BLOGS & RESOURCES
Higher Purpose Podcast 110: The Neuroscience of Purpose
At the start of her career as a 4th-grade teacher, Melissa Hughes was tasked with teaching children how to learn, but she had never herself been taught how the brain works. Today, as a neuroscience expert, author and speaker, she finds that we all want to learn how to make our brain work better. She joins host Kevin Monroe in a lively discussion about the neuroscience of purpose on this week’s show.
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Psychological Numbing
Melissa posted a video about psychological numbing on LinkedIn that caught Kevin's attention. He asks Melissa to describe psychological numbing and the effect it has on us. She explains, when something tragic happens over and over, we feel the emotional magnitude of it less and less. It's not that we don't care; but the more we are exposed to bad stimuli, the more desensitized we get. Sadly, as the number of victims in a tragedy increases, our empathy or willingness to do something decreases, because we feel like there is nothing we can do.
Start With One
When it comes to tragedies, big numbers are really abstract but one is a real person. Melissa says that fighting psychological numbness takes intention. The answer is to look for one person and make a difference in his or her life. Kevin adds that this one intentional act of kindness creates a ripple effect.
The Neuroscience of Purpose
We are much more positive and engaged when we have a purpose, Melissa says. It's a myth that we want everything to be easy; the human brain likes a challenge but it needs to matter to us. We find joy when we are in a place where we can be both challenged and positive. When we live a purposeful life, the limbic system produces more happy chemicals - oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine - instead of cortisol, the stress hormone. Understanding why it’s important to increase these happy hormones intensifies their benefits to us.
Make Gratitude Part of Your Routine
Gratitude works the same way as the happy hormones: the more you do it, the more you benefit. In fact, the best way to get out of a negative feedback loop is to intentionally break it with gratitude. Melissa starts and ends her day by writing in her gratitude journal. Doing so sets her up for a successful day. When you envision yourself being successful, she says, you alert your reticular activation system, also known as the brain’s bouncer, to let in any opportunity that will help you reach your goal. At the end of the day, think of one thing that you are grateful for. You will feel more empowered and more empathetic towards others. We are in much more control of our brains than we think.
Resources
Subscribe to Neuroscience Nugget
Melissa’s book: Happy Hour With Einstein
Kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com
Phone: 678-744-5111
Higher Purpose Podcast 102: Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
Everyone has had those moments where you have that feeling that everyone else has it all together, and you’re the only one who is completely paralyzed. Hopefully, you know that’s not true, and today, Kevin speaks with Kimberley Davis and Dr. Melissa Hughes, two women who deal with - and work beyond, the impostor syndrome.
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The Irony of Impostor Syndrome
More often than not, it is the people who are the most accomplished who suffer from impostor syndrome the most. Melissa talks about how high achievers aren’t always good at reaching out and asking for help. Kimberley agrees and talks about the steps that she’s taking to combat that hesitance to get involved in projects with others and collaborate professionally. That instinct to do it alone is a self-preservation instinct - but one that often backfires.
The Inner Critic
Melissa and Kimberley discuss what the impostor syndrome means to them: sometimes it’s when your inner critic takes over your confidence, sometimes it's about other people’s expectations - or what you think they are. Kimberley makes a powerful statement about giving yourself the right to do what you do, and take up the space you need. Melissa adds that it’s important to share what you’ve done and what you’ve learned without being afraid you’re speaking out of turn, or that you’re not ‘expert’ enough. When you chart your own path, you’ll often be faced with the impostor syndrome.
The Importance of Trust
Trust is a huge and critical part of the human experience. Melissa points out how important having trust for others is when it comes to achieving your goals. Kevin adds that the listeners to this episode are also being entrusted with this kind of vulnerability. Our early experiences can have a huge impact on our ability to trust, our bravery, and our confidence. They often supply the sound and tone of those inner voices that tell us we’re not good enough. Kimberley shares some challenges and experiences she has encountered when talking about her background, and what they have taught her about standing up for herself.
We’re Wired to Connect
Creating a Humans First culture makes a huge difference because it increases the sense of belonging we need to take risks and achieve great things. This matters at the organizational level, but on the personal level, we can’t afford to wait until we're in a fantastic culture - we need to take individual action to feel confident in ourselves. Melissa, Kimberley and Kevin discuss different strategies you can use to defeat your impostor syndrome.
Authenticity and Seeking Truth
It’s important to be aware of the impact you have on others and the world - how you show up and how you treat people matters. All too often, someone who is ‘just being honest’ may be telling the truth, but they’re often not being kind or helpful or supportive. None of us can control how other people will respond or react to us, and not having that control leads to impostor syndrome. Melissa points out that we often wouldn’t speak to others the way we speak to ourselves - and why not? Kimberley talks about faith, and the impact it can have on impostor syndrome.
The Jam Session ends with some final thoughts and reflections on impostor syndrome, connecting with others, and being mindful of the impact that we have on the world. One of the biggest fears leaders have is being exposed as an impostor - these feelings plague everyone on the path of achievement - and there is something validating about knowing you aren’t alone.
Resources
Kimberley Davis | onstageleadership.com | Dr. Melissa Hughes | Brave Leadership