The Dr CK Bray Show

You will notice it when you attend your fifteen or twenty-year high school reunion. Look around, and you will see a big difference in the trajectories that your former classmates have taken. The years seem not to be as kind to the men as they have been to the women. Many of the men are overweight, out-of-shape, and have a look that tells us their life has been rough. The giveaway is always the dead look in the eyes. What causes this? Soft Suburban Dad Syndrome. That is the topic of this week’s Dr. Ck Bray show. Brett & Kate McKay of the Art of Manliness website and podcast wrote an article called, “Are you suffering from Soft Suburban Dad Syndrome?” (you can read it here https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/health/soft-suburban-dad-syndrome/) Dr. Bray liked the article so much he wanted to share it with you and discuss a few of his favorite self-examination questions. The complete questionnaire is 50 questions, covering four topics of Physical, Mental, Social and Miscellaneous. Find out if you are suffering from SSDS and what you can do about it on today’s show.

In today’s episode of the Dr. CK Bray Show, Dr. Bray shares the latest and greatest research to come out in the last month. Dr. Bray discusses the topics of what foods you should be eating to ensure better cognitive performance, how to change your perception of stress, romantic passion related to how tan you are, and finally, how exercise lowers your risk of developing anxiety. (And we always wondered why Dr. Bray was so tan! Riddle solved.) QUOTES BY DR. BRAY “I’m a 10 out of 10!” “If your love life is suffering, it’s time to go out and get some sunlight!” “We create our own reality.”

This week Dr. Bray continues discussing topics worth thinking about in part 2 of his “thinking” series. We all need a Walden pond at certain times of our lives where we can think about what is most important, what we need to change, and what is going well in our lives. Today Dr. Bray discusses how we often show up when life becomes stressful, or we experience hurt, betrayal, or failure. Switching gears, Dr. Bray talks about Victor Frankl’s brainchild of a Statue of Responsibility to be erected in San Francisco. (Its twin statue is the Statue of Liberty). Dr. Bray then closes out with five quick thoughts on making sure you have the correct perception. QUOTES BY DR. BRAY “We must feel our feelings before we can relate to the situation and emotion of the others involved.” “How easy it is to tear down, but how difficult it is to build up.”

Sixty percent of our thoughts are exactly the same as yesterday! Dr. Bray wants to change that and dedicated this podcast to providing a few different topics to think about and talk about. Dr. Bray starts with your face and moves to other topics, including connecting in the new world of work and how your perspective is constantly creating your reality. This podcast will provide excellent dinner conversation and get your brain thinking in a new direction.

We live in a world that is so different from any previous generation. The iPhone in your pocket is 120 million times more powerful than the computer guiding the Apollo 11. With increases in technology and luxury, we are also seeing changes in well-being and fulfillment. Less people are able to find meaning and feel fulfillment. This podcast discusses why that is, and what habits you can create to find greater purpose and meaning in your life. QUOTES BY DR. BRAY "It is amazing how many people have turned off their emotions.” “The things that have the power to cause us the most pain are the things we care the most deeply about.” “As you fight, run, avoid, you become distant from your own life.” “Don’t do dumb things! They will make life difficult for you.” www.adaptioninstitute.com

SHOWNOTES Dr. Bray has received several requests to discuss careers after a pandemic and numerous other workplace changes over the last year. Is it wise to change jobs? What about returning to the workplace after being away 5, 10, or 15 years. The workplace landscape has changed, and organizations are looking for individuals who can help them grow and succeed. This week learn about what companies are offering individuals to come back who have been out of the workforce for several years. Dr. Bray also shares insights on how to best navigate a new organization. **Be sure and read Carol Cohen’s article in HBR September/October 2021 Issue. QUOTES BY DR. BRAY “You don’t care what people think because you know what you value, what’s important to you and and you know what type of person you want to be.”

Changes over the last two years have caused individuals to contemplate their careers. Is this career something I want to do for the rest of my life? Do I find meaning in my career? Do I even like my job? When life slowed down, the brain sped up, and people took time to think about their lives. Enter the “Great Resignation!” In early June, the Labor Department released a report revealing that a record four million Americans had quit their jobs in April alone. Then there is the idea of career downsizing. The big question of why we work so hard for non-essential things led to the desire to voluntarily reduce work hours to emphasize other aspects of life. Dr. Bray discusses both topics and shares insights into how your career may be evolving. **Be sure and read Cal Newport’s article in The New Yorker titled “The Great Resignation” Aug 2021. Dr. Bray shares some of his fantastic thoughts and ideas in this podcast.

Today’s podcast covers the latest and greatest research which has been recently published. Portions of the research provide insights into improving your life, while other research provides a strong dose of daily humor. Dr. Bray shares information on one of the best ways to improve your child’s brain function; he shares how sleep significantly impacts your memory and why it is essential to take breaks while learning. Dr. Bray also shares why your narcissistic neighbors or co-workers tend to be aggressive and violent! Yes, you read that right; new research suggests that regardless of gender, age, or country of residence if you are narcissistic, you have a significant risk factor for aggressive and violent behavior. The good news is individuals with narcissism are not particularly picky about how they attack others. Learn the true definition of narcissism and why researchers expect this to get worse! Don’t miss this 13 minute podcast. (Dr. Bray kept a podcast under 15 minutes!)

It is time to clear up a few common misconceptions about the brain and neurotransmitters. What is serotonin, and how does it work? What is dopamine, and how does it affect me? What occurs in my body and brain if I am low on any of these neurotransmitters? Today, Dr. Bray answers these questions and provides a deeper dive into how dopamine and serotonin have an incredible impact on your thoughts, behaviors, and perceptions. Learn what is floating around in your head. Thanks to James Lee for his words and his book, “Better Living through Neurochemistry.” Also, to Adam Gazzaley and his book, “The Distracted Brain.” Also, thanks to Harvard and their medical journals and commentaries that take complex concepts and make them easy for everyone to understand.

Fear is a topic that most individuals don’t like to discuss. It makes us uncomfortable for several reasons, but today Dr. Bray takes us into the world of Fear and Courage providing the neuroscience and the impact courage and fear have on our lives. Learn how fear is related to anxiety, how fear shows up in our brains and why having courage is a key trait everyone needs to learn. Be inspired and change how you think by listening to this week’s podcast. Researchers *Ralph Adolphs *Kay Tye *J. Peterson QUOTES BY DR. BRAY “Anxiety and fear are different.” “Fear is a standard condition of our existence.” “Map out your journey for your adventure!”