Arthur Brooks

And that's true because that will mute the activity in the HPA axis. It'll be inhibitory. A much better way is to lean into what it was supposed to be, which is fear. And so a good exercise for somebody who's anxious like you or me, I'm super anxious person, is to, at the end of the day, say, okay, five things are freaking me out, but they're kind of like ghosts. I'm not focusing on them.

I'm actually blocking out the real source of my anxiety. I'm just anxious. Number one, what actually is the source of my anxiety? What is the fear that that's based on? Make it real. Write it down. What's the fear? Step two, what's the worst thing that can actually happen? Literally the worst thing that's actually going to happen. Sometimes it's like, I'm going to die. But sometimes it's like,

I'm actually blocking out the real source of my anxiety. I'm just anxious. Number one, what actually is the source of my anxiety? What is the fear that that's based on? Make it real. Write it down. What's the fear? Step two, what's the worst thing that can actually happen? Literally the worst thing that's actually going to happen. Sometimes it's like, I'm going to die. But sometimes it's like,

I'm actually blocking out the real source of my anxiety. I'm just anxious. Number one, what actually is the source of my anxiety? What is the fear that that's based on? Make it real. Write it down. What's the fear? Step two, what's the worst thing that can actually happen? Literally the worst thing that's actually going to happen. Sometimes it's like, I'm going to die. But sometimes it's like,

The stock market goes to zero. Then what's the probability that's going to happen? We're smart people. What's the probability that worst case scenario is going to happen? And then step four, what would I do if that happened? Write it down because you would do something, right? Okay. What am I really worried about? That thing, that thing, that thing, you know, it's like, it's cancer, right?

The stock market goes to zero. Then what's the probability that's going to happen? We're smart people. What's the probability that worst case scenario is going to happen? And then step four, what would I do if that happened? Write it down because you would do something, right? Okay. What am I really worried about? That thing, that thing, that thing, you know, it's like, it's cancer, right?

The stock market goes to zero. Then what's the probability that's going to happen? We're smart people. What's the probability that worst case scenario is going to happen? And then step four, what would I do if that happened? Write it down because you would do something, right? Okay. What am I really worried about? That thing, that thing, that thing, you know, it's like, it's cancer, right?

What's the likelihood? Pretty low. If it happened, what would I do? I'd get treatment. I'd actually get treatment, right? And when you do that, you've turned your anxiety into fear and you'll shut it off. Why? Because you put it in its proper place. You've given it direction. You've managed it. You've actually managed your limbic system so your limbic system is not managing you.

What's the likelihood? Pretty low. If it happened, what would I do? I'd get treatment. I'd actually get treatment, right? And when you do that, you've turned your anxiety into fear and you'll shut it off. Why? Because you put it in its proper place. You've given it direction. You've managed it. You've actually managed your limbic system so your limbic system is not managing you.

What's the likelihood? Pretty low. If it happened, what would I do? I'd get treatment. I'd actually get treatment, right? And when you do that, you've turned your anxiety into fear and you'll shut it off. Why? Because you put it in its proper place. You've given it direction. You've managed it. You've actually managed your limbic system so your limbic system is not managing you.

Then go through the other four things and you'll sleep better. And part of the reason is because you'll calm your HPA axis. Your adrenal system will actually... And again, there's all kinds of other things to do, like box breathing and all sorts of physiological things. But this is a good, good way to actually cope with this so that you can continue to use that gift that you have.

Then go through the other four things and you'll sleep better. And part of the reason is because you'll calm your HPA axis. Your adrenal system will actually... And again, there's all kinds of other things to do, like box breathing and all sorts of physiological things. But this is a good, good way to actually cope with this so that you can continue to use that gift that you have.

Then go through the other four things and you'll sleep better. And part of the reason is because you'll calm your HPA axis. Your adrenal system will actually... And again, there's all kinds of other things to do, like box breathing and all sorts of physiological things. But this is a good, good way to actually cope with this so that you can continue to use that gift that you have.

But that gift isn't manipulating you in all sorts of ways that hurt your quality of life.

But that gift isn't manipulating you in all sorts of ways that hurt your quality of life.

But that gift isn't manipulating you in all sorts of ways that hurt your quality of life.

it's actually four so we went through four but there's not a stage five i counted wrong oh yeah okay right yeah oxytocin is that you know the connection phase yeah stage four yeah uh i was thinking about um relationships that have started to mature but are enabled by being long distance

it's actually four so we went through four but there's not a stage five i counted wrong oh yeah okay right yeah oxytocin is that you know the connection phase yeah stage four yeah uh i was thinking about um relationships that have started to mature but are enabled by being long distance

it's actually four so we went through four but there's not a stage five i counted wrong oh yeah okay right yeah oxytocin is that you know the connection phase yeah stage four yeah uh i was thinking about um relationships that have started to mature but are enabled by being long distance

Yeah, it's very problematic. And a lot of my students are going to be in long distance relationships because they're, you know, they'll form the pair. Some of them will pair up in business school and then one of them will work in San Francisco and one of them in London. And and, you know, it's eight hour time difference and they're not going to see each other that often.