Embrace Your Brain: Recent Episodes
Dr. Dee Joy Coulter
These short weekly brain bits give you fresh glimpses into how your mind works and how to develop its natural brilliance!
Society seems as likely to become enflamed and our planet has. Can we learn to lower our emotional temperature and interrupt our explosive emotions?
When disruptive events knock us down, we usually recover easily.But sometimes the illness, grief or chronic pain needs a miracle to stop spiraling.
What does it mean to go too far, to go past the tipping point. And what does that have to do with spiraling? Can that lead to chronic pain?
What drives chronic pain? Why does it happen to some of us? Is there any way to break that cruel pattern once it starts?
It’s only one lens for looking at life’s journey but it’s a remarkable one. Here’s a first look at these 7 year milestones and how to track them.
As adults, our brains could find the brain states to do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. But the aging brain takes more skill to operate well!
Our brain automatically switches connections as we take on different tasks. As we age, this can break down. But we can shift onto manual control.
Aging well can mean getting wiser, until it doesn’t. Sooner or later the deficit view can creep in, throwing our competency into question. See the handout for this podcast here.
Ever wonder where new ideas come from and how to invite them? One great way is to “drop it” – to erase the blackboard in your mind, and just wait.
Has your life become a race against time? Is it harder to truly enjoy being with friends? Let’s look at how we can really show up more often.
We’ve been exploring co-regulation for decades and just didn’t know it! Now that we have the science to document it, let’s see what it can explain!
We’ll explore the dramatic impacts of puberty on thinking and feeling. And we’ll discuss why some subject areas backslide so much more than others.
Between first and sixth grade, kids go through two major brain changes. If they miss out on school during one of those times, it’s quite a setback.
School and friends matter a lot during key growth spurts. Age 7 is one of those spurt periods. This rebroadcast looks at what’s up and how we can help.
What did they need during those two years? The brain, body and social growth have different timelines. Let’s track those timelines from birth to 7.
Some call ignorance a poison! Can we push it so far that it runs away with us? How can we dissolve ignorance when we discover we’re caught in it?
Do frustrating situations get the best of you? How about temptations? You may have faulty brakes. And that could lead to a big problem— looping!
Resumes are all about doing – our work life and credentials. In the upper decades, we need one about being—what we have become and what shaped us.
We can all become everyday creatives. But we may not face the same challenges to getting there! Our personal temperament may explain why that is.
Mature thinkers can invite a new wave of creative thinking in their upper decades. Creativity can become an everyday way of being, and great fun too!
Are blessings real? Is there an ideal state of mind for sending a blessing? Can everyone bless? How can we tell we are actually doing it?
In troubling times, we tend to narrow our awareness to witness less suffering. But we can choose to open our view and be useful instead. Here’s how.
Are most of your days a nice balance of fulfilling work, friends, chores and rest? Or are they often too full? Combing your calendar can help.
Are there folks you cherish? Are there moments with them you can remember vividly? Those are a special kind of memory. We’ll talk about them today. More about dear Bretta here.
Do your lists drive your life? We can get back in charge. If a task is work doing, we can match it to our brain states, our moods and our stamina.
More insights about our current quest –the nature of grace. New Question: Does your mind simmer ideas for you? Can you coax it to deliver?
Discover how praise can actually smother interest and passion. And yet, a well presented challenge can often inspire amazing growth and commitment.
Why do some comments make profound impacts on us? Do you recall some? Have you spoken them to others? Are they inspiring or discouraging comments?
When major events happen at key points in childhood they bookmark our lives. They shape us. Sometimes words can do that too. How does it work?
What is wisdom? Do we know it when we hear it? Who is likely to speak those pearls of wisdom? How can mature minds share their wisdom skillfully?
It’s not easy to pivot from knowledge to wisdom, from clear neuroscience insights to the vast and mysterious realm of the mature mind’s brilliance.
We know systems thinking is an advanced learning stage. But can it also be a state of mind? If so, maybe we could all learn to use it in our lives.
If you’re a good systems thinker, you’ve had a strange journey. It went from fun to hard work to ideas galore! So, let’s explore the hard work part, OK?
Toddlers, rocket scientists and tribal elders all do it. But most of us don’t give this great tool a chance. Why is that? And what’s it good for?
The kinesthetic channel has some amazing gifts but it’s weak in visual and auditory processing. This may make learning from books and lectures harder.
Is the auditory channel your favorite? Are you a word lover or a music lover? Each of these passions uses the auditory channel in very different ways.
Do you lead with your eyes? Is that your favorite channel? Your choice affects your interests, your talents and even how you choose to dress.
Embracing our brains can pay lots of dividends. But let’s leave the fine points to the researchers! Surely there’s a more useful focus to explore.
We looked at magical 4 and get it right 7. Now let’s look at solitary 9, and the almost great thinker 11-12. Each needs its own kind of comforting.
What’s your personal pattern? Do you flare up or stress out a lot these days? Learn what comforts YOU and helps you handle these challenging times best.
Our bodies can’t do simple arithmetic like balancing a checkbook, but they CAN sense the higher math behind complex patterns and systems in nature.
What’s going on when a whole day goes by and we have nothing to show for it. Have we been in a deeply creative zone or locked in a freeze response?
We have such clever ways to avoid big tasks! These strategies may help boost your productivity. Next week we¹ll present part 2 on procrastination.
Enjoy this month’s collection of fascinating puzzle pieces. We offer new pieces the first week of every month. They may even speak to what puzzles you! Listen to the podcast and download these references.
Society struggles to join those valuing freedom most and those seeking connection. Our brains work this out well and may offer fresh strategies.
As students finally head back to in-person school, many will struggle with increased stress and anxiety. Here are ways parents can support them.
Are these times getting you down? Use your matching skills to discover the joy of those around you. You can ride the waves of their enthusiasm.
Usually we offer coherent patterns, that arise when many pieces connect. This podcast offers fascinating pieces that may shed light on your questions. After listening to this podcast episode, download these references.
Cultivating a virtue is tricky. Too much push and it’s just a showy act. Too much hope for a payoff and it falls apart. Here’s how to do it well. After listening to this podcast, download this free guide – Virtue Practices.
How’s your willpower? Do you avoid getting started, rush through tasks, or never quite finish things? A simple will practice might really help!
As we learn to dial down our own anger, we calm the vibes we put out. As we do this, we help de-escalate the rage energy that threatens our society.
We aren’t born with “off switches” so how does will power develop? With so many ways to self regulate, what are your strongest and weakest controls?
We need to de-escalate the anger and hate that’s bubbling up in society. If we can tap into our slow emotions, we can help build a healing climate.
How long can you wait after gathering pieces to make connections? The most brilliant patterns can take time to show up. But when they do, sparks fly!