Find Your Why Continued: Foundational Anxiety Management Strategies (Part II)

09/16/24 • 33 min

In this episode of Calm Your Caveman, Dr. Twitchell deepens the conversation on finding your purpose as a foundational strategy for mastering anxiety. Building upon the previous discussion, this episode emphasizes the power of a clear 'why' to navigate complex emotional events and conflicting inner valuations. Dr. Twitchell explores how a defined purpose helps in choosing the right emotional regulation strategies and ensuring efficient resource allocation. Real-life examples, including job dissatisfaction and social anxiety, illustrate how identifying long-term values can guide critical life decisions. Additionally, the episode encourages writing exercises to bring subconscious values to the surface, thereby fostering greater emotional autonomy and resilience.
Key Points:
Choosing Strategies Based on Desired Outcomes: We discuss how knowing your desired outcome helps in selecting the appropriate emotional regulation strategies.
Handling Complex Emotions: We talk about the complexity of emotional events and how having a sense of purpose can help resolve inner conflicts by prioritizing long-term values.
Willingness to Feel Anxiety: We Introduce the concept of being willing to experience anxiety in the service of something valued and how this paradoxically reduces anxiety.
[00:00:00] - Introduction and recap of the previous episode on finding your 'why.'
[00:01:00] - How purpose changes your brain’s perception of demands.
[00:03:21] - Creative problem-solving and the grit factor.
[00:03:59] - The importance of writing down your thoughts.
[00:09:20] - Identifying desired outcomes and choosing appropriate strategies.
[00:10:50] - Examples of applying these concepts in real-life situations (stifling job and social anxiety).
[00:19:05] - Handling complex emotions and resolving inner conflicts.
[00:21:04] - Willingness to feel anxiety and its paradoxical effect on reducing anxiety.
[00:26:36] - Purpose-oriented goals and efficient allocation of resources.
[00:27:23] - Summary and closing remarks.
For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com.

Previous Episode

Find Your Why: Foundational Anxiety Management Strategies (Part I)

In this episode of Calm Your Caveman, the focus shifts from anxiety concepts to introducing foundational strategies for managing anxiety, specifically 'Finding Your Why.' Dr. Twitchell reviews the emotion generation process and the four families of regulation strategies, emphasizing the importance of choosing suitable strategies based on personal context and goals. Finding your purpose, or 'why,' is highlighted as it reduces anxiety by altering the brain's perception of demands and resources, increasing autonomy, and fostering persistence. The episode also offers practical exercises to help listeners identify their life purpose and overarching goals.
[00:00:00] - Introduction to Anxiety Management
[00:00:46] - Review of Emotion Regulation Strategies
[00:02:06] - Choosing the Right Strategy
[00:02:27] - Foundational Strategies: Find Your Why and Know Your Context
[00:04:37] - Deep Dive into 'Find Your Why'
[00:06:56] - The Importance of Purpose in Anxiety Management
[00:21:14] - Exercises to Discover Your Purpose
[00:28:47] - Conclusion and Next Steps
For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com

Next Episode

Dr. Thomas Nielsen Part I: Finding the Keys to Meaningful Happiness

In this special two-part series, we delve into the intricate relationship between meaning and happiness with Dr. Thomas W. Nielsen, an associate professor at the University of Canberra and an expert in wellbeing and values education. In Part I, Dr. Nielsen explores the essential elements that contribute to meaningful happiness, challenging the common misconception that material wealth is a primary source of joy. He emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and contributing to something beyond oneself, highlighting how these aspects are crucial for sustaining long-term happiness and managing anxiety.
Dr. Nielsen shares compelling research findings that demonstrate the limited role of circumstances and material possessions in achieving true happiness. Instead, he discusses how engaging in meaningful activities and giving to others significantly enhances well-being and resilience, even in the face of adversity. The conversation also touches on the alarming rise in youth depression and suicide rates, linking these issues to a lack of perceived meaning in modern life.
Listeners will gain insights into practical ways to cultivate meaning in their lives, the psychological and physiological benefits of giving, and how these practices can lead to a more fulfilled and joyful existence. This episode sets the stage for Part II, where Dr. Nielsen will delve deeper into the nuances of giving, especially for those who may struggle with over-giving and burnout.
[00:00:00] - Introduction and Welcome
[00:01:30] - Overview of Dr. Thomas W. Nielsen’s Background and Expertise
[00:03:04] - Discussion on the Disconnect Between Material Wealth and Happiness
[00:05:05] - The Role of Meaning in Achieving Sustainable Happiness
[00:06:00] - Research Findings on the Limited Impact of Circumstances on Happiness
[00:07:30] - The Importance of Meaning Beyond Material Gains
[00:09:01] - Increasing Wealth and Its Minimal Impact on Long-term Happiness
[00:10:24] - The Psychological and Physiological Benefits of Having Meaning in Life
[00:13:00] - The Global Perspective on Meaning and Giving
[00:16:28] - Common Denominators in the Quest for Meaning Across Cultures
[00:17:40] - The Link Between Meaning, Well-being, and Longevity
[00:19:30] - The Benefits of Giving for Both Giver and Receiver
[00:21:12] - Addressing Anxiety and Over-giving: A Preview of Part II
For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com

Calm Your Caveman - Find Your Why Continued: Foundational Anxiety Management Strategies (Part II)

Transcript

Okay, welcome back. Another episode of calm your caveman. Thanks for joining me again. We talked last time about the importance of finding your why, finding your purpose, your overarching life aim, life goal. And how that really helps to change on a general scale your brain's perception of your own resources in relation to the demands that you will meet in your life. How it really helps shift your brain toward feeling like you've got this. You've got what it takes. You can meet this stressor,