#132: What a Top Brain Surgeon Can Teach Us About Fear with Dr. Mark McLaughlin

Dhru Purohit Show

The first time neurosurgeon Mark McLaughlin cut open a patient's skull, he found himself confronting a powerful force that his fellow brain surgeons agreed was best never spoken of— fear.

On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Dr. Mark McLaughlin, a practicing board-certified neurosurgeon, a national media commentator, thought leader in performance enhancement, and author of the book, Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon’s Quest to Outthink Fear.

In this episode, Dhru and Dr. McLaughlin talk about how so much of what we perceive as fear is wrapped up in a story. They discuss what prevents people from seeking help or counsel about a problem or fear they have. They also talk about tools and strategies for overcoming fear.

In this episode, we dive into:

-The first time Dr. McLaughlin was introduced to fear (2:09)

-What wrestling taught him about fear (3:59)

-The fear freakout (12:52)

-How to map out your fear (15:42)

-Where fear lives in the brain (21:14)

-The fear of vulnerability (27:23)

-The misconception that we have to get over our fears (30:10)

-The power of taking tiny actions to overcome fear (44:32)

-The importance of partnership when dealing with a challenge (49:57)

-Where to learn more about Dr. McLaughlin (1:09:53)

For more on Dr. Mark McLaughlin, you can follow him on Instagram @mmclaughlinmd, on Facebook @markmclaughlinmd, on Twitter @mmclaughlinmd, and through his website here. You can find his book, Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon’s Quest to Out-Think Fear, right here. Take the Cognitive Dominance Assessment here, and check out his blog here.

Also mentioned in this episode:

-Maps of Meaning: The Architect of Belief by Jordan B. Peterson

-12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson

-Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work by Steven Pressfield

-Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

-10% Happier Revised Edition: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story by Dan Harris

-10 Percent Happier Meditation app

For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at [phone] or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.

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