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AMDG. Host of EWTN's More2Life podcast, founder of CatholicCounselors.com, and developer of the CatholicHÔM app Greg Popcak joins the Kolbecast to share his wisdom on making your home into a living, vibrant domestic church. “What does a domestic church spirituality even look like,” Dr. Popcak asks, “that would treat family life— the craziness, the busyness, the scatteredness of family life— as a feature, not a bug, of Catholic spirituality?” In today's episode, Dr. Popcak reveals his insights from years of counseling homeschooling families and parents, including some common pitfalls to beware of; explains what an “emotional bank account” is, and how to make sure your children's stay full; analyzes the scientific data on how to raise your children into faithful, Catholic adults; reveals where burnout comes from -- and how to treat it; unpacks what we mean by a “domestic church,” and how you can make your home into one; and shares his advice for those interested in pursuing a counseling career. Whether you're a homeschooling parent looking to deepen your family connection and faith, or a student considering a future career in counseling, this episode has something for you. Links mentioned & relevant: CatholicHOM (Households on Mission) CatholicCounselors.com More2Life Radio & podcasts Books by Dr. Greg & Lisa Popcak Related Kolbecast episodes: 188 Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres 250 Made for Relationship with Kenna Millea 66 Bonhomie à la Kolbe, which features a discussion on domestic church 254 Art & Laraine Bennett Offer Freedom from Anxiety Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey. We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey! The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!
AMDG. Clinical counselor Art and psychologist Laraine Bennett join the Kolbecast to discuss anxiety and mental health, the temperaments, their recent publications, and so much more. Art and Laraine talk about how anxiety can manifest dramatically differently in different people, and how to identify it in your life or in the lives of your children; explain what anxiety is and how to approach it; break down what NOT to do if you recognize anxiety in your children, and present helpful strategies you can implement in your home today; and the tie between scrupulosity and anxiety. Links mentioned & related: Anxiety: a Catholic Guide to Freedom from Worry and Fear by Art & Laraine Bennett and Lianna Haidar The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt Relevant Kolbecast episodes 176 The Agenda Is to Grow with Art & Laraine Bennett 226 Cultivating Habits of Excellence with Dr. Andrew Abela 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres 238 Accompaniment, Hope, Integration, and Resilience with Pat Millea 250 Made for Relationship with Kenna Millea Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey. We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey! The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!
AMDG. Join Bonnie, Steven, and Jordan as they unpack the famous Greek play, Oedipus Rex. The tragic play slowly unravels the story of the downfall of the infamous king, Agamemnon. From murder to unexpected Biblical connections, there is no shortage of material to cover. The team reveals everything you need to know about Oedipus Rex, from historical context to major plot points, including must-ask questions and conversation starters to share with your children or think about on your own. The team discusses what you should learn in a liberal arts education and the tools you can develop in high school to keep you a step ahead; the surprising subjects that aren't classical; how one saint changed the game in classical education; “the blue book” and what it teaches; and why the Humanities Series is the perfect segue into the Christmas celebration. Listen to the end to hear a special sneak peek into the next Humanities episode, introducing a classical epic that completely subverted the expectations around Greek culture and social views. Links mentioned & relevant: Five Misconceptions about the Liberal Arts from the CLT Journal René Girard, Theology, and Pop Culture, to which Jordan Almanzar contributed a chapter Conversations about Jimmy Mitchell's Let Beauty Speak Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Implementation of Ignatian Education in the Home by Kolbe Academy co-founder Francis Crotty Related Kolbecast episodes: in this Humanities series: 220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity 225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page 229 Take a Note from Homer 234 Adding Color to What Is Black & White 221 A Survey and a Starting Point 188 Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres 109 A Lifetime Venture with Dr. George Harne Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey. We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey! The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!
AMDG. Catholic youth minister and podcaster Pat Millea joins the Kolbecast to share his journey from parish work to beginning an integrated Catholic therapy center. Pat explains what “integration” means; how a good therapist should sit with their clients; what “admonishing the sinner” really looks like; why parents shouldn't protect their children from failure or suffering; how to guide children through discernment; the real meaning of self-care; why telling someone to “offer it up” can be unkind; how our day to day suffering can still be redemptive; and advice for beating the holiday stress. Listen to the end for a few special insights from Pat's years of ministry experience! Links mentioned & relevant: The Martin Center for Integration Episodes of the This Whole Life Podcast Jonathan Heidt's The Anxious Generation Related Kolbecast episodes: 227 Sensory Awareness & Problem Solving with Caitlin Russ 21 To Live Fully Alive 188 Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres 206 Loaves & Fishes Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey. We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey! The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!
AMDG. Do you want to build your own “super habits”? Founding dean of CUA business school and Forbes contributing writer Dr. Andrew Abela promises that “super habits” are the secret to a successful—and happy— life. He reveals the three steps to building “super habits;” highlights the connection between neuroscience and virtue; argues that good ethics are the most effective business practices; and paints an entirely new picture of classic virtues and success. Stay tuned to the end to hear details about Dr. Abela's upcoming book, Super Habits: The Universal System for a Successful Life. Links mentioned & related: Dr. Abela's book Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life Catholic University of America Dr. Abela references Pope Saint John Paul II's encyclical Centesimus Annus St. Thomas Aquinas on the virtues A Latin-English Dictionary of St. Thomas Aquinas by Roy J. Deferrari Follow Dr. Abela on Forbes.com, Substack, and Linkedin Relevant Kolbecast episodes 188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres 176 The Agenda Is to Grow -- Art & Laraine Bennett and the Temperaments 84 The Essence of Catholic Education and 157 Renewal, Revival, Variety, and Unity with Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society, publisher of the Newman Guide Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey. We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey! The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!
In this episode of The Larry Arnn Show, Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn interviews cognitive-behavioral psychiatrist and host of the Optimal Work podcast Dr. Kevin Majeres. The two discuss his lifelong fascination with the work of Thomas Aquinas, the field of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the nature of the soul. Learn more about Dr. Majeres' work at his website optimalwork.com This interview was conducted on June 20, 2024. Discover more at podcast.hillsdale.edu.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of The Larry Arnn Show, Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn interviews cognitive-behavioral psychiatrist and host of the Optimal Work podcast Dr. Kevin Majeres. The two discuss his lifelong fascination with the work of Thomas Aquinas, the field of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the nature of the soul. Learn more about Dr. Majeres' work at his website optimalwork.com This interview was conducted on June 20, 2024. Discover more at podcast.hillsdale.edu.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
AMDG. Looking back on four years and more than 220 episodes of the Kolbecast since its relaunch in August 2020, Jordan, Steven, and Bonnie reminisce on many memorable conversations and guests. Longtime and new Kolbecast listeners alike will find something of interest and inspiration from the array of episodes covered today. To sort through the library of Kolbecast episodes, visit this page on the Kolbe website and use the filters to find what you're looking for. Send your episode suggestions to podcast@kolbe.org Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant: 1 Kolbecast Relaunch 28 A Pessimist with Hope: A Conversation with Dr. Anthony Esolen 198 The Sign of Our Salvation: Dr. Gilbert Lavoie on the Shroud of Jesus 191 A Window into the Ancient World with Mike Aquilina 179 Translation Tug of War with Dr. Matthew Minerd 188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres of Optimal Work 167 Sanity & Sanctity with Johanna Seagren of Interior Kingdom 204 Habits of Ownership with Jacob Imam of The College of St. Joseph the Worker 175 A Both-And Approach with Dr. Jonathan Sanford of The University fo Dallas 84 The Essence of Catholic Education and 157 Renewal, Revival, Variety, and Unity with Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society 123 A Change of the Ages with Msgr. James Shea of The University of Mary, who is also featured on ep 213 This Is a Beginning 183 Gratuitous Gifts with Sherry Weddell 176 The Agenda Is to Grow with Art & Laraine Bennett Daniel Bielinski on 139 Glorifying God through Film and 217 Spoilers of a Sort 92 Protect, Guide, Prepare, Empower with Cathy & Nicolai Lund Charlie Mihaliak on 18 Homer and the Hunger Games and 208 A Mosaic of Experience as well as ep 213 This Is a Beginning 3 Dramatic Arts with Dolores Ann Mihaliak 8 Great Expectations with Colleen Carroll Campbell Dr. Don Prudlo on ep 39 Reclaiming the Territory, 40 Windshield Time, 78 The Kolbe Man Show, and 111 What Treasures Remain 36 Embrace the Fifth Day with Therese Prudlo, who also appears on several other Kolbecast episodes 74 Special Teams: Kolbe Dads 214 A Long View with Dee-dee & Charlie Mihaliak, parents of five Kolbe grads Dr. John Cuddeback on ep 166 Dwelling Together Richly 199 Do Good Work and Read Good Work with Jason Craig of Sword & Spade 60 Mission: Possible 61 Middle Ground 164 This Is Not a Kolbe Infomercial with Kolbe mom Lindsey 190 The School of Patience with Tricia Kavanagh, another Kolbe mom 209 Kolbe Kids Give Gems of Information with three of Tricia's sons, one of whom also appears on ep 213 This Is a Beginning 173 A Deeper and Greater Joy with Kolbe alumni transitional Dcn. Charles Ohotnicky and Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi 215 New School Year Starter Kit with Dean of Admissions Jeanne Anne Ford and Customer Support Supervisor Colleen Pilon 118 Odysseys in Catholicism 45 Grace Perfects Nature with Dr. Peter Malinoski and Jody Garneau Mrs. Elizabeth Hoxie appears on several episodes including 21 To Live Fully Alive, 89 The Master Blueprint, 112 Cura Personalis: The Intro, 136 Cura Personalis: The Sequel, and 213 This Is a Beginning 140 Burnout Happens 100 In the Beginning with Kolbe Academy co-founder Mrs. Dianne Muth 119 The Hope Throughout with Tom & Noelle Crowe 134 For Tinkerers of All Ages with Kolbe dad and HAM radio enthusiast Chris Ranck Kolbe Advising Manager Mrs. Ashley Massey's Kolbecast debut was episode 66 Bonhomie à la Kolbe 105 Not Just for Special Occasions with small business owner, Kolbe homeschooling mother, and etiquette expert Rebecca Czarniecki--known professionally as Mrs. B 162 Let Latin Conquer You 220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity 32 Reflections of His Light with two Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa who are Kolbe alumnae; one tells a sweet story of leaving some “Easter eggs” for her younger sibling to find. 207 A Privilege of a Lifetime with Kolbe mom turned advisor Elyse Williams 63 The Saints Speak for Themselves with the Holy Heroes parents (also Kolbe parents) Ken and Kerri Davison 150 A Family Apostolate: Liturgical Living with Kendra Tierney 116 Things I Would Tell My Students with Jordan Almanzar Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey. We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey! The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!
AMDG. Catholic psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres rejoins the Kolbecast for a discussion on anxiety: one of the most common, but also most misunderstood, emotions. Working from the definition that anxiety is an urge to avoid challenge, Dr. Majeres describes how he helps his clients live by ideals that they freely commit to rather than living under the control of their past; explains how you don't defeat things by forgetting them, but by building new things; and alludes to how mindfulness plus metaphysics equals contemplation. Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant: 188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges as Opportunities 185 Developmentally Appropriate Independence discussing summer camp Related links: Optimal Work Jonathan Heidt's The Anxious Generation Dr. Russ Harris's The Happiness Trap Dr. Eli Lebowitz's Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD and other resources Dr. Donna Pinkus's Growing Up Brave Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey. We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey! The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!
In this episode Dr. Kevin Majeres offers his thoughts on two recent books: Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, and Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier. Both books seek to tackle major questions such as screens and socials, overprotective parenting, anxiety and depression, and the appropriate response to those conditions. Dr. Majeres optimistically offers helpful and poignant suggestions to parents fully aware seeking to mindfully raise mindful children. Links: Optimal Work Optimal Work: How to Help an Anxious Generation Thrive Optimal Work: Is All Therapy Bad Therapy? Optimal Work: How to Discipline Your Children While Deepening Your Bond with Them Anxious Generation MIT Study on Facebook and Anxiety One, Two, Three Magic “Thomas Phalen” No Drama Discipline The Gardner and the Carpenter On McGilchrist and the Left Brain Bad Therapy Leonard Sax on Bad Therapy
This episode of Physically Spiritual is a conversation with Dr. Kevin Majeres about his journey to being a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School from St. Thomas Aquinas, the compatibility of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Catholicism, his reservations about uncritically applying the approach Dr. Conrad Baars, Optimal Work, flow, and contemplative prayer. Episode 123 Show Host: Andrew Reinhart Becoming a PATRON of my show! Go to physicallyspiritual.com Show Page: http://awakencatholic.org/physically-spiritual/the-power-of-vision-goals-passion-and-accceleration Catholic Apparel - https://catholicmerch.store Download the official AWAKEN App: http://theawakenapp.io Bring Nick De La Torre to your parish or event! - https://www.awakencatholic.church/mission
AMDG. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres, Catholic psychiatrist and co-founder of Optimal Work (among many other things), brings words of wisdom for the start of a new calendar year. Dr. Majeres explains that many truths in psychiatry and neuroscience are in line with our Catholic faith, in particular how some of the concepts of reframing, mindfulness, and challenge are important steps in our lives of walking with Christ. These ideas can be applied to the many facets of daily life to help us accept and meet challenges, grow in holiness and virtue, and help ourselves and each other along the way. Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant: 26 Truth in Person and 166 A Legendary Occasion with Kolbe alumna Aviva Lund 92 Prepare, Guide, Protect, Empower with Aviva's parents Cathy & Nicolai Lund 175 A Both-And Approach with Dr. Jonathan Sanford of The University of Dallas 45 Grace Perfects Nature with Dr. Peter Malinoski & Jody Garneau of Souls & Hearts 117 Figureoutable with Dr. Andrew Mullally of the Doctor, Doctor podcast For more information about Dr. Majeres and his offerings, visit the Optimal Work website. Find his podcast of the same name in any podcast app. His own website purityispossible.com The Kolbecast inaugural survey awaits your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us using this link. The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! Have questions or suggestions for future episodes? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.
Angel Scale Biotech: Learn More Kevin Majeres, MD, teaches cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) at Harvard Medical School. CBT is the gold standard to treat mental health conditions without drugs. CBT can also help with workplace issues such as burnout or anxiety. Dr. Majeres (pronounced Majors) has built a digital platform, OptimalWork.com, to improve the quality of work life. I learned really useful things from this interview. Sponsored by Purdue University entrepreneurship and Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish and Richardson. Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Dr. Kevin Majeres What OptimalWork is Solving "... what we are doing is bringing the insights of cognitive behavioral therapy out of the normal context, which is working with the cognitive behavioral therapist. We're bringing that to people in the setting of their work..." "... In fact, everything with regard to eating behaviors, there's abundant evidence that cognitive behavioral therapy works. At one level, you could see that the more someone was afraid of hunger, the more likely they would be to act on it..." "... This is why I think anxiety is the most central emotion to understand because anxiety is the urge to avoid challenge as challenge..." "... Cognitive behavioral therapy, I should say, it also tends to focus on what's happening right now. What are the emotions showing up right now? Where's the avoidance right now? Where does the reframing have to take place right now?" "... I think that we need more and more things like Endeavor OTC that are helping to identify what are the particular mental muscles that can be worked out, and whether these things are going to be universally applicable, or maybe there are certain subpopulations that that's exactly the workout that they need..." "... How would you compliment this Cybex machine for the mind with cognitive behavioral therapy?" "... That in a sense is like what we teach people at The Golden Hour, is how to just briefly strategize what you're about to do, lay out the steps in advance, think of how you want to be stretching yourself in these steps, calm your mind down for a moment, and then launch into it. Then you're going to have full traction, and then you get momentum. Flow is really just momentum in work..." Dr. Majeres' Psychiatry Journey "... anxiety is adrenaline waiting to be reframed..." Advice to the Audience Topics: discovering entrepreneurship, scholar
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres explains the science behind emotions, what they are, why we have them, and how they can be helpful rather than harmful.List of all our episodes with Dr. MajeresFor more links and resources, visit: https://doctordoctor.org/episode197encore/------www.spokestreet.comwww.cathmed.orgFacebook: @DoctorDoctorShowInstagram: @DoctorDoctorShowSubscribe:iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | RSS
As so many strive to find meaning and growth in their daily lives, Dr. Kevin Majeres joins Dr. Grazie Christie to discuss OptimalWork and ways to reframe one's mind to achieve greater success--and sanctity. Marking the beginning of Lent, Dave Reinhard talks about the Litany of Humility. Father Roger Landry also offers an inspiring homily as we journey through this period of penance. Catch the show every Saturday on EWTN radio at 7amET/5pmET.
Dr. Grazie Christie talks with Dr. Kevin Majeres about ways to overcome our anxiety and Dave Reinhard talks the litany of humility marking the season of Lent.
In this episode, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Mr. Charles McCants discuss the topic of paying attention. The ability to pay attention is a critical life skill, but not unlike prayer it is one of those things we tell people (especially students) to do, without really explaining how they go about doing it. We share some thoughts on the subject and suggests listeners also download these podcasts on the subject as well: The Heights Forum podcast with Kevin Majeres: The Freedom to Form Bonds: Kevin Majeres on Mindfulness and Attention The Art of Manliness podcast on focus and paying attention: Podcast #832 The Power of Unwavering Focus
#108: Join Dr. Kevin Majeres and Rashad Badr for a discussion on narcissism, an attachment to one's self-image, and how to attain true self-knowledge through humility. Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
In many quarters of contemporary society, busy-ness has become a sort of cliche greeting. To the question “How are you?”, the response, “So busy,” is often automatic. To borrow the words of Dr. R.J. Snell, many of us are conspicuously busy; and we wear our busy-ness as a sort of badge of honor, rooting our worth in our work. In last week's episode, we talked with Dr. Snell about work and acedia. This week, we round out that episode with a discussion of what is ultimately the point of work, namely leisure. While we may often think of leisure as ordered toward work—we rest so that we may work more—Dr. Snell explains how the reverse is nearer the truth, not only etymologically but also metaphysically. Work is for the sake of leisure, as instrumental goods are for the sake of intrinsic goods. As you'll hear, if we take the Eucharistic feast seriously on Sunday, then the rest of our days will be caught up into that Eucharastic feast. Monday will be different, for though we may be just as busy as before, our activity will no longer be so frenetic. It may even take on the mysterious rhythm of a divine dance. 0:20 Relationship between leisure and acedia 0:35 Acedia as frenetic busy-ness 1:05 Total work and workaholism 1:44 School as leisure 2:30 Leisure is not an absence of activity 3:02 Sabbath work and goods for their own sake 5:04 Modern education and its discontents 5:52 Education as the feast 6:35 Mistake 1: Not respecting students as sovereign knowers 7:56 Mistake 2: Olympian vision of education 10:55 Overscheduling as a form of acedia 12:05 Conspicuous busy-ness 12:45 A culture of having and doing, rather than being 13:35 Sin as loving a lower good at the expense of a higher good 14:40 Sloth as a flattening of the Sabbath 14:56 Where do we begin? 15:40 Suggestions for the Sabbath 17:00 Sabbath overflowing into the work week 17:30 A Eucharistic life 18:25 Another sort of leisure 18:50 Leisure and contemplation in the work-a-day world 19:20 Living in and approving of the good 20:11 Dance as contemplation 21:53 Backyard sports as contemplation 23:50 A good question for conversation 24:10 What can we do to enjoy our time with each other more? 24:25 Catching the little foxes Also on The Forum Work and Acedia: R.J. Snell on Our Original Vocation with R.J. Snell OptimalWork series with Kevin Majeres What Is the Difference between Free Time and Leisure? by Joe Bissex Additional Resources Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper In Tune with the World by Josef Pieper Portsmouth Institute Family, Leisure, and the Restoration of Culture by R.J. Snell Acedia and Its Discontents: Metaphysical Boredom in an Empire of Desire by R.J. Snell Summa Theologiae, II.2.35: Sloth by St. Thomas Aquinas
In this week's episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. Kevin Majeres, turning our attention to the importance of setting challenges and the way actions shape emotions. Drawing on these two topics, Dr. Majeres helps us think through how parents can best help a son that is struggling with an addiction of any sort. In particular, Dr. Majeres responds to the following questions: What is addiction? What is the neuroscience behind addiction? How does the particular addiction of pornography tie into this general understanding of addiction? How can we—or our sons—set challenges? How is flow the ultimate in self-mastery? For the adolescent boy struggling with addiction, what sorts of challenges are we trying to help him craft? How do we help him frame out the sort of challenge that will free him? As we hear from Dr. Majeres, true freedom consists in the ability to form a deep bond and faithfully maintain it over time. Rather than a mere negation—a freedom from some outside force—the deepest freedom lies in a freedom for, the ability to give of oneself to another. We might well say, then, that there is no greater freedom than the freedom of friendship, and that the greatest of friends is He who leads us in libertatem gloriae filiorum Dei: into the glorious freedom of the sons of God. Chapters 3:22 Defining Addiction 5:40 The Neuroscience of Addiction and the Divided Brain 8:12 When the Left Hemisphere Takes Over 9:15 Neuroscience and The Virtues 10:11 Addiction to Pornography 11:35 The Danger of Responding with Mere Rules 12:30 Freedom as the Ability to Form Faithful Bond 13:10 Growing Up Brave 14:27 How Goods are Communicated through Bonds 16:18 Parenting and Growth 17:18 Controlling the Controllable 18:54 The Physiology of Bonding 19:10 The Neuroscience of Ends and Means 19:55 Order in the Home 20:37 Focus on the Bond: People are not Projects 21:52 Growth in Mastery: Endless Dopamine 25:30 Types of Challenges and the Divided Brain 26:25 Quality Challenges 28:04 Left Brain and Addictions 30:12 Flow as the Ultimate in Self-Mastery 30:48 Love as a Form of Flow 31:20 Contemplation as a Form of Flow 32:25 Contemplation and Work 33:40 Helping Our Sons Craft Challenges 34:20 The Importance of Deep Listening 35:50 The Danger of Problem Solving for Our Sons 38:34 How Should Parents Approach Challenges? 39:23 Outcomes vs. Growth 41:10 Classical Virtue Theory and Neuroscience 48:05 OptimalWork Resources Additional Resources The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist Growing Up Brave by Donna Pincus OptimalWork on YouTube OptimalWork MasterClass Also on The Forum On Freedom and Phones with Alvaro de Vicente Why Boys Need to Be Given Freedom by Andrew Reed Freedom in the Upper School by Rich Moss
We have all experienced moments in which we are so immersed in a task that we lose track of time and performance feels effortless. For some, this may occur on the sports field; for others, in the classroom; and still, for others, in the performance hall. Yet, we have likely also experienced the opposite. For many children, the struggle for concentration is probably more prevalent. Last week, we began a three-part series with Dr. Kevin Majeres. We discussed what anxiety is and how parents can help their sons—and themselves—turn occasions of anxiety into opportunities for growth. This week, we are back with Dr. Majeres to discuss attention and mindfulness. In the episode, Dr. Majeres helps us begin to answer the following questions: Although we all may know the symptoms, what really is at the heart of attentional issues? What is a distraction? How does it differ from an interruption? What is occurring physiologically when boys experience attentional difficulties? What are ways to develop the muscles of attention? What are common practices that cause attention to atrophy? Is medicating a good way to approach attentional issues? What is mindfulness? What are ways for younger children to practice mindfulness? How does freedom relate to mindfulness? In the end, mindfulness offers us a doorway into two aspects of freedom that are at the heart of human flourishing. Learning to attend to our work at school helps us to attend to others in society. And, in both instances, learning to attend well is a pathway to love; for what we love captures our attention — what lover does not often find his mind turning to his beloved? — and that to which we attend, we can begin to love. If education is the turning of a mind, as we hear in the Republic, then mindfulness may well be fundamental to its success. For when one turns toward the truth, he will thereby be ready not only to recognize it but, even more, he will be prepared to fall in love with it. Chapters 2:05 Introduction and Review of Episode 1 3:55 What is ADD and ADHD? 4:38 The Two Halves of Attention 6:28 Training the Default Mode Network 7:28 The Neuroscience of Attentional Difficulties 7:53 Theta Waves and the Muscle of Attention 9:05 The Three Movements of Attentional Training 9:55 Medication and the Gray Matter 11:13 Are Attentional Difficulties a Fixed Trait? 12:02 What Weakens the Attention 12:45 Video Games 13:25 How Music, Reading, and Work are not like Video Games 14:53 Passive Attention 15:30 Memory and Attention 16:35 The Importance of Imagination 18:01 Strengthening Attention 19:15 Slowing Down and Mindfulness 20:08 The Importance of Order and Predictability 22:15 Silence and Work 22:50 How distractions differ from Interruptions 26:00 Mindfulness for Young Children 30:18 The Golden Hour 31:33 Strategies for a Helping a Reluctant Boy 33:16 Forming the Perimeter 37:33 Mindfulness and Interior Freedom 38:50 The Freedom for Personal Bonds Additional Resources What is a Golden Hour? with Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes Back to the Basics: An Intro to OptimalWork with Dr. Kevin Majeres OptimalWork on YouTube Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies by Simone Weil Also on The Forum From Anxiety to Adventure with Dr. Kevin Majeres Why We Need Exposure to Nature by Eric Heil Training the Hand to Train the Mind by Robert Grieving Three Guiding Principles for Homework by Rich Moss
Adorning our school's main hallway is a sort of charter for the Heights graduate which designates him as a man who is “optimistic toward life's challenges,” as one who “sees freedom as an opportunity to choose the good.” Fostering these ideals in each student is a central aspect of the school's mission. But, in a world that is increasingly filled with children suffering from anxiety, how—in very practical terms—can we help our students develop such an outlook on life? Last month, we heard from Mr. Alex Berthé on how parents can find peace in an anxiety ridden world. This week on HeightsCast, we begin a series of discussions with Dr. Kevin Majeres, lecturer at Harvard Medical School and Founder of OptimalWork. In this three-part series, we take a deep dive into three sets of challenges which are becoming increasingly prevalent in today's youth, and three mindsets or skills that can help us as parents and teachers to help our boys help themselves: Anxiety Attention Addiction Our first discussion with Dr. Majeres focuses on anxiety. Combining years of experience as a psychiatrist and drawing on research in cognitive behavioral therapy, Dr. Majeres teaches us both what anxiety is and what we can do about it. In the episode, we learn: The Foundation of Growth The importance of having a growth mindset—seeing yourself as capable of real improvement. Learning to reframe out of a fixed mindset. Anxiety Anxiety is adrenaline with a negative frame. Adrenaline is a performance-enhancing hormone, which is meant to improve one's capacities, whether physical or cognitive. All anxiety disorders come from seeing anxiety as a disorder; they are the fruit of seeing the effects of adrenaline as a problem. Children's preferences are often manifestations of anxiety coupled with avoidance; it is crucial to help people from a young age to stay with a challenge and not flee from anxiety. Reframing Reframing is deliberately finding the opportunity for growth in a challenge that one had previously viewed negatively. The way the body utilizes hormones depends on how we frame them; reframing is not mere wishful thinking. Start small; don't tackle the biggest challenge first. Cheerfulness Cheerfulness is often synonymous with courage. The family is where we first learn to see challenges as opportunities. If parents foster a smiling approach to challenges, then even a quick thought of them can become a reframe for their children. An essential component of The Heights School's mission is to help students discover the adventure hidden in every challenge they face. Having spoken with Dr. Majeres, we might phrase this skill as the ability to turn the adrenaline of anxiety into the adventure of everyday life. Chapters 2:35 Introduction to Possible Solutions 3:55 A Snapshot of Mindfulness 5:08 A Snapshot of Addictions 6:45 A Quick Biography of Dr. Majeres 9:55 What is Anxiety? 13:34 Helping Young People with Anxiety 16:58 Parents as Savvy Exposure Therapy Coaches 19:12 The “A” Word: Should We Name It? 20:06 Safety Training 23:23 Reframing from a Parent's Perspective 25:21 What is Reframing? 26:28 Game Theory 28:13 Double Exposure, Double Mastery 30:01 Breaking a Fixed Mindset 34:18 The Importance of Being Cheerful 36:50 Why Not to Complain 38:23 Learning to See Challenges as Opportunities 39:10 The Importance of Role Models 42: 55 Reframing Parental Anxiety Additional Resources The Golden Hour with Dr. Kevin Majeres Turning the Knots in Your Stomach into Bows by Jeremy Jamieson, et al. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck Also on The Forum “Learn to Turn”: Tom Royals on Parental Prudence Parenting: Patience or Optimism with Andrew Reed The Stressed Son: The Causes of Adolescent Anxiety with Alvaro de Vicente Be the Rock: Fatherhood During Times of Crisis by Kyle Blackmer Toughness for the Adolescent Boy by Kyle Blackmer
In this episode of The Catholic Gentleman, Sam and John are joined by a Catholic gentleman and psychiatrist of incredible wisdom and experience, Dr. Kevin Majeres. Kevin guides us in how to embrace our anxiety and challenges head-on as an opportunity for our sanctification provided by God. As GK Chesterton stated, "An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered." However, as nice as that sounds, it is in this episode that we learn how to practically use these challenges as God's will to help us become saints. In this Episode We Discuss: Reframing to Embrace Your Suffering Accepting the Challenges We Face and Growing in Sanctification The Cross is the Cure Complaining is a form of practical atheism And More Dr. Kevin Majeres MD - Born and raised in Minnesota, Kevin attended college at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, and then stayed in Dallas for medical school and residency training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. After graduation, he completed a fellowship with the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia, and became a certified affiliate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. He is also a member of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapists. He is currently on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, where he teaches a weekly class on cognitive-behavioral therapy to psychiatrists-in-training at Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (i.e., board certified in psychiatry). Optimal Work - https://www.optimalwork.com/ Professional Website - https://drmajeres.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres talks about anger, and what we can learn about it from the Bible, St. Thomas Aquinas, and neuroscience.
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres talks about anger, and what we can learn about the emotion and what to do with it from the Bible, St. Thomas Aquinas, and neuroscience. For more links and resources visit https://doctordoctor.org/episode246/ ------ www.doctordoctor.org www.spokestreet.com www.cathmed.org Follow us on Facebook: @DoctorDoctorShow Submit your question(s): Text (Holy Cross College text line) – 260-436-9598 E-mail – Doctor@RedeemerRadio.com Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes | Spotify | SoundCloud | RSS
#81: On November 1, 2021, the founder of cognitive therapy, Dr. Aaron T. Beck, passed away. Dr. Kevin Majeres trained with Dr. Beck and reflects on his significance, both for the field of psychology and for his own work.
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres talks all about sleep: how our brains and bodies work together to accomplish sleep, some of the things that interrupt our ability to sleep, and the most important steps to take to getting a good night's sleep. For more links and info visit https://doctordoctor.org/episode233/
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres talks all about sleep: how our brains and bodies work together to accomplish sleep, some of the things that interrupt our ability to sleep, and the most important steps to take to getting a good night's sleep.
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres gives a tour of the brain, including what it really means to be "right brained" or "left brained" and how we can channel both to be the best - and holiest - version of ourselves.
Featured Interview – Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres gives a tour of the brain, including what it really means to be "right brained" or "left brained" and how we can channel both to be the best - and holiest - version of ourselves. Optimal Work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5r1ccZ7Se-PXJb0W3ZmXew/featured Previous episodes with Dr. Majeres: DD #82 - Anxiety and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy https://bit.ly/DD82CBT DD #91 - Anxiety and Flow: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exercise and Brain Function https://bit.ly/DD91Flow DD #102 - Anxiety, Mindfulness, and the Science of Prayer https://bit.ly/DD102 DD #120 - Coping in the Coronavirus Crisis: Mental Health Tips with Dr. Kevin Majeres https://bit.ly/DD120COVID DD #140 – Anxiety is Prayer Waiting to Happen http://bit.ly/DD140AnxietyPrayer DD #160 – Specialty Focus: Psychiatry http://bit.ly/DD160Specialty DD #197 – Emotions: How They Can Help Instead of Hurt http://bit.ly/DD197Emotions DD #208 - Becoming the Best Version of Ourselves: The Science Behind Meaning and Fulfillment https://bit.ly/DD208Fulfillment ------ www.doctordoctor.org www.spokestreet.com www.cathmed.org Follow us on Facebook: @DoctorDoctorShow Submit your question(s): Text (Holy Cross College text line) – 260-436-9598 E-mail – Doctor@RedeemerRadio.com Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes | Spotify | SoundCloud | RSS
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres explains the science behind maximizing our potential and how mental work can help us all live more fulfilling and meaningful lives
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres explains the science behind maximizing our potential and how mental work can help us all live more fulfilling and meaningful lives
Featured Interview – Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres explains the science behind maximizing our potential and how mental work can help us all live more fulfilling and meaningful lives. https://www.optimalwork.com/ Previous episodes with Dr. Majeres: DD #82 - Anxiety and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy https://bit.ly/DD82CBT DD #91 - Anxiety and Flow: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exercise and Brain Function https://bit.ly/DD91Flow DD #102 - Anxiety, Mindfulness, and the Science of Prayer https://bit.ly/DD102 DD #120 - Coping in the Coronavirus Crisis: Mental Health Tips with Dr. Kevin Majeres https://bit.ly/DD120COVID DD #140 – Anxiety is Prayer Waiting to Happen http://bit.ly/DD140AnxietyPrayer DD #160 – Specialty Focus: Psychiatry http://bit.ly/DD160Specialty DD #197 – Emotions: How They Can Help Instead of Hurt http://bit.ly/DD197Emotions ------ www.doctordoctor.org www.spokestreet.com www.cathmed.org Follow us on Facebook: @DoctorDoctorShow Submit your question(s): Text (Holy Cross College text line) – 260-436-9598 E-mail – Doctor@RedeemerRadio.com Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes | Spotify | SoundCloud | RSS
Harvard psychiatrist, Dr. Kevin Majeres, joins Dr. Tom McGovern, and Dr. Chris Stroud, to share practical tips on living with anxiety, especially how we can use moments of stress and anxiety to grow in faith and unite ourselves to God in prayer. This episode encourages us to seek God in all that we are experiencing. […] The post https://spokestreet.com/lent13/ (Anxiety is Prayer Waiting to Happen – Doctor Doctor) appeared first on https://spokestreet.com (Spoke Street).
#44: When it comes to planning your day, there are two extremes: having no schedule at all, or having a rigid and constraining schedule. It is common to fall into one of these extremes, or perhaps go back-and-forth between them. Yet the most sustainable way of scheduling, the one that yields the tranquility of order, involves a personalized balance of non-negotiables and flexible work times. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss how to get your schedule to work for you.
#43: Our brains naturally strive to maintain a predictable status quo. The upside of this is that we conserve energy and form habits. At the same time, it can lead to plateaus — in our skills, personal growth, and relationships. It can even cause our dealings with others to become rote, and we developed a fixed and superficial perception of those around us. Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes turn to the work of renowned neuroscientist Karl Friston to understand better the importance of challenging this status quo.
#42: If you're aiming to work at your best, constantly operating at 100%, won't you quickly become exhausted? In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss how to make intense workdays sustainable by introducing periods of intense rest. Intense rest not only helps you recover from work, it also helps you consolidate the learning and growth you attain while working.
#41: If someone around you has some defect that annoys you, it can cause a kind of obsession that develops into a critical attitude towards the very person. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss how this annoyance develops, what it means for the relationship, and what to do about it.
#40: The New Year provides a unique opportunity for a fresh start. To make the most of this opportunity, approach your resolutions with hope and creativity: hope so that you strive for the highest things (ideals, bonds) and creativity so that you can strategize how to achieve them. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss a broad array of questions related to New Year's resolutions.
#38: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss some questions received by email about service. Working with a spirit of service means shaping yourself so that you're the kind of person who is ready to give cheerfully to all those around you. Although this requires that the actual work you're doing is helpful, the essence lies instead in the way you do it: with a willingness to form and prioritize bonds with those closest to you.
#37: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss how to approach your repeating tasks in a new and better way. It comes down to three steps. First, identifying a goal to aim for, either in your way of working or what you will accomplish. Second, crafting a strategy to achieve this goal. And, finally, laying out the steps according to the strategy. You can use these steps whenever you are seeking to improve your work or change well-established habits.
#36: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the importance of rising early to meet the challenges of the day head-on. They present an email from someone who uses OptimalWork asking for advice: whether she should adjust her schedule to be much earlier to accommodate a morning workout. They apply OptimalWork's approach to this question and examine the results it yielded.
#35: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the question of worrying. Worrying is when you have some bad outcome that you continually think about how to avoid. It is one of the top reasons people get stressed out, experience burnout, and feel fatigue. Dr. Majeres helps clarify the precise nature of worrying, as well as steps to take to overcome it.
#34: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the “cloud of unknowing.” Whenever you are on the edge of your understanding, you will experience a kind of cloud, in which the way forward is unclear. This cloud can be daunting, and you may try to leave it for a safer path — but in fact it is a condition for innovation. Dr. Majeres gives advice on how to advance through the cloud toward discovery.
#33: In this episode Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the differences between applying OptimalWork at home versus a more controlled work environment like an office or library. Certainly, it may be easier to perform an uninterrupted Golden Hour in a more controlled environment. Nevertheless, since OptimalWork is all about learning how to work for the highest motives, namely, for the sake of the bonds with those closest to you, in important ways our approach really applies most easily to working at home.
#32: Perfectionism is a commonly-used label, but it's often not clear what it means. In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres discuss the issue of perfectionism, its causes, signs, and effects. And they show how OptimalWork's approach is the perfect antidote.
#31: In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres dive further into the concept of “theta locking,” a pattern of brain activity that occurs when we recollect our attention. What it shows is that mindfulness is not a fixed trait, but a kind of muscle that we can develop through practice. Our ability to sustain our attention is something that can be directly practiced in every time of meditation. Such practice leads to the greatest sustained intensity of our attention in work.
#30: In this episode Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres discuss the phenomenon of mindfulness and how you can use it to strengthen your attention. There are three key skills of attention that are developed through these exercises: monitoring your thoughts, disengaging from distractions, and redirecting your attention to the task at hand. When we deliberately train, through both physical exercise and attention exercises, we improve the "hardware" of our brain, so that it can perform better.
#29: Procrastination always involves a double-deception. First, you get deceived by the thought of all the effort the task will take, as if that is what you face when starting the task. Next, you deceive yourself by putting it off, even though you know it's better to get started. In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres take a deeper look at the underlying causes of procrastination. Understanding the cause reveals the path to overcoming procrastination.
#28: If you're trying to build a new habit but get frustrated by failure, you might think you need more discipline, more willpower. In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres discuss the real source of constancy in struggle and growth: sincerity. Sincerity about your motives leads to a willingness to sacrifice particular satisfactions or outcomes in the pursuit of ideals. It thus provides the sure foundation for growth and change.
#27: You may have wondered how to apply OptimalWork's principles to "passive" activities like attending class or meetings. This week, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres discussed how to actively challenge yourself in these situations, in particular, by doing a "post-pre flip" to completely change how you prepare for them.
#23: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the neurological phenomenon of thalamic gating: the way your brain selectively filters sensations based on what you act on. By changing your behavior — for example, your response to pain or fears — you can train your brain to simply stop noticing these triggers. The key conclusion is that being willing to suffer in the end reduces suffering. This episode presents the neuroscience to support this claim.
#21: A major new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry highlights three behavioral factors that substantially affect the likelihood of depression. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the study, as well as depression in general, and connect it to OptimalWork's approach.
#17: How motivated are you to tackle the challenges of the day? For many, motivation comes and goes, which means it's not really under your control and, more importantly, it's not really coming from you. You get motivated by things, rather than you motivating yourself to do what's best. Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss what motivation really is, what the only true stable source of motivation is, and how to cultivate it so you can always feel motivated to give your best.
#16: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss motives and priorities. It's common to see outcomes — like getting into the best school, securing a well-paying job, etc. — as ends in themselves. This approach has major costs: if you don't achieve the outcome, you get frustrated and double down on your outcome-focus; if you do, it just leads to you raise the bar and pursue an "even better" outcome. The alternative is to treat outcomes as means, not ends in themselves. They are a way to help you stretch yourself and ensure that you're serving others. You can tell you're being controlled by a desired outcome if you often sacrifice things — like relationships — that should actually be served by the outcomes you pursue. This discussion was inspired by the following question: "If you posit that there's a lot of service in most careers and that you can do them with love and that you can learn to focus and flow in most of them, then why choose one over another if it's not for the increased paycheck, prestige, etc.?"
#15: In this episode Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the nature and cause of anxiety. Understanding how anxiety works and what it really is — which is quite simple — can help you transform your approach to it. Crucially, as Dr. Majeres explains, anxiety is not a disorder or something to be avoided. Anxiety can be transformed into your best performance by following three steps: reframing, mindfulness, and engaging the challenge. You can follow these three steps before a time of work, turning it into a Golden Hour of focus and training yourself to embrace anxiety and use it to your advantage.
#13: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss the different roles of the two hemispheres of the brain ("left brain" and "right brain"). Psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist re-popularized this paradigm in his 2009 book The Master and His Emissary, grounding it in neuroscience and using it to explain aspects of psychology, society, and culture (in contrast to previous pseudo-scientific versions of the theory). The approach has profound implications for understanding how to work at your best — with creativity and motives of service.
#11: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the default mode network, a network of brain regions that have profound implications for the way we work and live. The default mode is involved when you get distracted, but it can also be trained to help you focus better.
#9: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss the Golden Hour, the central method behind OptimalWork. A Golden Hour is like exercise for your work, when you deliberately practice working at your best by preparing for your work with three steps: reframing, mindfulness, and challenge. The Golden Hour can be practiced at www.optimalwork.com! Some of the questions we discussed are: What is a Golden Hour and how do you do one? Why did we develop the idea of the Golden Hour? What's its origin and purpose? Will the Golden Hour help me find meaning and purpose in my work? (Hint: yes!)
#8: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss the Inventory, one of the primary tools of OptimalWork. The Inventory is a 24-item questionnaire, a unique measure of how much you're embracing challenge and growing right now. Some of the questions we discussed in this video are: What's wrong with the idea of temperament and personality tests? What is the Inventory and what's unique about it? How does it differ from other personality tests? How did the Inventory develop? What does my Inventory score mean? What's the best way to use the Inventory?
#7: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to "materialize your ideals," that is, how to bring them to life: into reality, into your actions. The key to this is the practice of order, intensity, and constancy: three ideals that you can perfect in each hour of work, and that ultimately shape your practice of any other ideal. An example we discuss in the video is kindness. How can you bring kindness to life? First order: think about how you're going to practice it, what situations; get a good picture of what it will look like. Then intensity: apply yourself in a particular situation with your whole attention. Then constancy: challenge yourself over the course of, say, a conversation to look for more opportunities to practice kindness. This is key to understanding a saying we like to repeat: the way you work is the way you live.
#6: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to get traction from distraction. Kevin explains our unique theory of distractions, and draws out the practical conclusions: how to prevent them, and, if they do come, how to find the opportunity for shaping yourself and practicing ideals. Some other topics that came up: What to do if you wake up before your alarm goes off. Good use of technology/phones
#5: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to gain victory over tiredness - in the context of afternoon tiredness, naps, and missed sleep. The discussion was mainly inspired by the following questions: If every time I feel tired I jump on the treadmill will that amplify the feeling of tiredness because I am acting on it? Can you address the advisability of the short afternoon nap? How do we get back on track of our sleeping schedule, once we had left it?
Dr. Kevin Majeres, co-founder of OptimalWork, gives the 11 best reasons to jump out of bed the moment your alarm first sounds. This practice is one of the keys to personal transformation and growth (along with a daily Golden Hour).
#4: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss the "illusion of simultaneity" and how to get effective sleep. The discussion was mainly inspired by the following comment: One question that I have for you, is how can I begin to regulate and improve sleep hygiene? In this time of quarantine, because there aren't specific deadlines at my job, I have the luxury (if you can call it that) to sleep in and fall asleep late.
#3: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss what to do when you feel overwhelmed, how to make a schedule, and how to prioritize. The discussion was mainly inspired by the following question: The question I have is about decision paralysis/decision fatigue. I have been overwhelmed by all the projects I could do, and in the choosing, I usually fatigue out and then proceed to watch Netflix. How can I overcome decision paralysis?
#2: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to aim for ideals in difficult relationships, and how to respond to negative emotions. The discussion was mainly inspired by the following comment: I am on quarantine. Three of the people I live with are insufferable characters. They hijack conversations, aggressively contradict people who are just sharing information (not even opinions) and needlessly complain. I'm not anxious of getting covid-19. That virus cannot hold a candle to the virulence of my housemates.
#1: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to develop resilience in this new work environment. Here are the questions we answered: How can I ensure that I will persevere in good work habits for weeks or even months? How should we maintain a distinction between work and family life? (E.g., thinking about work during family time; getting distracted with family when I should be working.) How do I choose what to do to stay productive, given that I have few serious responsibilities?
Over 40 million adults in the US suffer from a type of anxiety disorder. In fact, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, not just in the US, but in the world.These are some pretty damning statistics…Today, I'm here to talk about those statistics, and more specifically, anxiety and its root cause and how to support a good sleep routine through a healthier lifestyle. To discuss this, I've invited an expert on my podcast, the amazing Dr. Kevin Majeres.Dr. Majeres is a board-certified psychiatrist and lecturer at Harvard Medical School. He is also one of the world's leading experts in cognitive behavioral therapy.In this episode, Dr. Majeres and I will be discussing how anxiety can be an opportunity for personal growth, how to manage stress and procrastination in your day-to-day life, and the potential links between sleep disorders and mitochondrial function.Dr. Majeres will also be sharing with us a few easy techniques to improve the quality of your sleep, why established morning routines are the secret to a healthier lifestyle, how to help your brain wind down before bed, and more.Are you ready?Tune in now.Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)What is anxiety? (02:39)How to deal with chronic anxiety (06:39)Are you avoiding your own thoughts? (11:27)One small step towards healing (15:32)How to prepare your body and brain for sleep (21:24)How much sleep do you really need? (26:06)Repairing your sleep 101 (36:15)Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about Optimal Work: https://optimalwork.com/about-us—➡️ (FREE TRAINING) Learn the 3 secrets to balancing your hormones naturally: https://freehormonetraining.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=podcast—