The Doug Noll Show

In today’s touch economy, stress is everywhere. And where there is stress, there is bound to be conflict. So it stands to reason if you can figure out a way to reduce your stress and the stress of the people around you, you are more likely to have peace in your life. But how can you reduce stress when you face layoffs, underemployment, unrealistic work and family demands, and all the other pressures of modern 21st century life? My guest on this edition of The Doug Noll Show has learned about stress the hard way and gained some valuable insights that he will share with us. Don Joseph Goewey's career in human potential spans more than three decades and includes collaborations with Carl Rogers, Ph.D, the founder of humanistic psychology, and Gerald Jampolsky, MD, founder of attitudinal healing. Goewey served as an executive at Stanford University Medical School and was executive director of the International Center for Attitudinal Healing, recognized worldwide for its approach to human crisis. His interest in the ability of the brain to overcome stress was sparked two decades ago when he experienced a series of personal crises. He lost his job, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and saw his marriage fall apart, all within 10 days. Then he experienced a defining moment that left him free from stress and the damage it was doing in his life. Over the years, Goewey has worked with war refugees, prisoners, patients with life-threatening illness, business leaders and others in high-stress occupations. In 2006, he co-founded ProAttitude, a human performance firm dedicated to ending stress in the workplace. His new book, Mystic Cool, combines the latest research in neuroscience and psychology with practical spiritual insights on how to reduce stress and unlock creative potential.

Doug asks Don if his conceptualization of the brain in three parts is similar to Paul MacClain’s triune brain theory. Don agrees that it is. He sees the primitive brain as holding the fear response mechanism. Fear consists of primal physical fear and psychological fear. The primitive brain cannot tell the difference between the two types of fear and responds the same way to each. Doug and Don talk about neuroplasticity and the idea that our brains can be reprogrammed so as to not be so reactive and fearful.

Doug and Don talk about the concept of flow developed by University of Chicago psychologist, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. Don understands peace to be a state of flow in our brains. When our brains are operating under optimal conditions, we are not threatened by outside conditions or events, and we are emotionally calm and centered. Doug and Don talk about the idea that peace is not a static, sit under the tree event; peace is dynamic. As a dynamic process, peace is actually a state of immunity against stress. Don says that it takes four weeks to reshape the brain. The basic technique is to slow down and become consciously aware of fear and stress patterns. By simply becoming aware of these patterns, you can break through them. Don says his process is based on cognitive behavioral therapy—become aware, choose, and reprogram. In working with others in conflict, Don says that holding a compassionate presence and deeply listening work well. Doug and Don talk about the mirror neuron system as the foundation for empathy.

Doug asks Don how he responds to push back from corporate and business people who feel that this work is too emotional or touchy-feely. Don says that after he explains the neuroscience, people get it and are ready to learn different ways of being. He says that peace is a way of engaging the world without fear. As a result, stress is reduced in the work environment, which directly and positively affects profits.