Productivity Smarts 061 - Highway to a Happy Place with Dr. Gary Sprouse

Feeling overwhelmed or stressed out? You’re not alone. In our busy world, it’s easy to feel like we’re constantly racing against the clock. But guess what? Finding your happy place is doable.   This episode of the Productivity Smarts podcast delves into the intricate relationship between stress, fear, and productivity. Host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Dr. Gary Sprouse, a practicing primary care doctor and the author of "Highway to a Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress."   During the conversation, they discuss the impact of fear and worry on productivity, emphasizing the importance of managing stress through perspective shifts and practical tools like the "circle of control" and "worry organizer." Dr. Sprouse shares insights on self-esteem, hypnosis, and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) for reprocessing traumatic memories. The episode offers actionable strategies for reducing stress and enhancing productivity, encouraging listeners to apply these insights in their daily lives.   Don't miss out—tune in and start transforming your stress into productivity today!   What We Discuss [02:01] - Introduction to Dr. Gary Sprouse [05:59] - Understanding worry and fear [08:10] - The benefits of yoga and tai chi in stress reduction [11:04] - Dr. Sprouse's decision to become a doctor [13:31] - Transition to writing the book [16:39] - Misconceptions about stress and productivity [17:23] - The perspective prism [22:38] - The stratosphere model [27:25] - Future negative and worry organizer [34:52] - Circle of Control [36:32] - Reframing memories and changing perspectives [51:28] - Realistic optimism [52:58] - Understanding self-esteem [01:00:38] - Gratitude and your “happy place” [01:06:07] - Perspective prism and limiting beliefs   Notable Quotes [08:06] “It's the fear that gets us into trouble. That's what's running our motor at 100 miles an hour.” - Dr. Gary Sprouse [15:24] “The less fear that we have, the more productive we're going to be.”  Dr. Gary Sprouse [39:49] “You made the decision to risk your own life because you could have laid there and played dead, but you risked your own life to get up and help that other person. That’s what heroes do.” - Dr. Gary Sprouse [51:28] “Guys tend to deal with their stresses by minimizing them. And women deal with their stresses by sharing them.” - Dr. Gary Sprouse [53:20] “Self-esteem gets started when you're one. The first time you figure out you're different from your mom and your dad, your self-esteem starts.” - Dr. Gary Sprouse   Resources Dr Gary Sprouse Website - thelessstressdoc.com LinkedIn: Gary Sprouse Instagram: lessstressdoc Book: Highway to a Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress   Productivity Smarts Podcast Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com   Gerald J. Leonard Website - geraldjleonard.com Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds