magazine/oscar-and-emmy-winner-phil-goldfine-shares-the-five-things-you-need-to-know-to-succeed-in-show-b3152bbf985e   [viii]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #38 with Todd Woodcroft  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/assistant-coach-to-the-winnipeg-jets-todd-woodcroft-on-the-daily-grind-in-the-nhl/   [ix]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #166 with Chris Gargano https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/vice-president-executive-producer-of-the-new-york-jets-chris-gargano-on-accelerating-leadership-for-maximum-impact-and-results/   [x] Andrea@Achieveit360.com   [xi] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #294 on “Beyond Our Five Senses: Using the 6 Faculties of the Mind.”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/beyond-our-5-senses-understanding-and-using-the-six-higher-faculties-of-our-mind/   [xii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE 316 PART 3 REVIEW of The Science of Getting Rich https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-3-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-14-the-neuroscience-behind-the-impression-of-increase/   [xiii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #203 with Paranormal Researcher Ryan O'Neill  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/case-study-with-paranormal-researcher-ryan-o-neill-on-making-your-vision-a-reality/   [xiv] Lewis Howes with Rhonda Byrnes How to Manifest and Attract Financial Abundance w/ Rhonda Byrne (Creator of "The Secret") The School of Greatness  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-school-of-greatness/id596047499?i=1000641351452   [xv] The Movie, The Secret https://www.thesecret.tv/  

Welcome back to SEASON 11 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning (that's finally being taught in our schools) and emotional intelligence training (used in our modern workplaces) for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to uncover the most current research that would back up how our brain learns best. Welcome back to PART 6 of our review of Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich. In this classic book on thinking, this book describes how each of us shapes the events around us, creating much of the positive riches in our own personal and professional lives. Rhonda Byrne, creator of the movie The Secret[i], said she stumbled across The Science of Getting Rich and has "never been the same." This was one of the first seminars I sold when I worked with Bob Proctor back in the late 1990s, and he mentioned to me in our interview on EP 66[ii] that his business took off after Rhonda Byrne's The Secret took off. There is true magic within the words written within these pages, and like all of the books we dive deep into, it's the application of what we read here that has the potential to change our life forever. If you enjoyed our Deep Dive into Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich[iii] book, or the 4 Part Series of The Silva Method,[iv] (that I'm going to revisit after this study is complete) the concepts we will cover in this review go hand in hand with those Deep Dives. I'm currently studying Hill's “Think and Grow Rich” with Paul Martinelli[v], who teaches this book like no one else and I'm constantly reminded of how important our ability to “think” really is. Napoleon Hill titled his book with four simple words. He picked “think and grow” as the first three, and we covered in this series the power of our thoughts. Now, we are learning through the words of Wallace D. Wattles, that once we know how to think and grow, we can next add the rich part, and he shows us there is a science to this. I always add that it's not just rich financially, but we grow rich in our knowledge, rich in our potential, and we need money to keep learning, and growing, so yes, rich financially. Bringing us to Chapter 6: HOW RICHES COME TO YOU How do riches come to you? My goal for the END of this review, (after our next episode) is to show that without a shadow of a doubt, we ALL have the ability to “Think and Grow Rich” and That there is a Science to Doing This.  If we can do the hard work involved (using persistence like while reading chapters 4/14/7 for 90 days) we will sharpen our ability to think, make connections and grow from what we've learned. Once we APPLY what we've learned, we will see that failure is not possible. We just need to keep “thinking and growing” and then “Acting in This Certain Way.” Chapter 6 opens up with Wattles urging us to “Give people more in use value than cash value of the thing you take from them” explaining: “The paper, ink and other material in this book may not be worth the money you pay for it, but if the ideas suggested by it bring you thousands of dollars, you have not been wronged by those who have sold it to you. They have given you great use value for small cash value” (Ch 6, SGR, Wattles) “especially if the ideas in this book brings you thousands of dollars.” (Ch 6, SGR, Wattles). So, while acting in this “Certain Way” that Wattles describes, now add, that you must give every others more in use value than you take from them in cash value. In doing so, you are adding to the life of the world. This is why I give my best work away for free on this podcast. I'm putting this chapter into practice by giving more in “use value than I expect back in cash value.” This is also the value behind volunteering our time. Give more in use value to others, than we expect back in cash value. This is the part in this book that dates it back to the early 1900s. He says next that: “If you want a sewing machine (he would) suggest that before you impress the thought of a sewing machine in the thinking substance that you first make sure the image of the machine is clearly formed in your mind.” (Ch 6, SGR, Wattles). This to me is where this book aligns directly with what we learned from Think and Grow Rich, as well as The Silva Method. “After you form the thought, you must have the most and unquestioning faith that the sewing machine is coming.” (Ch 6, SGR, Wattles). This is important. How many times have you heard someone going for something they really want (a sewing machine in Wattles' time or something else in our time- a new job, or something) and they speak about it showing they aren't confident in their attainment of whatever it is they are going for. Wattles says “NEVER think or speak of (what you want) without feeling confident that it will arrive.” (Ch 6, SGR, Wattles). “It will be brought to you by the power of the supreme intelligence.” (Ch 6, SGR, Wattles) who insists that we must not “forget for a moment that the thinking substance is everything” (Ch 6, SGR) and that “you can have anything you want, as long as you use it for the advancement of your life and the lives of others.” (Ch 6, SGR). Next, Wattles talks about a boy who said to him while sitting at a piano “I can feel the music in me but I can't make my hands go right.” He's explaining the boys' desire seeking expression with and through him. The boy knows and feels what he's meant to do, but it's going to take PRACTICE and the right mindset (Thinking in this certain way) to develop this talent in him that could by all means lead him to riches if he works diligently at his skill. We asked this question at the end of our last EPISODE 319, PART 5[vi] of this review. What is YOUR desire that's seeking expression with and through you? This desire in you is “the urge of the Original Substance, containing all the possibilities of life.” I'm not going to skip this part, or leave it out. I will say that Wattles is telling us that it is God who seeks expression with and through us. So, it's TRULY impossible to fail when you feel this desire within you.  But it is up to each one of us to fully develop these God-given talents and abilities within us. It's in Chapter 6 that in the seminar industry, while studying this book, Bob Proctor would always teach the importance of having income from multiple sources, to create wealth. It's not another job, but just adding another income stream to what you've already got. While working in the seminar industry I met many people from all walks of life, and they ALL understood this principle. I talked about what a paradigm shift this concept was for me when I first started to see different ways I could earn money, that were outside of working a job, that runs 9-5 hours on EP 67.[vii]   Putting Chapter 6 into Practice: Listen to The Desire That's Seeking Expression with and Through You and think “how can you create something that give others more USE value than you are taking from them in cash value.” Multiples Sources of Income Ideas Using This Principle: If you want to build income outside of what you do fulltime, Russell Brunson[viii], the co-founder and owner of Clickfunnels is a master as teaching The Value Ladder, that's based on offering people products with high use value, and low cost, to bring them into your “funnel” and offer them more and more cost as they progress along the way. See if any of the ideas I've written below are of interest to YOU to create multiple sources of income over time. Writing a Book: (is one way) to create another source of income, but anyone who has written a book will tell you that the book itself won't make you a lot of money unless you sell thousands of copies. A book can lead you to earn income from other sources like speaking engagements, workshops and courses where you share your knowledge with others, and they would gratefully give you're their money, to learn more. Looking at Brunsons Value Ladder, you can give away a book, or offer it for a low price (have you ever noticed some books are FREE, but you just need to pay for shipping)? This is a common strategy that can lead you into the author's “funnel” where they will upsell you other programs and services.   Online Courses: When I first started putting some of my old courses online, I was amazed when I would receive money into my bank account from people who purchased those courses. The more people want to learn what you are teaching, the more they will purchase the course you have created.   Mastermind Groups: You can now take people who come your way from your training, and offer specialized training for smaller groups. The more people are interested in learning what you “know” they will be happy pay you to be “trained” by you in smaller groups.   Monetizing YouTube: As more and more people want to learn from you, you will have more followers on social media. Once you have 1,000 followers on YouTube, you can begin to earn money for ads that show up during your videos. To earn a lot of money this way, you do need to have a lot (meaning thousands of views of your videos). This one took me some time to build, but since building this one since 2019, I now receive ad funds directly to my business bank account, allowing me to put those funds towards research and development. You can see the progression of our interviews since 2019[ix] Monetize a Podcast: I did try this one out, but stopped, as it's important to me that I'm giving the best content I have, for free on this podcast. In the future, I'll consider putting ads on this podcast (that make sense to my brand), but for now, I'm not using this option. It's much like the money sent to you via YouTube.   OTHER IDEAS: These ideas show that when you provide value (or something that's greater in use value than what you pay for it) that can build you towards significant income over time. I'm sure there are many more ideas that you can come up with. Take out a piece of paper and draw a circle in the middle called MSIs (for multiple sources of income) and brainstorm how many ideas YOU can come up. Off the top of my head, I can think of one of my friends who was a child actor in the movie A Christmas Story. Every year, she receives a royalty check for appearing in that movie, with a speaking role. What other ideas can YOU think of? Find your MSIs, and get to work! Then, Think and Grow…Rich. CHAPTER 7 GRATITUDE  We covered this chapter on EP #317.[x] CHAPTER 8 THINKING IN THE CERTAIN WAY Wattles opens up this next chapter by telling us to “go back to chapter 6 and re-read the story of the man who formed the mental image of his house, and this is the initial step towards getting rich.” (Ch 8, SGR, Wattles). He affirms, “You must have a clear and definite mental picture of what you want. You cannot transmit an idea unless you have it yourself.” (Ch 8, SGR, Wattles). Which is Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich in action, and the whole concept behind The Silva Method. Before this month ends, I'll be covering a review of our Top 10 episodes of 2023 that had The Silva Method in the top 4 spots, just blowing my mind when I saw the numbers and how many people around the world were interested in learning The Silva Method. I've not yet covered a review of The Silva Ultramind System, that's a step beyond what we covered in that 4-part series but have to mention that there are parts of this program that will expand your thinking, specifically with your ability to create images on your mental screen. No one covers this program like Vishen Lakhiani from Mind Valley[xi].    It's here I learned how to build my mental screen (day 3), solve problems on this screen (day 4), and day 5 I learned to walk through my home, (and anywhere else I'd love to see) through a unique process that projects my mind wherever I'd like to go.  Putting Chapter 8 into Practice: RE-READ CHAPTER 6: Do what Wattles says and go back and re-read the story of the person in Chapter 6 who formed the mental image of building a house in his mind, before he moved towards what he wanted. LOOK AT THE SILVA ULTRA MIND SYSTEM: Look through the 30-day curriculum and see if you'd like to experience it. I'm not affiliated with Mind Valley, but after my friend Hans Ajay told me “this program would change me forever” I've got to agree. There's nothing out there that I've seen so far that teaches Joe Silva's Method, better than this program.  PRACTICE! Pick a time of day that you will practice ‘building images” on the screen of your mind. Whether you use The Silva Method, and just plain old visualization, practicing this skill will help you to Think and Grow… Then it's up to you to apply what you are learning to Grow Rich in potential and Grow Rich financially with your skills and talents. This is a program you can study, and learn from, for many years to come. CHAPTER 9 HOW TO USE THE WILL CHAPTER 10 FURTHER USE OF THE WILL I thought it was interesting that Wattles picked the use of the Will, for chapters 9 and again in 10, with further uses of The Will. This shows me that he recognized that we can work hard, visualizing what we want, and take action with our goals, Thinking and Acting, but if we don't know how to execute the proper use of our will, we will struggle with doing things “The Certain Way” that he suggests. The Will is one of our higher faculties that we covered on EP #294[xii] “Beyond Our Five Senses: Using the 6 Faculties of the Mind” and the Will, gives us the ability to concentrate.  When reviewing the Will on this episode, I mentioned that meditation was one way to strengthen this faculty, along with an exercise of staring at a candle flame until you and the flame become one. Wattles takes the use of the will a step further saying “it's as wrong to coerce people by mental powers as it is by physical power” (Ch 9, SGR, Wattles) so you must only use your Will for yourself, and not to will others to do things for you. You must use your Will “to keep yourself thinking and acting in a certain way.” “Use your mind to form a mental image of what you want and hold this vision with faith and purpose. Use your will to keep your mind working the right way.” (Ch 9, SGR, Wattles). Also, use your Will to prevent yourself from thinking thoughts of doubt and disbelief as “doubt and disbelief is as certain to start a movement away from you as faith and purpose are to start one towards you.” (Ch 9, SGR, Wattles). There are definitely some parts of this book, written in 1910 that you might disagree with, especially when it comes to not talking about poverty, or disease. For those involved heavily in charitable organizations, I do believe that we can all help support organizations, instead of doing what Wattles suggests, and that's to not think about them at all. Or with health, I believe that studying and learning about health has helped me to become healthier, so some parts of this book, I just don't agree with, but I can also see what Wattles was intending when he was writing this book. In chapter 10, The further use of the will, Wattles expands on more uses of the Will to help us to “make the most of ourselves” which is my goal with this podcast. He ends Chapter 10 by reading the syllabus again. Remember: “There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, penetrates, permeates and fills the interspaces of the universe.  A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.  You can form things in your thought, and by impressing your thought upon the formless substance, can cause the thing you think about to be created.” “In order to do this, a person must pass from the competitive to the creative mind. They must form a clear mental picture in their thoughts with the fixed purpose to get what they want, and the unwavering faith that they will get what they want—closing their mind to all that may tend to dim their vision, or quench their faith. “  We now see that we must live and act in this Certain Way. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION: To review and conclude PART 6 of our review of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, we covered: Chapter 6: HOW RICHES COME TO YOU Where we learned to listen to the desire that's seeking expression with and through you and think “how can you create something that give others more USE value than you are taking from them in cash value.” We brainstormed ideas for creating multiple sources of income in our life, so that money can begin to come our way even while we are sleeping at night. We learned to THINK and GROW…first, preparing ourselves to be rich in potential and financially second. CHAPTER 8 THINKING IN THE CERTAIN WAY Remembering “You must have a clear and definite mental picture of what you want. You cannot transmit an idea unless you have it yourself.” (Ch 8, SGR, Wattles). We talked about different programs we can use to further develop whatever it is that we imagine on the mental screen of our minds, (The Silva Ultra Mind Course) or by going back to read Chapter 6 on the importance of building the image of what we want on the screen of our minds first. CHAPTER 9 HOW TO USE THE WILL CHAPTER 10 FURTHER USE OF THE WILL Finally, we looked at the importance of developing the higher faculty of our will, to prevent us from focusing on our doubts and fears, while keeping us focused on improving ourselves for the better, I hope that by diving into the 17 Chapters of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, you are making connections with how you can do things in this Certain Way, building faith in the fact that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE when follow the principles Wattles outlines in this classic book on thinking. See you next with the final chapters of this book, and conclusion of our DEEP Dive into The Science of Getting Rich.   REFERENCES:   [i] Rhonda Byrne 2006 The Secret https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0846789/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #66 with The Legendary Bob Proctor https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/     [iii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast PART 1 Think and Grow Rich Series https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/think-and-grow-rich-book-review-part-1-how-to-make-2022-your-best-year-ever/     [iv]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast PART 1 of The Silva Method  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-1/     [v] Join Paul Martinelli's Study of Think and Grow Rich for FREE https://www.freeprogram.yourempoweredlife.com/   [vi]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #319 PART 5 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-5-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-revealing-the-secret-within-the-syllabus-chapters-1-2-3-and-5/   [vii]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #67  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/expanding-your-awareness-with-a-deep-dive-into-bob-proctors-most-powerful-seminars/   [viii] https://www.russellbrunson.com/   [ix] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast Interviews https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb5Z3cA_mnKhiYc5glhacO9k9WTrSgjzW   [x] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #317 PART 4 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-4-review-of-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-gratitude-through-the-eyes-of-wallace-d-wattles/   [xi] https://www.mindvalley.com/   [xii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #294 on “Beyond Our Five Senses: Using the 6 Faculties of the Mind.”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/beyond-our-5-senses-understanding-and-using-the-six-higher-faculties-of-our-mind/  

PART 5 REVIEW of The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D Wattles Welcome back to PART 5 of our review of Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich. In this classic book on thinking, this book describes how each of us shapes the events around us, creating much of the positive riches in our own lives. Rhonda Byrne, creator of the movie The Secret[i], said she stumbled across The Science of Getting Rich and has "never been the same." This was one of the first seminars I sold when I worked with Bob Proctor back in the late 1990s, and he mentioned to me in our interview on EP 66[ii] that his business took off after Rhonda Byrne's The Secret took off. There is true magic within the words written within these pages, and like all of the books we dive deep into, it's the application of what we read here that has the potential to change our life forever. It took me some time to review this book, honestly, because many of the concepts I didn't fully understand myself. It's taken me over 25 years to finally grasp the meaning behind the timeless concepts that Wattles wrote about in 1910, and writing this series has helped me to refine my own thinking, in addition to sharing what I'm learning here with you, wherever you might be listening in the world. If you enjoyed our Deep Dive into Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich[iii] book, or the 4 Part Series of The Silva Method,[iv] the concepts we will cover in this review go hand in hand with those Deep Dives. I read this review about this book and it caught my eye.   No student of thought should be without this historic book. Think about this for a minute. Read this book and do it exactly as written and you will see HOW failure is impossible. This is the PERFECT book and series to launch 2024 with. On today's episode #319 we will cover: ✔ CHAPTER 1: THE RIGHT TO BE RICH  “There is nothing wrong with wanting more in life. No man is to be happy with little.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles) ✔ CHAPTER 2 THERE IS A SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH With some thoughts on what the title of this book makes you think about. ✔ CHAPTER 3 IS OPPORTUNITY MONOPOLIZED? What is it that YOU really want? Do you think you can achieve it? ✔ CHAPTER 4: THE FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THE SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH We covered this chapter on EP 315 in PART 2[v] of this REVIEW where I challenged everyone to read chapters 4/14/7 for 90 days. Keep reading. ✔ CHAPTER 5: INCREASING LIFE Why must we develop our Mind, Body and Spirit? Welcome back to SEASON 11 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning (that's finally being taught in our schools) and emotional intelligence training (used in our modern workplaces) for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to uncover the most current research that would back up how our brain learns best. At the end of each year, we review timeless and important books that were recommended to me when I worked in the motivational speaking industry in the late 1990s, and my goal is to see how science can inform us as we move towards our goals in 2024, (whether it with the interviews we will host) or by diving into what I saw working over and over again in the speaking industry, so we can all be the most improved, 2.0 version of ourselves. This year, we are reviewing Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich book that was written in 1910. I've set the stage for the application of this book by asking us to begin or end our study by reading chapters 4/14/7 in this order for 90 days. The order is important. This is where our review began. If you can do this one activity, I promise you that the magical words that Wattles wrote on the pages of this book, will begin to have significant meaning to you. In PART 1[vi] we saw the importance of opening up our minds to prosperity thinking, (that there is more than enough for all of us vs poverty consciousness that there is not enough) and PART 2[vii] we focused on the power of our thoughts, specifically with how to “think and act in this certain way” to achieve the results we are talking about here. We gave examples of two distinct types of thinkers, encouraging all of us to open the keyhole in the door (or kick down the door) and expand of level of awareness in this process. With PART 3[viii] of our review, we explored Chapter 14, on The Impression of Increase, with two suggestions for Acting in this Certain Way with everyone we interact with. Look to where you can give others genuine compliments, pointing out their accomplishments and efforts, and always look for where you can assist others with your resources. Then on PART 4, we covered Chapter 7 on Gratitude that connected us directly with our source of supply. Let's now dive into the rest of the chapters of this timeless book, keeping in mind where the heart of this book exists. We must understand the syllabus. I'll read it here, and again at the end, and my hope is that the secret that Wattles intends us to “see” will reveal itself to you, and like Rhonda Byrnes, who read this book, and was never the same, I hope that something new is revealed to you, changing your thinking in some way, and helping you to see if you can do things in this Certain Way, that failure is impossible.  Remember: Getting Rich is the result of doing things in a certain way. We help ourselves first, then we look for ways to help others do the same. Before we begin, do you have questions about this syllabus like I did when I first read this book? Here's mine: Q1: What is this thinking stuff from which all things are made that fills the inter spaces of the universe? Wattles says, it's everywhere, but what is it? My Answer: It is formless, supremely intelligent and permeates everything around us—including organic and inorganic things and the spaces between them. Wattles uses many terms interchangeably to describe this substance. After reading and studying this book for over 2 decades, I came to see this “thinking stuff” as my Source, which I call God. You might call it something else, but naming it while reading this book can help to see its power and why “a thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.” This essentially is what prayer is. “A person can form things in their thoughts (or like through prayer) and by impressing their thoughts upon the formless substance (your source of Supply or God), can cause the thing they think about to be created.” When you break this syllabus down a bit, it doesn't seem so “far out there.”  I am certain that Wattles is describing the power of prayer. To put the syllabus into practice, think about where you feel the most connected to this source.  It is everywhere, but some of us might feel this connection in nature, like I've described while hiking in the mountains, near water (or the Ocean) like scientist and activist Dr. Wallace J Nichols talked about on EP 297[ix] this past summer. Wherever you feel the most connected, just trust that there is something bigger than you, that will help you to produce whatever it is that you “image” in your thoughts. Let's look at the remaining chapters of the book. CHAPTER 1 THE RIGHT TO BE RICH  Wattles says that “No man can rise to his greatest possible height in talent or soul development (our fullest) potential without money.”  In the pages of my notebook, I wrote “thought always proceeds the action” or “what's coming, we think about.” I don't need to look far to say this isn't so, as we witness this with our two girls and competitive gymnastics. As with any sport or skill, it takes money to learn these skills, and it was a good year that our oldest daughter would ask to join the competitive team at her gym before we agreed to it. Later, she let me know that she used to watch YouTube videos of gymnasts training, and she knew this is what she wanted to do with all of her heart. There was much thought in her mind that happened a good year BEFORE she even tried out to be a part of this team. The same goes with the material you are studying now. I watched people pay thousands of dollars to attend each seminar to learn this information from the best teachers in the world. Many who wanted to attend, couldn't not pay the tuition. You can always read this book on your own, or watch videos to learn new skills, but to immerse yourself with the best teachers in the world, the easiest way is to pay for an exchange of their knowledge for your money.  “To unfold the soul and develop talent” we cannot do these things unless you have the money to pay for them.  Which leads me back to why I'm giving away everything I've learned over the years, for FREE, on this podcast. I know this is what I am meant to do. I was fortunate enough to learn directly from some of the best teachers in the world, and now, I am meant to give back in this way. For now, this podcast remains ad free for this reason. It has always been important to me that I put the best work I've got, out to the world, for free, because of the principles within the pages of this book.  What I want for myself, I want for others. When you find your place, you will know where you have room to give back. I do think that Wattles intends us to all get to this place where we shift our thinking from “what can I get” to “how can I help others” with my talents and abilities. Part 1 of this series we spent on prosperity consciousness vs poverty for this reason. If you're listening and are struggling with this concept, go back and listen to Part 1 where we dove into two ways of thinking about money.  This is an important lesson because we will need it to “reach our fullest mental, spiritual and physical unfoldment.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles). “Success in life is becoming what you want to be” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles) so for my daughter who begged us to join competitive gymnastics, it was her desire seeking expression with and through her, (to do this sport) but it takes money to do this.  I think back to my early days, when I wanted to become a teacher it took money to pay for my teacher training. If you want to learn business strategies, same idea. Whatever we want, it begins with a desire in our thoughts, and what's coming our way, we will think about, usually long before we take action towards it. What about you? Whenever we have wanted to learn, grow and advance ourselves in our lives and careers, it takes money to do this. Remember: “There is nothing wrong with wanting more in life. No man is to be happy with little.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles). What do you think when you hear this? Do you agree with Wattles? Over the years I became more comfortable with “wanting more in life” and when I was living my most lean years, I made sure to spend my leisure time in places that made me “feel” the abundance that Wattles was describing when he said “there is nothing wrong with wanting.”  I often sat writing in the lobby of the most beautiful resorts I could find to keep my thinking away from poverty and more towards prosperity thinking. Wattles writes that “No man can rise to his greatest possible height in talent or soul development unless he has plenty of money; for to unfold the soul and to develop talent he must have many things to use, and he cannot have these things unless he has the money to buy them with.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles). Like my daughter's gymnastics training, or what we must do to pay for new skills we want to acquire. Wattles writes that “Man's right to life means his right to have free and unrestricted use of the things which may be necessary to his fullest mental, spiritual and physical unfoldment.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles). “No man can be really happy or satisfied unless his body is living fully in every function, and unless the same is true of his mind and soul.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles). Be sure to develop all three parts of us (our body, mind and soul). “Wherever there is unexpressed possibility, or function not performed, there is unsatisfied desire. Desire is possibility seeking expression, or function seeking performance.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles). Think about this for a minute. What is it in you that is “unexpressed possibility” that you could nurture and grow in 2024? For me, it's clear and obvious. If I was unable to research, read books, and then work on integrating this new information in my life, and then share what I'm learning with you, I would not be truly happy. Hosting this podcast (is my desire seeking expression) is driven by an unrelentless desire for me to keep researching, learning, and sharing anything that can help us to all improve our productivity and results. What about you? What is it that you must do? What is your desire that is “possibility seeking expression” in you? This is a good thing to know for ourselves, and then look at see if you can notice it in others. Before moving to chapter 2, I think we have given some good examples as to why there is nothing wrong with wanting to have enough money to develop our body, mind and soul, to nurture our “desires” or our “possibility seeking expression” or “function seeking performance” so we can be truly happy ourselves, before we begin to think of how we can extend our hand outwards, to help others. CHAPTER 2 THERE IS A SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH Before we go any further, I wonder, what comes up for you when you saw the title of this book?  Do you think of the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and the famous, like me? The title of this book is one of the reasons I didn't want to cover it on this podcast in the first place. While I see the importance of earning money, I'm not one to want to “be rich” and when multi-million-dollar yachts sail past me, they don't catch my eye. I've never been drawn to anything excessive so covering a book about “getting rich” was not on the top of my list. I can recognize others like me while I'm interviewing them. The inventor of GDV technology, Dr. Konstantin Korotkov, from EP 307[x] mentioned that while he enjoys inventing, he's not as good with the business side of things. He writes in his books that when he went on some of his exciting trips around the world, he just took his sandals, and a hat to keep the sun off his face. So, if you are like me, not very interested in “Getting Rich” and the title of this book deterred you a bit, just see if there is something we can learn together. It's here my mentor, Bob Proctor, would send me back to PART 1[xi] of this series, and work on my prosperity thinking. He would remind me that “nobody can have all he wants without plenty of money.” (Chapter 1, SGR, Wattles). And I would come back to Chapter 2 with an expanded and open mind. This Certain Way has to do with Prosperity Thinking vs Poverty. REMEMBER: “There is a Science of getting rich, and it is an exact science, like algebra or arithmetic.” (Chapter 2, SGR, Wattles) and we have discovered that it's about thinking and acting in a certain way. “There are certain laws which govern the process of acquiring riches and when these laws are learned and obeyed by any man, he will get rich with mathematical certainty.” (Ch 2, SGR, Wattles). If you were to study this book through Bob Proctor's Seminars, it's here that he would cover the 7 Laws of the Universe, where he would say that doing things in this “certain way” would be according to these Natural Laws that Wattles mentions in Chapter 2. We were not taught these laws in school, and I'm not going to cover them here, but I will say that “it doesn't matter WHAT we're doing, it matters HOW we are doing it.” We will cover “this certain way” in this book study, so at the end of these chapters, we will have a clear strategy on HOW to THINK AND ACT in this certain way, that Wattles describes and “those who do things in this Certain Way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich; while those who do not do things in this Certain Way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor.” And “nobody can have all he wants without plenty of money.” (Chapter 1, SGR, Wattles). Here's An Example: Have you ever seen two businesses on the same side of the road, and one is thriving while the other is not? Wattles addresses this when he says that Getting Rich is “not a matter of environment” (Ch 2, SGR, Wattles) even though “some environments may be more favorable than others” but the success one person experiences is a result of “Doing Things in This Certain Way.” Wattles also says that “the ability to do things in this certain way is not due solely to the possession of talent, for many people who have great talent, remain poor, while others who have very little talent get rich.”  He says that “if you study people who have gotten rich, we find they are an average lot in all respects, having no greater talents and abilities than other men.” (Ch 2, SGR, Wattles). They got rich by “Doing Things in This Certain Way.” We covered this concept in PART 1[xii] of this review, as “Doing Things in This Certain Way” begins with prosperity thinking versus poverty mindset. Let's keep going and see what else we can add to open up our understanding in this timeless book and of Doing Things in This Certain Way that Wattles describes. CHAPTER 3 IS OPPORTUNITY MONOPOLIZED? Chapter 3 is a good chapter for anyone who is worried that an opportunity that they really want, will pass them by. Wattles explains that “No man is kept poor because opportunity has been taken away from him; because other people have monopolized the wealth, and have put a fence around it.” (Ch 3, SGR, Wattles). This is where the “thinking stuff” comes into play. It matters what thoughts we think, and put out into the world. When we think “oh, there's no way I will ever do xyz” then that's the message you've sent out to the formless substance. It might sound crazy, but just stay with me here. If Wallace D. Wattles wrote these principles in 1910, and they closely match Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, and Jose Silva's The Silva Method, then why not just test this out for yourself for some time. The only thing we lack is awareness…and in order to open up our awareness, we must kick down the door, and look at the opportunity that's available to all of us.  Wattles explains that “The visible supply is practically inexhaustible; and the invisible supply really IS inexhaustible. (Economics teaches us there is a limited supply but Wattles is telling us that human attention is the only thing that is scarce). Everything you see on earth is made of one substance, out of which all things proceed. New Forms are constantly being made, and older ones are dissolving; but all shapes are assumed by One Thing. There is no limit to the supply of the Formless Stuff, or Original Substance.” (Ch 3, SGR, Wattles). Abundance is here, we just might not be able to “see” it if it's on a different level of vibration than our current level of thinking. This is where we come to understand that “the resources of the formless supply are at the command of any man or woman who will act and think in a certain way” then “the Secret to Life” (Ch 3, SGR, Wattles) is available to all of us. Whatever it is that you desire, (that possibility that seeks expression with and through you) it is possible to achieve, with time, effort, hard work and focus. Like our daughters who begged us to join gymnastics, they were both willing to put in the hard work to develop the skills needed to push them both through difficult times to bring their visions into form) or for me, to know that I can never sit somewhere and not be reading a book, or writing an episode, that I'll record and put out into the world. I'm willing to put in the time and effort to make sure these episodes are my best work, offering our listeners something unique, something they couldn't just get from the internet, or from Google, which puts this show at the top of the charts (in Neuroscience[xiii] and SEL[xiv]) each year. What is it for you? What is it that's seeking expression through you? It might be a book you want to write, and you think, “Oh that book's already been written” or you think someone else might be better at what you want to do. Until you step forward and try, you'll be holding yourself back from expressing the possibility that wants to be expressed within you. Remember: The invisible supply is inexhaustible. The supply will never run short. If you come to this chapter, and are aware of something that might be holding you back from something you desire, it's here that you can look at your paradigms, or beliefs that we covered in depth of EP 67.[xv] If you are with me here, and know what it is that is seeking expression with and through you, (whatever it is that you desire) and you are not worried that someone else will take your place, keep reading this book. CHAPTER 4: THE FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THE SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH We covered this chapter on EP 315 in PART 2[xvi] of this REVIEW where I challenged everyone to read chapters 4/14/7 for 90 days. Keep reading. CHAPTER 5: INCREASING LIFE Wattles explains that “Every living thing must continually seek for the enlargement of its life, because life, in the mere act of living, must increase itself.” (Ch 5, SGR, Wattles). There is nothing wrong for wanting to be/do/have more in our lives. Wattles says that “We want to get rich in order that you may eat, drink, and be merry when it's time to do these things, see distant lands, feed your mind and develop your intellect; in order that you may love men and do kind things, and be able to play a good part in helping the world find truth.” (Ch 5, SGR, Wattles). Brian Proctor talked about this concept on our interview EP 292[xvii] this past summer because this is one chapter that Bob Proctor lived every day. He gave the impression of increase to EVERYONE. I remember when I was moving from Toronto to the US in 2001, with barely any money in my pocket, but an incredible vision for where I was going, and Bob said to me “Andrea, are you flying first class to Arizona?” I almost fell off the chair I was sitting on. Of course, I wasn't flying first class! It would be a few years before I sat in first class on an airplane, but Bob wanted me to see that sitting in first class was definitely an option. It was just an option that took me a few years to grasp. Wattles says it this way. “A seed, dropped into the ground, springs into activity, and in the act of living produces a hundred more seeds; life, by living, multiplies itself. It is forever Becoming More; it must do so, if it continues to be at all. Intelligence is under this same necessity for continuous increase. Every thought we think makes it necessary for us to think another thought; consciousness is continually expanding. Every fact we learn leads us to the learning of another fact; knowledge is continually increasing. Every talent we cultivate brings to the mind the desire to cultivate another talent; we are subject to the urge of life, seeking expression, which ever drives us on to know more, to do more, and to be more.” (Ch 5, SGR, Wattles). It's here that learning to live beyond our 5 senses, what our senses pick up, and develop the 6 faculties of our mind: our perception, reason, will, memory, imagination and intuition that we covered on EP 294[xviii] come into play. When Proctor asked me if I was flying first class to Arizona, he planted the seed in my mind that flying first class was a great way to travel. Proctor planted many seeds in my mind in the 6 years I worked in the seminar industry. Now, I feel like it's my obligation to share what I learned, to help others. Wattles reminds us to “make the most of yourself, for yourself, and for others; and you can help others more by making the most of yourself than in any other way” (Ch 5, SGR, Wattles.) You must live for yourself, (finding the right balance with just enough) for yourself first, and then help look for how you can help others. If you come from the competitive mindset, (if you've been conditioned to either WIN or LOSE) this next concept might take some additional effort. Wattles reminds us to “get rid of the thought of competition. You are to create, not to compete for what is already created. You do not have to take anything away from from anyone.” (Ch 5, SGR, Wattles). “Riches secured on the competitive plane are never satisfactory and permanent” Wattles says. They are yours today and another's tomorrow.  Remember if you are to become rich in a scientific and certain way, you must rise entirely out of competitive thought. You must never think for a moment that the supply is limited. This will drop you into the competitive mind the moment you begin to think that all the money is being cornered and controlled by the bankers and others…Know that the money you need will come when you need it. Live by this absolute truth.  “There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, penetrates, permeates and fills the interspaces of the universe.  A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.  You can form things in your thought, and by impressing your thought upon the formless substance, can cause the thing you think about to be created.” REVIEW AND CONCLUSION: To review and conclude PART 5 of our review of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, we covered: CHAPTER 1: THE RIGHT TO BE RICH  “There is nothing wrong with wanting more in life. No man is to be happy with little.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles) “To unfold the soul and develop talent” we cannot do these things unless you have the money to pay for them.” (Ch 1, SGR, Wattles) Then we talked about how our desire is “possibility seeking expression” with and through us, and we can look within ourselves to discover what our true desires are that we must express. My daughter, wanted to train in competitive gymnastics, which requires money “to unfold her soul and develop her talent.” I know that to unfold my soul, I must spend my leisure time studying, learning, and then sharing what I am learning to help others. Money is required for both of these examples. What is YOUR desire that's seeking expression with and through you? CHAPTER 2 THERE IS A SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH There is a Science of getting rich, and it is an exact science, like algebra or arithmetic.” (Chapter 2, SGR, Wattles) and we have discovered that it's about thinking and acting in a certain way. Wattles describes that “those who do things in this Certain Way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich; while those who do not do things in this Certain Way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor.” My goal with this review of Wattles' SGR book is to show us that we ALL have the same ability, the ability to “think” and “act” in a certain way, (with prosperity thinking vs poverty thinking) and that once we have learned to think and act this way for ourselves, we can then turn our focus onto others and add tremendous value and abundance to someone else's life. CHAPTER 3 IS OPPORTUNITY MONOPOLIZED? In this chapter, we come to understand that “the resources of the formless supply are at the command of any man or woman who will act and think in a certain way” and that “the Secret to Life” (Ch 3, SGR, Wattles) is available to all of us. It's here that we see that there is something that's seeking expression with and through you, (whatever it is that you desire) and you are not worried that someone else will take your place. Nothing is impossible. CHAPTER 4: THE FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THE SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH We covered The First Principle of “thinking and acting in this certain way” on EP 315 in PART 2[xix] of this REVIEW where I challenged everyone to read chapters 4/14/7 for 90 days. When reading Chapter 4, every day, the words will begin to have meaning to you, and your thinking will change, I promise you. In this chapter, I began to think: What do I really want? How am I thinking? Thinking is difficult! And slowly, with time, I began to see that nothing is impossible. CHAPTER 5: INCREASING LIFE We learned that it's important to “make the most of yourself, for yourself, and for others; and you can help others more by making the most of yourself than in any other way” and that “we are impelled to know more, be more and do more.” (Ch 5, SGR, Wattles.) We want to get rich in order that you may eat, drink, and be merry when it's time to do these things, see distant lands, feed your mind and develop your intellect; in order that you may love men and do kind things, and be able to play a good part in helping the world find truth.” (Ch 5, SGR, Wattles). There is nothing wrong with wanting to develop our mind/body and spirit. In doing so, we uncover whatever it is that's seeking expression in ourselves, that we want to develop in ourselves. Once we have developed ourselves, we can figure out ways to help others to do the same. Each chapter in The Science of Getting Rich helps to build our understanding of what it is that we are meant to do in this world, with an unwavering belief that we cannot fail. Once we have done this, we lend our hand to help others. Remember: “There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, penetrates, permeates and fills the interspaces of the universe.  A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.  You can form things in your thought, and by impressing your thought upon the formless substance, can cause the thing you think about to be created.” “In order to do this, a person must pass from the competitive to the creative mind. They must form a clear mental picture in their thoughts with the fixed purpose to get what they want, and the unwavering faith that they will get what they want—closing their mind to all that may tend to dim their vision, or quench their faith. “ Can you see how Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich goes hand in hand with Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich and The Silva Method? How NOTHING is impossible? How we are the product of our thoughts. What we think, we become? Next episode, we will cover chapters 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 that will lead us all to Chapters 13, 15, 16, 17 and the conclusion of this book review. See you next time. REFERENCES:   [i] Rhonda Byrne 2006 The Secret https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0846789/   [ii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #66 with The Legendary Bob Proctor https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/     [iii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast PART 1 Think and Grow Rich Series https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/think-and-grow-rich-book-review-part-1-how-to-make-2022-your-best-year-ever/     [iv]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast PART 1 of The Silva Method  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/a-deep-dive-with-andrea-samadi-into-applying-the-silva-method-for-improved-intuition-creativity-and-focus-part-1/     [v] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #315 PART 2 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/   [vi] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #314 PART 1 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/   [vii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #315 PART 2 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/     [viii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #316 PART 3 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-3-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-14-the-neuroscience-behind-the-impression-of-increase/   [ix]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #297 with Scientist and Activist Dr Wallace J Nichols on “Blue Mind”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/author-scientist-and-activistdrwallace-jnichols-on-blue-mind-the-surprising-science-that-shows-how-beingnear-inonor-underwatercanmakeyourhappier-h/   [x] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #307 with Dr. Konstantin Korotkov https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-konstantinkorotkov-on-bridging-thespiritualworld-with-rigorousscientific-method-methodtappingintothe-powerof-our-thoughtsenergy-fieldsandlimitless/   [xi] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #314 PART 1 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/     [xii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #314 PART 1 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/   [xiii] Top 17 Best Podcasts in Neuroscience in 2023 https://geniuslabgear.com/blogs/for-scientists/17-best-neuroscience-podcasts   [xiv] Top 20 Best SEL Podcasts in 2023 https://podcasts.feedspot.com/social_emotional_learning_podcasts/   [xv] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #67 “Expanding Our Awareness” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/expanding-your-awareness-with-a-deep-dive-into-bob-proctors-most-powerful-seminars/   [xvi] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #315 PART 2 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/   [xvii]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #292 with Brian Proctor on “My Father Knew the Secret”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-proctor-on-my-father-knew-the-secretgrowing-up-with-bob-proctor/   [xviii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #294 “Beyond Our 5 Senses”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/beyond-our-5-senses-understanding-and-using-the-six-higher-faculties-of-our-mind/   [xix] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #315 PART 2 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/  

Are wearable devices the future of health and wellness? Today's episode we will take our first step towards a NEW technology, called TAOPATCH that's been making inroads in the health and wellness industry over the years, and this is just the beginning. Watch this interview here https://youtu.be/wsuSH-A1wzY On today's episode #318 we speak with the CEO of Taopatch USA, Dimiti Leonov. We will cover: ✔ What is Taopatch nanotechnology and how can it impact our health and wellness in 2024? ✔ What systems in the body are impacted with Taopatch? ✔ How can wearing Taopatch impact our focus, emotions and even our spiritual side? ✔ What are world-class athletes saying about Taopatch? ✔ What does the most current research say about this nanotechnology? ✔ How can you try Taopatch? Welcome back to The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning (that's finally being taught in our schools today) and emotional intelligence training (used in our modern workplaces) for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to uncover the most current research that would back up how the brain. On today's episode #318, we have Dmitri Leonov, the founder of TAOPATCH USA[i].  Taopatch the nanotechnology device using light therapy with acupuncture. When I see a product that's NEW, nicknamed The Human Upgrade Device, that addresses health and wellness, enhances physical performance, boosts energy levels, relieves pain, while being used by TOP WORLD-CLASS athletes and kept a secret for a competitive advantage, I want to know what it is. Dmitri reached out to me and offered to share what's they have discovered with the intersection of technology, wellness and spirituality and how they are combining traditional methods like acupuncture with modern technology like light therapy and nanotechnology. I can't even tell you how much I'm interested in learning more, especially as I'm personally exploring NEW technologies on this podcast, so when something innovative comes my way, there's no hesitation to make this interview happen. Let's meet the CEO of TAOPATCH USA, Dmitri Leonov, and see if he will reveal the secrets from the athletes he has seen using TAOPATCH as one of their best kept secrets in their careers, and what results they are attaining this this NEW Nanotechnology for health and wellness. Welcome Dmitri Leonov. Where have we reached you today? Dmitri, this whole podcast is designed to help all who tune in to find ways to improve ourselves (health, wellness, and even look at our spiritual side) so when I saw TAOPATCH, I knew I had to speak with you. Thanks so much for making this happen! Before we get to this fascinating health and wellness product, I wonder with your background as an entrepreneur, what drew you towards TAOPATCH with your entrepreneurial past? Q1: What is TAOPATCH, how does it work, where is it worn on the body, and who is using it for outstanding results? Q2: What systems in the body are impacted with TAOPATCH? Q3: How does it impact our emotions, focus and even our spirituality? Q4: I've been using magnet therapy for years, and even some technology that added far infrared tech (Nikken products). I have seen the power from products like these over the years. What would you say is different, better or more advanced about TAOPATCH than magnet therapy that many of us would be aware of? What's missing if I'm only using magnets? Q4B: Can you explain what the material that TAOPATCH is made out of (Quantum Dots) and what did the recent Nobel Prize[ii] winners discover with this technology? Q4C: I know this patch uses light therapy[iii], that on PUBMED has over 9K studies of this technology on our health and wellness. What are some of the benefits that a healthy athlete would notice using TAOPATCH? (vs maybe someone with a neurological disorder like Parkinson's or MS). Q5: Let's talk about pain management and injury recovery. When we first corresponded, I told you I was not a stranger to taping things on my body, especially through this podcast. I've got a magnet taped on my shoulder and a new Qicoil Rife machine (using PEMF therapy) that I've just started using after I interviewed the founder, David Wong on EP 312.[iv] If I've got an area on my body that hurts, (let's say muscles knots) will it stop the pain and help the injury to heal in or does it just mask the pain? Q6: I've been trying wellness products on this podcast (ranging from the Fisher Wallace Brain stimulator, to the WHOOP wearable fitness tracker, to the Lief HRV device, (that taught me how to breath throughout my day) and most recently the QiCoil Rife Machine), and I use the device and after time, will record the results I've attained. I'd like to do something like this with TAOPATCH, since I already have something taped on by neck/upper back to relieve pain. I also am always looking for NEW ways to improve mental focus. I did fill out a questionnaire a few weeks ago, and was recommended I begin with the START PACK and THE EMOTION. What would you say to someone like me who is just starting out to learn more about TAOPATCH? How do we begin?> Q6B: If I was to get 1 pack (3 patches) how long would this last me? How do you recommend the patches are used? Q7: What else should we all know about this NEW and ADVANCED health and wellness technology? Is there anything important about the TAOPATCH that I've missed? Dmitri, I want to thank you for your time meeting with me today. For people to learn more about the TAOPATCH, is the best way to go to your website, see the testimonials, and then purchase directly from your website? What is the best way to learn more, and follow you? I will be looking into this for myself, and will record an update once I have tried it for some time. Thank you! FINAL THOUGHTS: There's always so much more than our eyes can see, or our ears can hear with each guest we interview. After this interview, Dmitri and I chatted about what they are developing NEXT and I've got to say, they are on the cutting edge of accessing information to help the world. While I'm editing this episode, I'm also working on our TOP EPISODES from 2023 that included The Silva Method at the top, and in PART 4 of this series, we quoted Napoleon Hill who said “A genius is a man who has discovered how to increase the intensity of thought to a point where he can freely communicate with sources of knowledge not available through the ordinary rate of thought” The future is here, and this is being done to advance the world forward. If you want to try Taopatch along with me, go to their website and you can browse through the testimonials, case studies and research. https://taopatch.co/pages/shop-your-taopatch Be sure to use the CODE: NEUROSCIENCE at check out. Since I'm currently using the Qualia Mind product for focus, I decided to begin with Taopatch start and see what I notice. Stay tuned for this update. What I think is interesting is that as we are learning from each episode (together) the knowledge we are gaining is all connected. We just covered the importance of opening up our Heart Chakra with Dr. Joe Dispenza's meditations, and now, we learn that the Taopatch Start product emits light the green light frequency, which is the color of the heart chakra. Everything we are learning here is helping us to build a stronger, 2.0 version of ourselves, and knowledge really is power, when it's put into use. This is our last episode of Season 10 of the podcast and of 2023. I'll see you next week as we come back with an overview of the TOP 10 episodes from 2023, as chosen by you, and PART 5 of our review of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich. Have a safe and Happy New Year, and I'll see you in 2024 with Season 11 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. CONNECT WITH DMITRY LEONOV Website https://taopatch.co/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitrileonov/?originalSubdomain=de RESOURCES: Research https://taopatch.co/pages/research Djokovic Wins French Open—After Claiming Nanotechnology TaoPatch on his chest Boosts On-Court Performance Article by Siladitya Ray Forbes Magazine Published June 11, 2023 https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/06/11/djokovic-wins-french-open-after-claiming-nanotechnology-taopatch-on-his-chest-boosts-on-court-performance/?sh=31491bf7f7cd Press Release Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded in October 2023 for the development of Quantum Dots  https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2023/press-release/   REFERENCES:   [i] https://taopatch.co/     [ii] The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Nobel Prize 2023 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2023/press-release/   [iii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31574513/   [iv] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #312 with David Wong https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-frequency-expert-david-wong-on-master-your-frequency-and-take-control-of-your-personal-professional-life-and-health/  

“Gratitude is an attitude that hooks us up to our source of supply. And the more grateful you are, the closer you become to your maker, to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being.” That's from Bob Proctor, who writes that Chapter 7 on “Gratitude” from The Science of Getting Rich is “a phenomenal lesson.” Welcome to our review of chapter 7 of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, published in 1910. What's UNIQUE with How to Think and Act in this Certain Way with Gratitude? What's new, different and unique about this chapter that unlocks the combination to wealth and abundance within the pages of this book, when we read chapters 4/14 and 7 in this order, for 90 days? It's within this chapter, on Gratitude, a topic that many of us already know about but I'm going to suggest there's a much deeper way to look at Gratitude, through the eyes of Wallace D. Wattles.   For today's episode, I hope to tap us into how Wattles thought about Gratitude so we can see, feel and experience this word, gratitude, in a deeper, and more meaningful way. We covered this topic already on EP 181 on “The Ingredients of an Effective Gratitude Practice” where we connected the most current brain research to this widely used success principle.  But what we have NOT covered yet, is how on the earth did Wallace D. Wattles think of this practice as important and then tie it to wealth and abundance in 1910? What did he suggest that we have NOT discussed yet on this podcast? What have we missed, that's REALLY important? This is the question I ask EVERYONE at the end of an interview. I don't want to leave any stones unturned. I'm going to suggest that what we have missed will be revealed when we put these three chapters together, bringing out the “secret within the syllabus of this book” where we learn to THINK AND ACT in this “certain way.” From experience, I can tell you if you follow this activity for 90 days, you will witness strange and marvelous things occur in your world, with constant regularity.  You just need to READ and APPLY these 3 chapters, in this order practicing things in this CERTAIN WAY, as Wallace D. Wattles suggests. Then I'm hoping that this review will help you to shorten the time it takes you to experience these AHA moments of learning that took me over 25 years to finally understand and move you quicker towards whatever it is that you want. As I'm writing this episode, I'm STILL uncovering truths that have escaped me previously. Welcome back to The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning (that's finally being taught in our schools today) and emotional intelligence training (used in our modern workplaces) for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to uncover the most current research that would back up how the brain This brings us to chapter 7 of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, published in 1910 on “Gratitude.” When I look in my notebook, the first line I highlighted was line 13 that reads “the whole process of mental adjustment and attunement can be summed up in one word, gratitude.” Next, I highlighted There's a lot more than meets the eye when we read these two important sections of Chapter 7. We could spend the whole episode just talking about this word gratitude, through the eyes of Wallace D. Wattles. What does he mean by mental adjustment and attunement? I will explain this in a way I learned it from all the seminars where this point was hammered home. Let's say we have a problem that's weighing us down. It could be a work problem, a relationship problem, a financial problem, or anything that's on our mind and really messing with us. We all have been here, and we would have the tendency to want to focus on the problem right? Call up our friends and tell them about it, and say “Hey, what do you think about this?” looking for some sort of comradery from our peers. Wattles would warn us against this and say that “the moment you permit your mind to dwell with dissatisfaction with things as they are, you begin to lose ground. You fix your mind upon the common, the ordinary, the poor, and the squalid and mean; and your mind takes the form of these things.” Now reading this passage for 90 days, if you read it out loud, you won't miss this part. When times are difficult, NEVER talk about them, as this gives them more energy and the problems you are having will grow. Wattles says you must get “involved with this process of mental adjustment” (where you learn to SWITCH your thinking from dwelling on what's going wrong, to focusing everything you've got on what's going right). I mentioned this in PART 2[i] of this series that I'm fully aware that Wattles would not want me talking about the difficult times in my past when money was tight, as this would be letting my mind focus on the “common, and the poor” and he warns us against “dwelling on the inferior.” (Chapter 7, Gratitude, SGR). It matters what we think about, and if you think that your thoughts do not affect others, think again. Have you ever heard the idea “before you speak, I'll hear you?” Our thoughts have a tremendous impact on others, especially those closest to us, so keep them positive and work on strategies to overcome negative thinking when you notice these thoughts creeping in. We dove deep into this on EP 273.[ii] Over time, if you can develop a habit with this, it will make your life much easier. This is learning the process of “mental adjustment” and making it a habit.  Then “attunement” will be to live your life “This Certain Way” where you “attune” yourself to whatever it is that you want. We've talked about this concept often on this podcast, where we acknowledge that we are Spiritual Beings, living in a Physical Body, with an Intellect, and everything that exists, is joined together (these levels of vibration) like the colors of the rainbow. Reaching our goals is about “attuning” to the level of vibration or frequency that they sit on. Wattles mentions these laws starting in Chapter 2 of his book, so he is saying that once we have mentally adjusted our mind (away from what we don't want, and towards what we do want) that we next need to “attune” ourselves to whatever it is that we want. How do we do this? With Gratitude When I ever hear, anyone mention they are grateful for something, it stops me in my tracks. It might sound like a trivial thing to say, but to me, especially after studying this chapter for over 25 years, it's deeply meaningful. Dr. Joe Dispenza knows the power of the words “Be grateful for it” as he's put it in his Courageous Heart Meditation. We know the power of this meditation as he measures his seminar attendees BEFORE and AFTER listening to this, and it has a profound impact on a person's state of well-being. Gratitude and Being Grateful for something…is powerful. Why? Because being grateful connects you directly to your source of supply. The more grateful you are, the closer you become to your maker, to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being.” (This is the quote we opened up this episode with from Bob Proctor). Now we are talking.  Real Gratitude can be felt, and I don't know about you, but I'm drawn to those who have a grateful heart. You just want to be near people like this. So how do we become more grateful? 3 STEPS for Putting Gratitude into Practice When times are difficult, whatever it might be (your health, your work, your relationship, or finances) the minute you find your mind dwelling on the negatives, and catch yourself from feeling sorry for yourself in some way, STOP right there, and practice these 3 steps. STEP 1: PRACTICE MENTAL ADJUSTMENT Think about what you are grateful for. Put the focus on what's working in your life, instead of what's going wrong. This might take some time to get your mind past the negatives, but with time, it will become a habit. This is the “mental adjustment” part.  I created notepads years ago that I would hand out whoever took my workshops so they could write out what they are grateful for on a list. I first saw this idea used in the seminars.[iii] You can also find Gratitude books, like Jack Canfield's[iv] so you can create this habit and make it a part of your day. ONCE we've practiced, MENTAL ADJUSTMENT: STEP 2: ATTUNE OURSELVES TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD: Here is where we implement Gratitude through the eyes of Wallace D. Wattles. We have already mentally adjusted our mind from thinking away from what we do not want, to what we DO want, and created our list of what we are grateful for. This itself (having a grateful heart) hooks us up to our source of supply. We have not ever mentioned God on this podcast (yet) but this is what I could call my maker, or the architect of the universe that Gratitude connects me to. You might call it something else, but it's here that we acknowledge there's something bigger than ourselves. Dr. Andrew Huberman recently said on a podcast with Lex Fridman that he has recently started to use prayer in the morning when “there's something he cannot resolve on his own.” He acknowledges that “prayer is powerful” and “gets you outside of yourself” and that “there's something bigger than me, bigger than nature, that I can't understand or control to give over to it.”[v] (talking about his problems). Wattles explains it this way when he says “First, you believe there is one Intelligent Substance, from which all things proceed; (what is this substance-call it what you will, I call it God) second, you believe this substance gives you everything you desire; and third, you relate yourself to it by a feeling of deep and profound gratitude.” I don't ever want to push my beliefs on others, but there are just some things that we cannot explain. I spend my spare time hiking in the mountains in Arizona, and I can't put into words what I feel at certain parts of the hiking trail. There is a definite connection to the spiritual world, (that I feel) and I don't know when I started doing this, but I throw out anything I want solved off the edge of the mountain, and wait to see what answers come to me.” Sounds incredibly strange, (to say this out loud, or maybe not if you do something similar) but when I heard that Stanford Professor Dr. Andrew Huberman uses prayer every morning, and then I made the connection that “a grateful heart” connects us to our source of supply, I started to see this practice as more magical than strange. I just cannot explain anything I see, or feel as I'm going outside of myself for answers or solutions, but it all begins with a grateful heart. I just know that whatever it is that I see and feel, that when I say “thank you” after whatever it is that I've asked for, it feels like magic. I hear an imaginary “your welcome” as I know that I'm connected to the world is a way that I'll never be able to explain with neuroscience. STEP 3: GUARD OUR THINKING: “Do not permit your mind to dwell on the inferior” (Wattles, Chapter 7, Gratitude) but “surround yourself with the best to become the best.” It matters who you hang out with as the thoughts that you think, the words that you speak, all matter. STEP 4: EXPECT GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN “The grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith. The reaction of gratitude upon one's own mind produces faith. “It is necessary, then, to cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you; and give thanks continuously.” (Chapter 7, Wattles, SGR).  REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude PART 4 of our Deep Dive of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, we covered Chapter 7, on Gratitude. REMEMBER: PART 1[vi] of our review, we've seen the importance of opening up our minds to prosperity thinking, (that there is more than enough for all of us vs poverty consciousness that there is not enough) and PART 2[vii] we focused on the power of our thoughts, specifically with how to “think and act in this certain way” to achieve the results we are talking about here. We gave examples of two distinct types of thinkers, encouraging all of us to open the keyhole in the door (or kick in the door) and expand of level of awareness in this process. Last week with PART 3[viii] of our review, we explored Chapter 14, on The Impression of Increase, with two suggestions for Acting in this Certain Way with everyone we interact with. Finally, today, on PART 4, we covered Chapter 7 on Gratitude that connected us directly with our source of supply. We looked at 4 STEPS to practicing Gratitude through the eyes of Wallace D. Wattles: STEP 1: PRACTICE MENTAL ADJUSTMENT Think about what you are grateful for. STEP 2: ATTUNE OURSELVES TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD: Here is where we implement Gratitude through the eyes of Wallace D. Wattles. I'm starting to see the syllabus in a different way. What is this “thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates and fills the interspaces of the universe?” This is definitely something much bigger than myself. STEP 3: GUARD OUR THINKING: Be careful at the urge to want to talk about our problems with others. “The grateful mind is constantly fixed on the best.” (Chapter 7, Wattles, SGR). STEP 4: EXPECT GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN  since “a grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith.” (Chapter 7, Wattles, SGR). If we were to read these 3 chapters, in this order, for 90 days, and implement these strategies, strange and marvelous things will occur and not only change YOUR life, but those around you. I challenge you to read these 3 chapters, in this order, for 90 days, and let me know what you notice. And with that, I'll close out this episode and wish everyone Happy Holidays, wherever you tune in around the world. We will continue our review of this book in 2024, as well as will have an overview of the TOP 10 episodes from 2023. What surprised me when I looked at the past year (that The Silva Method, PARTS 1-4 were by far the most listened to episodes of the year. This shows me that you the listener, were interested in improving creativity, innovation and intuition, and gives me a roadmap for where to go as we move into Season 11 in 2024. Happy Holidays! REFERENCES: Bob Proctor Fireside Chat on Think and Grow Rich Chapter 7 on Gratitude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMCavk4icgM Supercharge your gratitude with Bob Proctor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcLwhWO1O6k Gratitude to help you through difficult times with Bob Proctor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrF6m0hCvQE Gratitude a Daily Journal by Jack Canfield Published Dec. 4, 2007  https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Daily-Journal-Jack-Canfield/dp/0757307108 Gratitude Worksheet https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yrf55yv6q94hzbkyq67l3/PGI-Gratitude-Pad.pdf?rlkey=vfqbq5vykrikjznludkoe6qif&dl=0   REFERENCES:     [i] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #315 PART 2 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/   [ii]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #273 on Self-Regulation: Using Neuroscience to Regulate Automatic Negative Thoughts, Emotions and Behaviors  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-self-regulation-using-neuroscience-to-regulate-automatic-negative-thoughts-emotions-and-behaviors/   [iii] Gratitude List https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yrf55yv6q94hzbkyq67l3/PGI-Gratitude-Pad.pdf?rlkey=vfqbq5vykrikjznludkoe6qif&dl=0   [iv] Jack Canfield Gratitude: A Daily Journal https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Daily-Journal-Jack-Canfield/dp/0757307108   [v] Andrew Huberman on Prayer and Faith in God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivDqfmicrAI   [vi] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #314 PART 1 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/   [vii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #315 PART 2 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/     [viii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #316 PART 3 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-3-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-14-the-neuroscience-behind-the-impression-of-increase/  

“We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions, can transform the world.” Howard Zinn On today's episode #316 and PART 3 of our REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich, we will cover: ✔ REVIEW PART 1: Prosperity Thinking vs Poverty Thinking. ✔ Why are our thoughts so important for our results? ✔ Why are Chapters 4/14/7 important chapters for unlocking the "secrets" for wealth and abundance? ✔ Why must we THINK and ACT in a Certain Way to achieve certain results in our life? ✔ What is the Impression of Increase? ✔ What does Neuroscience have to do with this age-old success principle? ✔ 2 TIPS for practicing The Impression of Increase with EVERYONE you interact with. “Increase is what all men and women are seeking: it is the urge of the Formless Intelligence within them, seeking fuller expression…All human activities are based on this desire for increase; people are seeking more food, more clothes, better shelter, more luxury, more beauty, more knowledge, more pleasure—increase in something, more in life.” Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich Welcome back to The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning (that's finally being taught in our schools today) and emotional intelligence training (used in our modern workplaces) for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to uncover the most current research that would back up how the brain. Which brings us to chapter 14 of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, published in 1910 on “The Impression of Increase.” This is one of my favorite chapters, and one I know that my mentor Bob Proctor LOVED practicing The Impression of Increase. Brian Proctor talked about this on our recent interview EP 292[i] this past summer.  Brian covers this topic beautifully in his book, My Father Knew the Secret, in the 2nd last chapter on “Supporting Others.” Bob Proctor would practice this principal from Chapter 14 and say to “leave everyone you meet with The Impression of Increase” and I remember when I first began to study this chapter, I wrote in BIG LETTERS at the top of the page to “take the focus off yourself and put it on other people.” Then I circled in the notes section “go out and LOOK for an opportunity to help others.” Now this seems simple enough, right? We talked about the importance of understanding how Giver's Gain in PART 1[ii] of this study. While I can easily go off on tangents while writing these reviews, I want to stick to how Wallace D. Wattles wrote about this concept FIRST, and then add in ways that I've seen others implements this idea. Wattles opens up Chapter 14 by saying “whether you change your vocation or not, you must direct your present actions to the business you are presently engaged” and he goes on to say that “you can get into the business you want by making constructive use of the business you are already established in—by doing your work in this certain way.” The next few lines I highlighted. He says “And, in so far as your business consists in dealing with other people—whether directly, by telephone, or by letter (yes, this book was written in 1910!), the key thoughts to all your efforts must be to convey to their minds the impression of increase.” (Chapter 14, Wattles, SGR). Remember there is an order to “unlocking the combination for success and wealth” in this book, and that's to read Chapters 4/14 and 7 in this order for 90 days. I'm hoping to complete our review of these 3 chapters before the holidays here in the US, and will return in the New Year, adding in the final chapters of this book.  If you've listened to PART 1[iii] of our review, you've seen the importance of opening up our minds to prosperity thinking, (that there is more than enough for all of us vs poverty consciousness that there is not enough) and PART 2[iv] we focused on the power of our thoughts, specifically with how to “think and act in this certain way” to achieve the results we are talking about here. We gave examples of two distinct types of thinkers, encouraging all of us to open the keyhole in the door (or kick in the door) and expand of level of awareness in this process. Today, in PART 3 of our review, we will explore Chapter 14, on The Impression of Increase, and PART 4, will cover Chapter 7 on Gratitude. If we ONLY read these 3 chapters for 90 days, I can guarantee you would see incredible change in your daily life. Doing things in this certain way will not only change your day to day life, but will put all of us ALL in the right mindset for an incredible 2024. In the New Year, we will add in the final chapters to bring the complete meaning of this book to life. PUTTING THE IMPRESSION OF INCREASE INTO ACTION: So how do we take this concept and put it into action in our daily lives? It's all about taking the focus off ourselves, and directing it towards others. Since all people seek this increase, if we become someone who inherently gives this to others, we will become in demand. Wattles tells us to “Convey the impression of advancement with everything you do, so that all people will receive the impression that you are an advancing person and that you advance all who deal with you. Also, give people who you meet socially the thought of increase.” What if we are completely unhappy with where we are currently (our work or our lives in some way) and it's REALLY difficult to look outside of ourselves and put the focus onto others? Wattles says this is the key to this chapter when he opens Chapter 14 up by saying “whether you change your vocation or not, you must direct your present actions to the business you are presently engaged.” The opening to Chapter 14 has helped me through many difficult work and life challenges. It's always easy when you are unhappy with something to think that somewhere else will be better, (it's possible it might be, since we all seek increase so don't ignore that feeling of wanting more in life) but to get to this increase, we've got to work very hard in our current situation to convey this impression of increase and this begins with having this mental attitude, or living The Impression of Increase. “Do everything that we do with with the firm conviction that you are an advancing personality, and that you are giving advancement to everybody.” (Wattles, Chapter 14, SGR). Do your daily work in this CERTAIN way, giving The Impression of Increase to others with everything that you do. Don't give up with what you are doing (even if you are tempted to) but find the energy to give and do more in your line of work, and watch what happens. If you are a student, study with everything that you've got. Study your mind first, then look to see who else you can assist. If you are an athlete, train to perfect your skills. Train your body first, then look to your teammates to see how you can assist them. If you are in sales, work hard to sell more. Fill your own pipeline first, then look to see who else needs your help. Build your own skills first, and I've got to tie in what Stanford Professor Dr. Andrew Huberman would say on this topic to tie in the science here. He would encourage us to face “the initial stage of hard work that involves agitation, stress and confusion”[v] in the beginning of reaching for a new goal. Ask anyone who has started from the beginning, this is exactly what they must go through to hit their targets. Think of an athlete here who must do the hard training day in and day out, to hit their goals. During this process, be sure that you are “willing to set your goals a bit above what you believe at this time, that you can accomplish” (Dr. Huberman).  Then take the focus off of yourself, and see who else you can help around you.  That's Living the Impression of Increase, starting with yourself first, and then helping others to do the same.   IMPRESSION OF INCREASE ACTIVITY: RAISING UP OTHERS AND CHANGING THE WORLD IN THE PROCESS: Remember that it takes just small actions to make a huge impact in the world. We don't need to give large gifts, (you can but it's not the size of the deed that matters). TRY THIS ACTIVITY: Write down the names of 3 people you know who could use your help in some way, and reach out to them for a brainstorming session to see who you know that could help them with where they are going. Ask them: What do you need? How can I help you? Then think of who you know that can help them to get what they need. With every person we interact with think about how we can assist them in some way. How can we put The Impression of Increase into action? OTHER IDEAS: I learned these from working with Bob Proctor for 6 years. He undeniably practiced this concept with EVERY PERSON he interacted with, and after watching him to do over the years, and reading this book, I noticed that I do make an effort to live The Impression of Increase. Here's 2 TIPS to keep at the forefront of your mind in every interaction you have with someone to put The Impression of Increase into practice. Give others genuine compliments and point out their accomplishments and efforts. You have to mean this, it can't be false compliments or it will be obvious that you are not being sincere. You must REALLY want to see someone advance, believe and know that they can, and when you tell them what you see, it will encourage them want to strive for more. This is helping others to realize the impression of increase in themselves. Bob Proctor did this with me on EP 66 in our interview. He congratulated me on putting these principles to work in my life, pointing out how far I had come using them. He was right, he watched me go from being a teacher in Toronto, to cleaning houses in the United States, to living the life I pretty much drew out on paper in the late 90s 25 years later through many twists and turns. But you know, when he said that, I didn't really believe him, as I was far off from where I wanted to be at the time he said that. I remember thinking, ahh Bob, you have no idea, the work I'm trying to do in the schools isn't where I want it to be, (this was in 2020 just before the grant funding would end for the work I was doing in schools for social and emotional learning) but I just smiled and said “thank you.”  It took me some time to create PRAXIS with this idea, where I integrated my beliefs with my behavior, and I finally saw what he saw. It took me a few years AFTER he said that for me to believe what he saw, when I thought of how this podcast was able to carry the message for SEL into our schools, reaching more people that I could on my own. It's all a process, but I never did forget that he saw more in me than I saw in myself first. Think of how we can help others with what we know with our resources: Remember how something small you can do can make a huge impact for someone else. Resources doesn't always mean something we can buy. Offering someone your time, or lending your hand in some way can change the world if you practice this over and over again. At the end of our interview together, Proctor offered something to me that had a tremendous impact for me with this podcast. He offered to send our interview out to ALL of his listeners around the world through his database. I knew at the moment he said that that I would expand my reach with our message, with Proctor's help. I knew how many countries his message was already reaching, and with his help, so would mine. That's the impression of increase. Wattles would suggest to master this concept first, before going on to CHAPTER 12 on “Getting into the Right Business” which we will cover in the New Year. Mastering Chapters 4/14 and 7 are the keys to the combination lock of this book. Why Does the Impression of Increase Work According to Neuroscience? This is another age-old success principle that I've wondered about over the years. Why does this concept of “Doing Things in this Certain Way” bring results time and time again? I had to look and see what Dr. Andrew Huberman says about this concept. Why would praising someone's effort help to motivate them at the brain level? It all goes back to understanding the Dopamine System in the brain and what it really means. Remember when I said that when Proctor first praised me for all the hard work and effort I've done over the years, I didn't feel it. I said “thank you” but in my mind I was far off from the vision of where I wanted to be, so I almost felt like an imposter, saying “thank you” for something I had not really done. While I had a vision for making sure SEL went into all the schools in the World, it wasn't my program that made it. But I was involved in this process with this podcast that many educators told me they listen to. BELIEF is a process. One day, I looked back, and saw what Proctor saw. I mentioned this with a poem by Stewart Edward White who explains how AHA Moments of Learning can change us, in PART 1 of this series. He wrote: “Curious how we acquire wisdom! Over and over again, the same truth is thrust under our very noses. (someone points out to you something you've accomplished-offering a compliment) We encounter it in action; we are admonished of it; we read it in the written word. We suffer the experience; we gradually assent to the advice; (and we say thank you, but we don't REALLY see it) we approve, intellectually, the written word. But nothing happens inside us. (I felt like an imposter-Proctor's got the wrong person. I'll just smile and say thank you because he clearly thinks I've actually done something special here). Then, one day, some trivial experience or word or encounter stops us short. A gleam of illumination penetrates the depth of our consciousness. We see! Usually it is but a glimpse; but on rare occasions a brilliant flash reveals truth fully formed. (Like when I saw that it didn't need to be my work that went into the schools, (the larger publishers did this heavy lifting) but as long as I was a part of the momentum of SEL[vi] and NS[vii] through this podcast, which sits at the top for those interested in learning more about SEL and Neuroscience, this was enough for me). And we marvel that this understanding has escaped us so long.” I'm not sure why it took me so long to see this. Do you know what I mean? Have you ever heard something you knew was important, (someone give you the impression of increase with a compliment) but it just didn't click?” (The same truth is thrust under our very noses)…until “one day some trivial experience or word or encounter stops us short.” Why do we see something NEW in the words we've heard over and over again, and weren't ready to hear them?  What is it that makes us “finally see…a brilliant flash…revealing truth fully formed?” What is this concept? Why does this happen?  KEEP GOING WITH YOUR OWN INTERNAL SELF-REWARD SYSTEM: It happens at the brain level, and has to do with our BELIEF first, and when the belief is there, and we can lean into what we are doing, we will “pass through the gate and get to the focus component.”[viii] (Dr. Andrew Huberman). Dr. Huberman reminds us that “Dopamine doesn't just hit when we get a lot of likes on social media…the reward system is entirely internal. Dopamine comes from within” and “if we can reward the effort process” (create our own internal self-reward system where we acknowledge the hard work we've done to get to where we want to be) and think “I'm on the right path” and we “reward the effort process and feel joy” we will put ourselves on the right path to being more focused and productive with an “infinite amount of energy to pursue those goals.” (Dr. Huberman). REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude PART 3 of our Deep Dive of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, we covered Chapter 14, on The Impression of Increase. REMEMBER: I shared 2 tips for practicing The Impression of Increase with everyone we come into contact with: Give others genuine compliments and point out their accomplishments and efforts. Think of how we can help others with what we know with our resources. If we can put this practice into our daily lives, and think of ways to help others, advancing others forward, this will help us to advance ourselves, in the process. We tied in what happens at the brain level when someone compliments us on our hard work, and that belief in ourselves must be present in order for us to take this compliment to propel us forward, with our own dopamine system that's released when “we achieve certain milestones, or believe we are on the right path, boosting our focus and attention.” (Dr. Huberman). We can also tie the idea of belief in ourselves back to our 6 PART[ix] Review of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich book where we opened up with a quote from Grant Cardone who reminds us: “In order to get to the next level of whatever we're doing, we must think and act in a wildly different way than we previously have been. We cannot get to the next phase of a project without a grander mind-set, more acceleration, and extra horsepower.” Grant Cardone, author of the 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure[x] If we can FIRST learn a self-reward system with ourselves, or some sort of internal system that helps us to keep moving forward, with whatever it is we are doing or working on, this kickstarts our brain chemistry (dopamine) to work for us, and keep us going. Then, we can encourage others to do the same, with this Impression of Increase Concept, and genuinely lift others up. With belief, each person you touch in this way, will move faster and with more energy towards their goals. Imagine a world where EVERYONE supported each other in this way. That's the power of reading The Science of Getting Rich, for 90 days, starting with chapter 4 (where we are careful what we think, speak about and pray about), moving onto chapter 14 on The Impression of Increase that we have covered today, making sure we are an advancing person, with belief in what we are doing, encouraging this in every person we interact with, and ending with Chapter 7 on Gratitude that we will cover next week. I'll be away from the internet this holiday season, so we will be back in The New Year with the conclusion of this review of Wattles D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich. Wishing all our listeners a Healthy, Prosperous and Safe New Year. I'll see you next week for PART 4 of this series. REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #292 with Brian Proctor  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-proctor-on-my-father-knew-the-secretgrowing-up-with-bob-proctor/     [ii]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #314 PART 1 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-1-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-prosperity-consciousness/   [iii] IBID   [iv]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #315 PART 2 REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/part-2-review-of-wallace-d-wattles-the-science-of-getting-rich-on-chapter-4-thinking-and-acting-in-a-certain-way/   [v] Achieving Goals with Dr. Andrew Huberman https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ae6DsJIz5xE   [vi] Top Social and Emotional Learning Podcasts in 2023 https://podcasts.feedspot.com/social_emotional_learning_podcasts/   [vii] Top Neuroscience Podcasts to Follow in 2023 https://podcasts.feedspot.com/neuroscience_podcasts/   [viii] How Rich People Think https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ae6DsJIz5xE   [ix]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast Think and Grow Rich Book Review PART 1/6 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/think-and-grow-rich-book-review-part-1-how-to-make-2022-your-best-year-ever/   [x] Grant Cardone, The 10XRule https://www.amazon.com/10X-Rule-Difference-Between-Success/dp/0470627603  

“A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild: but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.” (James Allen, As a Man Thinketh, 1902).[i] On today's episode #315 and PART 2 of our REVIEW of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich, we will cover: ✔ REVIEW PART 1: Prosperity Thinking vs Poverty Thinking. ✔ Why are our thoughts so important for our results? ✔ Why are Chapters 4/14/7 important chapters for unlocking the "secrets" for wealth and abundance? ✔ Why must we THINK and ACT in a Certain Way to achieve certain results in our life? ✔ A look at 2 types of thinking with famous examples.  ✔ 3 STEPS for changing our Money Mindset. Which brings us to chapter 4 of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, published in 1910. “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” Mahatma Ghandi (an Indian lawyer who inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world). Bringing us to PART 2 of our Deep Dive into Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich. Welcome back to The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning (that's finally being taught in our schools today) and emotional intelligence training (used in our modern workplaces) for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to uncover the most current research that would back up how the brain. On today's episode #315 we launch into a Deep Dive of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich starting with Chapters 4/14/7.  If you look at the image in the show notes, you will see a TABBED and very well-read Science of Getting Rich book. This was the book I sent to Paranormal Researcher, Ryan O'Neill from Scotland, UK over 10 years ago, instructing him to read this book, starting with Chapters 4/14/7[ii] for 90 days. He sent me this image of his book, all these years later, well-read and marked up, and his results (that we cover on our interview with Ryan on EP #203[iii]) are a byproduct of him doing things in this certain way, beginning with Chapter 4, The First Principle in the Science of Getting Rich that we will cover today. Next, we'll move onto chapter 14 on The Impression of Increase that is by far my favorite chapter in this book.  I love watching this principle in action in others, and then learning to practice this myself has been something that I think has given me some depth with my character over the years. We'll move back to Chapter 7 on Gratitude, that ties all these chapters together, before reviewing the other chapters of this book, and coming up with some action steps for implementing these timeless principles in our own lives. If you want a guide, I'll link a YouTube audio version of these SPECIAL chapters 4/14/7) in the show notes for you and if you look in the comment section, someone knew the power of these chapters in this order revealing their awareness when they wrote “thanks for the combination to the safe.” It's these three chapters that Bob Proctor would have EVERYONE study, in this order, and we would even form mastermind groups AFTER each seminar had concluded to ensure we read the book this way.   I'm still in contact with the two others I was assigned to meet with (back in 1999) and we would meet once a week, for 90 days, and read the chapters in this order. Chapters 4, 14 and 7. This practice bound us together for life. Whoever commented that this was “the combination to the safe” got it right. With deep understanding, we read these chapters, word for word, together, once a week, and then discussed how we were implementing the ideas into our life, or not. I remember I was in my late 20s, and I would read this book before the sun had come up, with the others in my group, (over the telephone) and this practice didn't just set me up for that year, but it set me up to Think and Act in this Certain Way, for the rest of my life. When I cover a book on the podcast, taking a Deep Dive like this, I'm doing so because I watched the contents of these book we cover change my own results, and hundreds of others around me, over the years. If you look at the Table of Contents FIRST. There are 17 simple and short chapters in this book that are all about breaking through the mental barriers of success, and that moving from the competitive mind, to the creative mind is integral to our success. How do we do this? We spent the whole Introduction (PART 1) explaining that we must first learn the principles for ourselves, and THEN we extend our hand out to help others. This is the whole idea of this book. It's a simple formula for success, that begins when we “think and act in this certain way.” What is that certain way? This is what we will be diving into with our study of each chapter. Chapter 4: The First Principle in the Science of Getting Rich. Remember this book is all about the syllabus, and how important our thinking is (because there is this thinking stuff from which all things are made…that's everywhere and a thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.” This chapter is about the importance of how we think. If we are going to “think and act” in a certain way, at the most fundamental level, it matters how and what we think about.    This chapter opens up with line 1 saying “thought is the only power that can produce tangible riches from the formless substance.”  We opened up this episode with James Allen's take on this, where he said by thinking in this certain way, we become “the master-gardener of our soul, the director of our life.” Therefore, THE FIRST PRINCIPLE in The Science of Getting Rich is that we must “think” in this certain way. What is this certain way, you ask? I've been thinking about this since I first heard this idea in 1999. I wanted to say “oh yeah, I think in this certain way” and let the high paying positions come to me! But this isn't how it happened for me. It seemed like this principle took me the longest time to actually implement. Knowing and Doing…are poles apart. Here's some clear examples: Person 1:  Drives by a car dealership (I'm going to use this example because it was the first example I heard in 1999). This person looks at the cars on the lot and thinks “oh wow, I love that red car and I'd love to buy it” and they drive off, and start thinking of how they are going to save up to buy this red car they've just seen. They might create a plan, and come back and visit the lot, and sit in the car, and maybe even test drive the car. Got it? We see how PERSON 1 thinks. Person 2: Drives by the car dealership and stops, takes out a notepad, and writes down some numbers. What's he writing you ask? He's taking note of how many cars fit on that specific lot, because he's thinking “how can I buy this lot?” He writes down 50 cars, and he's thinking about other ideas like, is there another lot nearby that I could buy if I eventually outgrow this lot? They write down some other things like “how much money can I also make from advertising” since there is a sign out front, and then they write down a number guessing at the cost of the land. WHAT TYPE OF THINKER ARE YOU? Can you see two distinct ways to think? How would YOU think if you drove past a car dealership today?  Are you PERSON 1 or PERSON 2? I know without a shadow of a doubt that I'm PERSON 1 and to get the details for PERSON 2, I had to ask someone who thinks in this way. Let me put some faces to two different types of thinkers who we've mentioned before on this podcast. DID YOU KNOW THAT: Walt Disney (who is kind of like Person 2 in our car dealership example) took his good friend Art Linkletter[iv] (a Canadian born radio and television personality) who surely had vision but his vision was different than Art's). Walt took Art to an open field near Orange County, California and pointed to the land and then told Linkletter of his vision for building a park for children. I talked about this with Dr. John Medina all the way back on EP #42[v] and I asked Dr. Medina about this and oddly enough, Dr. Medina said that he has a large poster of Walt Disney hanging up in his office. It was from a time when there was only one theme park (Disneyland which came first in Anaheim, CA in 1955). Disney World near Orlando hadn't been built yet (it opened in 1971) and it was a photo of a big swamp with Cinderella's Castle in the background. You see Walt Disney with an entrepreneurial grin, and the caption on the poster says “It's kinda fun, to do the impossible.” How Do You Change Your Way of Thinking? Isn't this the point of why we all listen to podcasts in the first place? We are looking for new ideas or ways of thinking. Something to give us a different result, when we do something in a different way. This is how we change our PARADIGMS and it takes time. This doesn't happen overnight. We also were not taught “how to think in this certain way” in school. We have to learn to live from “inside” our minds first, and I can tell you that I've been working on this way of thinking for over 25 years, and the more I learn, the more I realize I know so very little. It's a lifetime process, and involves dedication, time, effort and hard work. This is one of the main reasons why I host this podcast. Each week, as I release something that you the listener downloads, it also helps me and those close to me, since I'm getting a refresher as I'm writing each episode, and thinking of ways that we can ALL put what we are learning into practice. This is also why I chose the 6 Social and Emotional Learning Competencies to focus on for this podcast.  It appears that Self-Awareness is the key to making any change in our lives. We've got to first of all “know thyself” before we can “change thyself.” SELF-AWARENESS and THE 7 LEVELS OF AWARENESS We covered this concept in depth in Sept. 2022 when we first started our review of our past episodes with the goal of building a stronger 2.0 version of ourselves. On EP #247 we dove deep into our interview with Greg Link, who intentionally created a legacy by reading a book a week.  Since “95% of the decisions we make take place in the subconscious mind” (Deane Alban) it's crucial for our future results that we keep tending to the “garden of our mind” with continual study. This practice will keep us moving up the 7 Level of Awareness. We all begin at the same level, but it's our ability to “think” that moves us up these 7 Levels, away from following what everyone else is doing (STEP 2), to aspiration (STEP 3) where we “think” we are doing something (we aspire to  BE/DO or HAVE more in our lives) but we must keep moving forward for REAL change to occur. At STEP 4 we step out and take action on idea (we actually DO something), which brings us to STEP 5 since we will need to apply DISCIPLINE to stay in the game. Over time, STEP 6 we gain experience, that eventually leads us to STEP 7 Mastery. Going through these 7 Levels of Awareness requires that we THINK and ACT in a certain way, which is what Chapter 4 of The Science of Getting Rich is all about. If you look at the graphic of these 7 Levels of Awareness, it was in Chapter 4 that Bob Proctor would cover these. At the very top of this worksheet is the quote “to look on the appearance of poverty will produce corresponding forms in your own mind.” (Wallace D. Wattles). THINKING TRUTH REGARDLESS OF APPEARANCES So to THINK and ACT in a CERTAIN way, requires that we “THINK truth regardless of appearances.” (page 58, Ch 4, Science of Getting Rich) Wallace Wattles tells us in this chapter. I could talk about this concept for weeks, because I have honestly been thinking about this since 1999. We all have the ability to “think” we have already concluded, but some people “think” differently, or in a certain way, leading them to different results. I told you that I was not always someone who had prosperity thinking. How could I when I was raised to be careful with money, since it was scarce, and had to stretch far. Thinking there is enough (or even abundance) was a complete stretch for me, but over time, and many years, my paradigms about money have changed. HOW DO WE CHANGE OUR PROGRAMMING FROM POVERTY CONSCIOUSNESS TO PROSPERITY? The key is in this chapter. We need to be able to “think truth” (that there is an abundance of what we need) “regardless of appearances” (or what we can see with our eyes). I remember reading this passage thousands of times in our study, in those early days, because this one took us all, a very long time to grasp. My bank account is empty but you mean I should think there's money in it? There's no food in the fridge but you mean I should think food will come? They come when you learn to THINK AND ACT in this certain way. This isn't easy. I know and I remember. I remember when I first moved to the US (and I'm fully aware that we are not supposed to dwell on difficult times according to this book, but I will need to mention where I came from for you, the listener to understand). I came with an empty bank account, but a vision for what I would be doing. Of course the vision for what I wanted to do would take time, and we ALL start out in the same place which is LEVEL 1 on the 7 LEVELS of AWARENESS. I remember running out of gas as my car was going up a hill, and I had to pray the car would start again as the road evened out so I could get to a gas station and fill up the car. I also remember that I had $20 in my bank account to spend on gas, so the idea of “thinking truth” that there was enough money to cover what I need was a far stretch. But I did it, because I had no other option. I thought “truth regardless of appearance” and slowly, over time learned to THINK AND ACT in this certain way. In those early days I worked as a nanny at local resorts in Arizona, and I remember walking around beautiful resorts would help my ability to “think” in this certain way. You can't just “think” and not take action, so I worked hard, and looking back now, I had plenty of food in my fridge (always-it helped to shop at Costco where I could buy certain things in bulk), and was able to pay ALL of my bills. I used to line up the largest ones first in order on my desk, and when I had earned enough money to pay them, I moved onto the smaller, easier ones. Eventually life became easier, as I worked Chapter 13, Getting into the Right Business, but I did it all one step at a time, and followed these principles, believing that if I were to THINK AND ACT in this certain way (which we know is prosperity thinking, that there would always be enough) and this required me to “think truth regardless of appearances” since I didn't have money in my bank account at that time, but I'm sure we can all remember lean times like I'm talking about. We all experience them. I just want to show you how I turned it all around in my life, and it was a process, that occurred with time, but maybe if you are where I was right now, it might help you to think and act in a different way, to shorten the amount of time that you are here. The focus of this entire book is to expand our awareness, and open up the keyhole (or kick in the door) to reveal new possibilities on the other side. PUTTING CHAPTER 4 INTO ACTION: So how do we change our thinking and learn to “think truth (that there's abundance) regardless of appearances (when there is not)? I can only say that this chapter takes time. There is no way that anyone would have been able to convince me that my empty bank account would one day have plenty of money in it, (when I was down to my last $16 that would fill up my car with gas to get me home), or that I would have been able to see that paying my monthly bills (from working as a nanny) would be possible until I found a better way. I wouldn't have believed it unless I had actually lived it. Now, it's important for me to share this knowledge, so that others can do the same. I learned from being a parent that this skill must be taught, and there is a fine line here as we do not want to raise our children to be pretentious, immodest or assuming in life. We want our children to be outward focused, humble, modest and polite. It took me years to change my mindset (from poverty consciousness-that there is not enough to cover what I need to prosperity (that I have enough) expanding my level of awareness in this process. So How Do We Change Our Money Mindset? The late Doug Wead, presidential advisor, said it best when he said “We are not limited by money, but rather by the poverty of our own dreams.” Open up our minds to abundant thinking versus poverty. Here's how I took the FIRST Principle in The Science of Getting Rich, and began to teach this to my own children. The first time I heard one of my girls talking about money in terms of “what if we don't have enough” I knew it was time to put some focus on the timeless principles in this book. Here's what I would suggest to expand anyone's level of awareness around money. STEP 1: Know money looks and feels like. When you can't see or feel money, like when I only had $20 left in my bank account, it's hard to imagine there being an abundance of it. This is something I notice happens EVERY TIME I play Monopoly. This game is really about prosperity thinking and putting it in action. No one wants to play this game with me because I win this game every time. We must learn to Think and Act in a Certain way in REAL life, as well as in board games. It's really the same idea.  This again takes time and practice. None of these steps are going to quickly change your money mindset. Play Monopoly like you would play “your life” and watch what happens. You'll have more money than you know what to do with, and then you can share your wealth with others. In the beginning of the game, we all start out with the same amount of money, but the decisions we make throughout the game will determine who is able to earn more, and eventually wins the game, as they create an abundance. At the beginning of a Monopoly game, I've trained myself “to think truth regardless of appearances” I can “see” a vision of all the property I will buy (Park Place and Boardwalk will win the game for you) by earning you the rent from everyone who lands on the spaces you will buy and own. This concept became much more interesting when money became available in cryptocurrency, showing us that money can exist outside of physical bills or coins. We can NOW pay for things electronically, quickly sending money to people and vendors via systems like Zell, or PayPal. What we “think” of money in 2023 is much different than 50 years ago, but the concept is the same. It's an exchange for service rendered, and once you know what it looks like (whether it's physical bills, or a number in an account) it's much easier to be able to see it in your possession. STEP 2: Know how to earn money.  I love the quote “never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn” by Miguel de Cervantes.  When times were difficult in my 20s, I figured out how to earn the money I needed to live the life I wanted, from cleaning houses and working as a nanny. Using this experience, I now instill the idea of “working” for money with our children by giving them money for things they can do to help around the house, or with their skills and talents. If they can help me to solve a computer issue, or something technology based (where their level of thinking far surpasses mine) I will pay them for their knowledge. This teaches our next generation that when you take the time to study and learn something new, you can earn money for your knowledge. This job in the real world is called Being a Consultant, and can earn someone money in addition to whatever job they choose to spend their days doing. This is where the concept of earning income from multiple sources comes in, that we will cover in more depth in Chapter 6 How Riches Come to You. This concept that money circulates helps anyone to see how they can work for it, and rightfully have it. STEP 3: Know how to THINK TRUTH regardless of APPEARANCES. Remember that “every man has the natural and inherent power to think what he wants to think, but it requires far more effort to do so than it does to think the thoughts which are suggested by appearances.” I don't know WHEN this principle switched in my head, and I began living it, but I do remember it being “laborious” and it required “the expenditure of more power than any other work” (Wattles, Chapter 4) than I've ever had to perform. To think according to appearances is easy.  My bank account has $20 left, my fridge is empty, or I have no sales in my pipeline. It's easy to look at these things and think this is the way it's going to be. OR, we can implement this first timeless principle and create something else (first of all on the screen of your mind) and then second with action that you will take. Stop for a minute and look around. The clothes you are wearing were created in someone's mind FIRST, before they created the pattern and manufactured them. The car you are driving came first into the mind of Henry Ford, or if you are driving a Tesla, the mind of Elon Musk. Once you've learned to do this, you can relate to Walt Disney's entrepreneurial grin, as you begin to turn the impossible, into reality. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude PART 2 of our Deep Dive of Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich, we covered Chapter 4, and the first principle of learning to think and act in a certain way, and that's with prosperity thinking versus poverty thinking. Since “thought is the only power that can produce tangible riches from the formless substance” it matters what we think about. We looked at the importance of being able to Think Truth, regardless of appearance, even if this is the hardest work in the world. I gave the example of being able to think beyond what money I had in my bank account, and this concept can also be practiced with our health. Not at all to say we “think ” ourselves to health, but if we can learn to think and see ourselves as healthy, it's the first step towards using our mind (instead of the outside world) to create and shape our results. As we covered in PART 1 of our review, the message within the pages of The Science of Getting Rich is NOT to obtain money for ourselves, but to spend “money in meaningful ways—especially when it's used to benefit others” (Chapter 1 Neurowisdom, Waldman and Manning) and this is known to increase our satisfaction in life. As we are going through these chapters, my goal is to show us not how we can be good little go-getters, but how we use these principles to help ourselves first, and then, how to use them to benefit others. This is the true meaning behind The Science of Getting Rich and we will go deeper into taking the focus off ourselves on our next episode with Chapter 14, The Impression of Increase. Until then, I hope that you review how to change your money mindset, to improve your thinking first, and then help others you interact with. STEP 1: Know money looks and feels like. It's a different world in 2023 now that we have BitCoin and Cryptocurrency, but for this step, I like to grab a stack of bills (real or fake) and just know what it “feels like” to hold what I would consider to be “a lot” of money. The more I have practiced this concept, the easier it is for me to expand my thinking of what's a lot of money to me. In my late 20s, when I was running out of gas, $20 was a lot of money. With experience, my number has changed, but this is the key, to always be opening up the doorway and expanding where our thinking currently sits. Whatever you think is “a lot of money” see how it feels to put that amount in your wallet. Carry it around for a while. Before you know it, your amount will change, and you'll have expanded your thinking around money.  I saw an incredible example of this on Instagram with Grant Cardone who was teaching his children this concept with a game where he blind-folded his kids who were fishing for hundred dollar bills in a money-mindset game. I know that whatever money was “raised” with this game went to charity, but I know it also would have changed the money mindset of those kids. They will never look at a $100 bill the same way after seeing many of them on the table. There was plenty of them, and enough for all of them to gather them up, and give back to others. IMAGE CREDIT: Grant Cardone on Instagram  STEP 2: Know how to earn money. We will cover this one in more depth throughout this book study, but once we can see that money is an exchange for services rendered, we can open up to what services we can provide to help other people, that they would pay for. I remember paying a young high school kid (who was 17 at the time) how to code my first website. It was faster for me to work with him after school than it would have been for me to learn how to do this on my own, and this young man earned plenty of money with his knowledge and talents. STEP 3: Know how to THINK TRUTH regardless of APPEARANCES.  This is the hardest part of implementing this chapter, especially if you are where I was when my car ran out of gas. I had to go home, go to sleep and think “tomorrow is a new day” and that tomorrow I had the ability to create something new, something that only existed on the screen of my mind. And when tomorrow came, I always found work that I could do, that filled my bank account back up, (one check at a time) and kept me going. I remember at this specific time I was working as a nanny at a local resort in Arizona, and this was the BEST place for me to work on improving my money consciousness. I would walk around the resort, and see abundance everywhere. I would think “one day, I will have my own family and I'll bring them to a resort like this, and I'll relax in the lawn chairs and think of ways I can give back to others once I've done it myself.” This didn't happen right away. I had to master how to THINK TRUTH regardless of APPEARANCES first, and then had to get to work on what we will cover next week, The Impression of Increase. The Science of Getting Rich is a process. It is scientific and mathematical. It matters what we THINK about. With that thought, I'll close out PART 2 of our Deep Dive of Chapter 4 of The Science of Getting Rich, and will see you next week, with Chapter 14 on The Impression of Increase.   REFERENCES:   [i] As a Man Thinketh, by James Allen, 1902 https://www.amazon.com/As-Man-Thinketh-James-Allen/dp/1503055361   [ii] The Science of Getting Rich Chapters 4/14/7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPBdjiFBrJg   [iii]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #203 with Paranormal Researcher Ryan O'Neill https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/case-study-with-paranormal-researcher-ryan-o-neill-on-making-your-vision-a-reality/   [iv] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Linkletter   [v] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #42 with Dr. John Medina https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/dr-john-medina-on-implementing-brain-rules-in-the-schools-and-workplaces-of-the-future/  

“A person's right to life means his right to have the free and unrestricted use of all the things which may be necessary to his fullest mental, spiritual and physical unfolding — in other words, his right to be rich.” Wallace D. Wattles On today's episode #314 we will cover: ✔ The hidden meaning behind Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich ✔ What is Prosperity Consciousness vs Poverty Consciousness, and how do YOU think? ✔ Why do Giver's Gain? ✔ How Can We Best Prepare to Learn the Timeless Principles in this book that was published in 1910?    “Wait a minute, are you telling me that we are going to cover the importance of developing a prosperity mindset on this podcast?” you ask? How is this related to neuroscience? I'm going to say “yes, we are” and I'll tie the importance of this to science with Mark Waldman and Chris Manning's Book Neurowisdom: The New Brain Science of Money, Happiness and Success[i] that focuses on helping people create more “wealth” in their lives.  This book opens up in Chapter 1 by asking us to choose if we would pick happiness or wealth, and they said that 90% of the people they surveyed over the past decade actually picked happiness over wealth (Chapter 1, Neurowisdom) but the book goes on to explain that the newest economic research disagrees with this. They found that it's really the other way around. “Wealth predicts happiness, and the more you make, the happier you actually become.” (Chapter 1, Neurowisdom). This is not the main reason why I finally decided to cover Wallace D. Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich on this podcast, but if the research says that “our wealth predicts our happiness” I thought that there is never a better time than now, to cover the seminar I sold in the late 1990s, that transformed my thinking from poverty consciousness, to prosperity. Now this didn't happen overnight, or immediately. I'm going to share my journey over the past 25 years, along with all of the notes I took studying while this book, watching my own paradigms change slowly, and then watching how other people around me would use what they were learning for improved results in their life.  Here's the important part that I don't want any of us to miss. Once we have learned to successfully use the principles we will be studying in this book ourselves, we can then take the focus off ourselves, and look for ways to give back to others. You will see that there are many messages within the pages of this book, and this one, is what I think to be THE MOST IMPORTANT. I'm hoping that studying these timeless principles in this manner will help you the listener to connect either to my way of thinking, (someone who was raised with one parent who might have instilled poverty consciousness in your mind-or said things to you like “money doesn't grow on trees” over the years, or those people I'll use as examples who grasped prosperity thinking with ease, so that you can take the principles and fine-tune your own way of thinking, and acting, to achieve the results I know are possible for all of us. Once we have applied them in our own life, it will be time to look outside of ourselves and give back. The Shortest Summary of The Science of Getting Rich What's the message behind the Deep Dive we are going to take into Wallace D. Wattle's classic book on thinking, the book that describes how each of us shapes the events around us, creating much of the positive riches in our own lives? The book that Rhonda Byrne, creator of The Secret, said she stumbled across and has "never been the same?"  The book that was behind one of the seminars I sold in the late 1990s when I worked in the motivational speaking industry with Bob Proctor from EP #66[ii]. I did see an article written by John Rogers[iii] that summarized the book and he got it right.  He said “Here's the shortest summary of The Science of Getting Rich you'll ever read: Think and act creatively to add value to others.” I would agree, but might change it a bit to say that this book we will be covering this month is all about how to “think and act creatively in your life first, and then look outwards, and see how you can help others.” It all begins with understanding the syllabus that echoes throughout ALL the chapters in the book about how getting rich is the result of doing things in a certain way. If you look at the scroll in the show notes, of this important syllabus, this was handed out in every seminar Bob Proctor conducted of The Science of Getting Rich and I mentioned it when we covered PART 3[iv] of Dr. Joe Dispenza's work. Until this year, I would say that I had no idea what the syllabus meant.  While I read it over and over again, from 1999 to this year, 2023, I couldn't explain it to anyone, until I understood the Quantum World connecting Dr. Dispenza's work and Dr. Dan Siegel's, to the “thinking space” that Wallace Wattles describes. Isn't it amazing how we acquire wisdom? I can easily look at the syllabus now and connect it to the Quantum World (where all possibility exists), where time and space collapses and you can literally BECOME your dream. But it took me some time to gain this understanding. Stewart Edward White explains how AHA Moments of Learning can change us, in his poem where he shares: “Curious how we acquire wisdom! Over and over again, the same truth is thrust under our very noses. We encounter it in action; we are admonished of it; we read it in the written word. We suffer the experience; we gradually assent to the advice; we approve, intellectually, the written word. But nothing happens inside us. Then, one day, some trivial experience or word or encounter stops us short. A gleam of illumination penetrates the depth of our consciousness. We see! Usually it is but a glimpse; but on rare occasions a brilliant flash reveals truth fully formed. And we marvel that this understanding has escaped us so long.” Do you know what I mean? Have you ever heard something you knew was important, but it just didn't click? (The same truth is thrust under our very noses)…until “one day some trivial experience or word or encounter stops us short.” You've got to know what I'm talking about here. Why do we see something NEW in the words we've heard over and over again, and weren't ready to hear them?  What is it that makes us “finally see…a brilliant flash…revealing truth fully formed?” What is this concept? Why does this happen? Have you ever heard “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear?” Just be OPEN as we cover this book. You might hear something you've heard over and over again in the past, but you've missed its significance somehow. Something that can CHANGE your entire world, and then those around you, once you've grasped and implemented it. I'm going to suggest it's the understanding of this syllabus that holds the “secret” to implementing the principles outlined in The Science of Getting Rich. If we can understand this syllabus, enough that we can LIVE IT in our daily life, then strange and marvelous things will begin to occur in our lives, with constant regularity. It will only be when we are LIVING these words, or “doing things in a certain way” that we will know we've got the meaning of this book. And what's crazy to me is that the meaning of this book has taken me 25 years to understand. I'm hoping that my AHA Moment will help YOU, where ever you are in the world, to “think” and “act” in this certain way, that Wallace D. Wattles wrote about in 1910. Welcome back to The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning (that's finally being taught in our schools today) and emotional intelligence training (used in our modern workplaces) for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to uncover the most current research that would back up how the brain. On today's episode #314 we launch into a Deep Dive on Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich. This book was first published in 1910, and while you will notice some examples will date the book (like in Chapter 6 Wattles picks something he thinks we might all want in our lives) when he says “If you really want a sewing machine..” as an example. While I'm sure there is someone out there listening, who would LOVE a sewing machine, if this example from 1910 doesn't resonate with you, then just pick something else that does to go in its place. You can also scan The Table of Contents and pick out some other places his book is not with the times.  Chapter 15 is called “The Advancing Man” and can be changed by thinking of this chapter as “The Advancing Person” to show that in modern times, men and women are equally advancing in their fields of work. While some of the examples Wattles picks will date the book to 1910, the main principles he writes about are timeless. What's interesting to me is that The Science of Getting Rich preceded similar success books such like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (1937) that we covered in January of 2022[v]. In the 100 years since its publication, The Science of Getting Rich has gone through many editions, and remains in print from more than one publisher. For today's deep dive, I'm not going to cover the book chapter by chapter. You can pick up the book and read it yourself, or you can listen to the entire book on YouTube. I'll connect these tools in the resource section. You can even buy the audio program of the seminar I used to sell, which is Bob Proctor's[vi] version of the book, through his company's website. Or you can Google the book and find the audio online, or some other people's versions and summaries of what the book is about. All of these ideas will get you the main concepts of this book, but for this deep dive, I'm going to cover the book the way Bob Proctor suggested we read it because it matters “how” we read The Science of Getting Rich for the principles to jump out at us in a way that we will NOT miss them. I don't want the ideas in these pages to escape you, as they have tremendous power. Not just for you, but for everyone YOU connect with in your future once you have begun to implement these ideas, and you are operating in “this certain way.” Today I'm not going to just read through the chapters, but I'll share the notes, insights and Aha moments I learned from selling this seminar (the first one was Denver in June 1999) with ideas, thoughts and suggestions to implement the timeless concepts in this book, into ALL OUR daily lives, so that these Success Principles can have the most impact on you and those you'll interact with in your lifetime. Let's Begin Our Journey into the Pages of Wallace D. Wattles: The Science of Getting Rich. I want to begin with the title…because the title alone could deter some of you who might think I'm going to cover a book that's about creating wealth so that we can go out and buy more things that will make us happy. This isn't at all what the book is about, nor what Wattles intended, but without an explanation, I'm sure many people would bypass this book and miss his intention. Let's Go Back to Denver, CO June 5th, 1999 This was the FIRST time I ever took this seminar, and thinking back, it was just 2 months after the Columbine Tragedy that shook our schools in the US to the core. I remember at this time I had just left the classroom, and wanted to find ways to help our next generation of students to “think” and “create” so after I had helped the attendees find their seats, I joined a table, opened up the pages the notebook that I'd carry with me 25 years later, and I began to study this “little green book” called The Science of Getting Rich. What's Your Money Mindset? Prosperity or Poverty? I remember before we even got to chapter 1 of the book, or any of the words Wallace Wattles wrote about, we spent the WHOLE first evening on our Money Mindset, making sure we knew the difference between a Prosperity Consciousness, versus Poverty Consciousness.  If you go to Amazon and type “prosperity consciousness” into the search field, you will see book after book written on the importance of having a money mindset. Now remember that many of our beliefs, biases and prejudices lie underneath the water in the iceberg analogy, so you might “think” you've got a prosperity consciousness, but deep down, under the water there, you've got someone else's programming (like a well-meaning parent who told you hey, money doesn't grow on trees) and it's going to take you some time to change these paradigms before you'll be able to see the results I'm promising are possible with this book. It's here we would cover the power of understanding our paradigms with Joel Barker's famous quote. “To ignore the power of paradigms is to put yourself at risk when exploring the future. Your future will look much the same as the past until you understand the power of your paradigms and what it takes to change them.” Sitting at the table at my FIRST SGR Seminar, in 1999, I knew I had a lot of work to do with my programming and thinking. The most money I had ever earned was my teaching salary, that was great money for someone in their early 20s just starting out, but here I began speaking and networking with others who had begun to put these principles into practice. I met people from all over the world at this seminar, from all different walks of life, and I could tell that we were all at different levels of thinking when it came to our prosperity mindset. I met truck drivers, teachers like me, business owners, inventors, writers, athletes and even some well-known celebrities, and everyone I met spoke about how they had over time, learned to create multiple sources of income with their work. We will cover this more in depth later, but I started to notice my paradigms around earning money, and saw them changing with each person I met.  I talked about some of the lessons I learned from others during these seminars on EP67.[vii] Once you have thought hard about your own money mindset, you will either resonate with me (someone who knew in those early days that I didn't have a prosperity mindset) or you'll connect more to others I'll speak about who very clearly did.  We are ALL at different places, but just recognize where you are, BEFORE we read the chapters of this book. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Easily put, it's because Giver's Gain. Our goal in life is to not be good little “go-getters” but see how we can go out and “give” back to others. We can't give to others if we have nothing to give, so learning these principles for ourselves is the FIRST step towards being about to provide more for others in your life.  I remember one of the first events I attended where we were to meet as many people in the room, and we were to ask everyone we met first “how can I help YOU” before even once thinking about what I needed for myself. It was a powerful concept that Dr. Ivan Misner[viii] talks about in his book Infinite Giving. I wonder, do you have a limit to what you would give someone else? Where is your money mindset when it comes to what you would give freely and openly to someone else? I'm sure we have all been conditioned by now to buy a coffee for someone in line behind you, and might even dish out $20 or $30 to give back to someone else. But would you give someone something really big, like a car? Now I'm not talking to Oprah here, as I'm sure we have all heard that she often gives away big presents to people. What about someone regular, like you and me? Or someone who's not a celebrity as we've already determined that two people can have completely different levels of thinking here. WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE A CAR? Just think about this for a minute. There's someone I know who owns a lot of cars. It's just his thing. He has always loved cars. He loves buying them, fixing them, and just seems to have an eye for this type of thing. One day I said to him “why do you need so many cars? Would you ever consider giving one away to your good friend who I know would love one of these cars?” He didn't say no, but looked at me with a strange look. Almost like he heard me, but didn't know what to say. We talked about it for a bit and he said he would keep his eye open for something his friend might like. I know it sounds strange, hey, would you give someone you know a car? But I asked the question, and that was all I needed to do.  A few months later, he came to me and said “hey, I entered a raffle, and the Grand Prize was a black Camaro Sports car.” I looked at him, and said “Don't you already have a Camaro (in red)?” and he said “yes, it's so weird, I won the exact same car I already own in black” and he showed me a photo of the car, and explained this wasn't a scam, but he had won this car, with a cash value of $90,000. Then he said “When I entered the raffle, I said a prayer that if I won the car, I would give one of my cars that I don't need to my good friend” (the one I had said would LOVE to have one of his cars). So he won the car, and was telling me that he was going to find a way to deliver one of his cars to his friend on Thanksgiving Day as a surprise. He picked a black IROC car that had meaning to his friend, and here's a photo of his friend with his new car over Thanksgiving weekend. When you learn to “think and act” in a certain way, strange and marvelous things will occur in your life, with constant regularity. This is just one example of someone who implemented the principles of The Science of Getting Rich and was able to give back to someone else immediately. Reminding us that: “God's gift to you is more talent and ability than you will ever use in one lifetime. Your gift to God is to develop and utilize as much of that talent and ability as you can, in this lifetime.   Steve Bow” Whether you believe in God or not, I'm going to share the principles Wallace D. Wattles teaches in his book, The Science of Getting Rich to show all of us that there is tremendous value in the pages of this book, and on our next episode, we will dive into Chapters 4, 14 and 7 (in that order) as we begin to implement the concepts in this classic book of “thinking” and “acting” in a certain way, that has the potential to change your life and those around you. REVIEW AND CONCLUSION: To review and conclude Part 1 of Wallace D. Wattles The Science of Getting Rich, we have not even opened the pages of the book yet. We have started with a thorough review of our mindset. Do we have a prosperity consciousness where we could conceive of giving something (like a car) to someone else, or do we live in a world of lack and limitation where we couldn't possibility see how to do this? My goal with this review of Wattles' SGR book is to show us that we ALL have the same ability, the ability to “think” and “act” in a certain way, and that once we have learned to think and act this way for ourselves, we can then turn our focus onto others and add tremendous value and abundance to someone else's life. This is what I think is the SECRET message held within the pages of this book, and I look forward to unravelling more secrets to “thinking” and “acting” in this certain way as we make our way through this book. REMEMBER: “There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which is its original state, permeates, penetrates and fills the interspaces of the universe. A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imagined by the thought. A person can form things in their thought, and by impressing their thoughts upon the formless substance, can cause the thing they think about to be created.” There was no accident that person won a car, after praying about it, with the goal of giving a gift to his friend. This happened exactly as Wattles describes it would in this book. Remember: Be careful what you think about, speak about, and pray about.  Your thoughts hold more power than you might think. I'll see you next week for PART 2 of this series. RESOURCES: YouTube Version of The Science of Getting Rich Audiobook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBGQERyTPWk The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles https://www.amazon.com/Science-Getting-Rich-Wallace-Wattles/dp/1490471766 REFERENCES: [i]Neurowisdom: The New Brain Science of Money, Happiness and Success by Mark Robert Waldman and Chris Manning Published Jan.17, 2017 https://www.amazon.com/NeuroWisdom-Brain-Science-Happiness-Success/dp/1682303055   [ii]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #66 with Bob Proctor  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/   [iii] https://wealthcreationmastermind.com/blog/summary-the-science-of-getting-rich/   [iv]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #310 PART 3 of our Review of Dr. Joe Dispenza's Work  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/decoding-our-thoughts-how-to-build-a-better-future-with-the-power-of-our-mind-part-3-review-of-dr-joe-dispenza-s-work/   [v] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #190 PART 1 Think and Grow Rich DEEP DIVE  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/think-and-grow-rich-book-review-part-1-how-to-make-2022-your-best-year-ever/   [vi] https://www.proctorgallagherinstitute.com/programs/science-of-getting-rich   [vii]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE 67 “Expanding our Awareness with a Deep Dive into Bob Proctor's Most Powerful Seminars”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/expanding-your-awareness-with-a-deep-dive-into-bob-proctors-most-powerful-seminars/   [viii] https://ivanmisner.com/tag/givers-gain/