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

Published: July 2, 2020, 10 a.m.

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\u2014 fear.\nOn today\u2019s 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\u2019s Quest to Outthink Fear.\nIn 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.\xa0\nIn this episode, we dive into:\xa0\n-The first time Dr. McLaughlin was introduced to fear (2:09)\n-What wrestling taught him about fear (3:59)\n-The fear freakout (12:52)\n-How to map out your fear (15:42)\n-Where fear lives in the brain (21:14)\xa0\n-The fear of vulnerability (27:23)\xa0\n-The misconception that we have to get over our fears (30:10)\n-The power of taking tiny actions to overcome fear (44:32)\n-The importance of partnership when dealing with a challenge (49:57)\n-Where to learn more about Dr. McLaughlin (1:09:53)\nFor 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\u2019s Quest to Out-Think Fear, right here. Take the Cognitive Dominance Assessment here, and check out his blog here.\nAlso mentioned in this episode:\n-Maps of Meaning: The Architect of Belief by Jordan B. Peterson\n-12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson\n-Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life\u2019s Work by Steven Pressfield\n-Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb\n-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\n-10 Percent Happier Meditation app\nFor 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 (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.\nInterested in joining Dhru\u2019s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices