In this thought-provoking episode of "The Neuro Edge," we delve deep into the intricate relationship between identity and addiction recovery with special guest Scott Ross, who recently celebrated 10 years of sobriety. Join us as we challenge the conventional wisdom that once you're an addict, you're always an addict and explore how addiction can consume one's lifestyle.

Discover the power of shedding the victim mindset and taking control of your recovery journey by setting your own terms. Learn why commitment isn't just about staying busy but being deeply invested in your sobriety. We'll also discuss the critical concept of building trust with yourself, a cornerstone for personal empowerment.

Through engaging discussions and practical insights, we'll help you rethink your approach to recovery and inspire you to embrace a new, empowered identity on your journey towards a fulfilling, sober life. Tune in and unlock the keys to redefining your recovery, one step at a time.

Hardworking parents are the backbone of a family, a community, and nation. They are the unsung heroes in the trenches of the constant juggle of endless responsibility. The relentless flurry of activity leads them directly into what we call the “Overstretched Parent Trap”.

It describes the daily life of a parent trying to navigate life in a society that glorifies the toxic hustle culture. Their attention pulled in a million directions. A lifestyle that praises busy over progress, motion over moments, and forever in a reactive state of overwhelm and exhaustion. Emotionally combustible, stressed out, finding themselves waking up tired. ALL THE TIME…Fatigue is an understatement and anxiety is their daily companion to their morning coffee. Seemingly calm on the surface, but brewing underneath is the restlessness you can’t shake dangerously on the brink of total burnout…

In the midst of this hurricane of hustle, confusion, and frustration with unfinished tasks and a laundry list of to-do’s, how does one find the time to invest in your own self-care? The biggest challenge we’ve seen with our parent clients is the lack of time. But, the question we pose is this…. Is TIME really the problem??? Or maybe it’s our perception of TIME and how to leverage it..

In the movie “Wonder Woman” a military pilot lands in this unknown territory and encounters Wonder Woman herself. She notices the strange thing in his possession and asks about it. He says, “It’s a watch. It tells time. Let’s me know when to eat, sleep, wake up, work.” And she responds, “You let this little thing tell you what to do…”

Her words ring true in terms of our relationship with time. It can bind, control, and rule us if we let it…

Time is simply a construct. A sequence of events that occur…In this episode we want to give you some key insights from our years of experience, research, and the lives of our clients to help you make TIME an ally and friend. Not a prison of stress and overwhelm that dictates your life.

When you can break free of your old perceptions of time, align your daily activities with what matters most, and recognize when the patterns of stress responses rise up, you will have begun your new journey into “Time Freedom”. Bringing new life into your days, richer connections with those you care for most. Finding the joy, fun, inner peace, and fulfillment you’ve been longing for. So let’s dive in... 

Continuing our talk on the TERA brain principle and how Rank plays a major roll in determining student engagement. Rank is not so much about formal titles like teacher and student. It deals more with how power is played out in the classroom. Your student’s brain is asking ‘“Are you making me feel greater or lesser then?” The more diminished they feel, the less secure, the more they ultimately shut down and disconnect. The human brain learns from Sociality. That is the need for social belonging—for seeing themselves as connected, valued and part of the tribe.

We also dive into the essential use of FAILURE as a key tool by positively reframing through using a teacher-guided peer instruction strategy to go along with your class lesson plan. Applying a 3 step process in using a form of concept inventory based on your subject matter. CONCEPT INVENTORY is a testing strategy designed to help determine whether a student has an accurate working knowledge of a specific set of the concepts that you’re teaching. You’ll learn this quick 3 step process to take the classroom experience beyond the typical and make it more alive, engaging, experiential, and relevant to your students while broadening their critical thinking skills. Understanding these concepts will not only help you in the classroom by sparking more curiosity and engagement with your students. It’ll further help you to continue your understanding of how your own brain and nervous system works in order to improve your own brain health and personal wellness. Empowering you to experience life with a deeper sense of joy, fulfillment, and self-discovery.

On today's episode we dig further into the second letter of the TERA principle:  EXPERIENCE. 

We continue this journey into understanding learning through the lens of the brain and nervous system with our Positive Expectation Framework.   This simple, 3-part formula will not only boost your ability to impact students but also transform YOUR day to day experience of life and relationships across the board. 

Experiential Learning addresses the variety of learning styles students best respond to in a classroom environment. Standing behind a desk and in front of a chalkboard creates a very transactional relationship between a teacher and their students.

The latest research indicates that classroom engagement is directly related to the utility of the subject matter in the eyes of the student and how the teacher ignites a complete sensory experience to activate the mind, body, and emotions.

In this social media Instagram TikTok world our kids live in today if a teacher resists adapting their style of instruction to a more interactive and dynamic approach, you will be left frustrated and ineffective, with a room full of disconnected and checked out students.

But, with a few key tools and insights into the inner workings of the brain and nervous system as it relates to the realm of teacher instruction and effective pedagogy you’ll be well on your way to igniting the minds of your students with greater levels of confidence and fulfillment.

Resources:

Book: Deviate

Author: Beau Lotto

The pandemic put a major strain on the mental health and well-being of all teachers, adversely affecting the student-teacher relationship in classrooms throughout the country and the world. Connection and engagement between teachers and students is at an all time low. Lack of social interaction and communication has accelerated the level of frustrations teachers are experiencing on a daily basis. 

How do you get your students not only to engage with you but create deeper relationships such that you can have greater impact on your students (many of which of are going through personal challenges)? How do you make your own mental health and self-care a priority with so many demands on your time and energy. Administration and faculty have increased the expectations resulting in increased teacher burnout and even contributing to a massive exodus of educators on a national scale. 

This podcast is for those of you stuggling teachers who still have passion for empowering the next generation and yearn to become life changing educators. Establishing tools to combat your stress and burnout are key to unlocking the best version of yourself. That powerful yet little known key lies in your understanding the connection between your nervous system function and your ability to consistently perform at a high level in both the classroom and in life. 

We will address one powerful tool for calming the mind, gaining more energy, creating more focus so you can be that life-changing educator you envision yourself to be.  Creating the impact and transformation you know you are capable of. Cultivating the minds and hearts of your students who will one day change the world.