Speaker 1: 0:06

All right now, welcome back. Welcome back to the sweet spot where science meets soul. I'm Dr Derek Sweet, I'm your host and you're listening to Finish Strong Friday. As you know, I'm a board certified psychiatrist and I love high performance. I love sports psychiatry, but most of all, I love inspiring other people, because, to me, when we inspire each other, we're collectively able to finish strong. And that's where we are today in Finish Strong Friday.

Speaker 1: 0:37

So today we're going to explore the science of what makes us us the drive, the resilience, the stuff that helps us get back up when we fall down, because that's a big part of finishing strong. Forget that surface level stuff you hear everywhere else. Today we're digging deeper. We're going beyond the usual dopamine talk, because you and I we've been discussing dopamine ad nauseum. We already know that stuff. So we want to uncover what is the real fuel of perseverance.

Speaker 1: 1:13

So think about Muhammad Ali, not just the boxing legend, but the man. He wasn't born a champion, he became one. Wasn't born a champion, he became one. And that journey, that journey, that transformation, that's where his real story lies. Remember he famously said I hated every minute of training, but I told myself don't quit, suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion. Well, my friend, that quote isn't just about physical strength, it's about mental fortitude, it's about something more profound than just willpower, and it's that kind of stuff that gets you to the finish line and across it. Listen, we often hear about grit and growth mindset, but let's go beyond those buzzwords. I'm tired of hearing them.

Speaker 1: 2:17

Science is revealing fascinating insights into what truly drives us. And it's not just the prefrontal cortex lighting up, not just the amygdala lighting up, like we've talked about all week. There's much more in our nervous system. The word in scripture says we are wonderfully and fearfully made. Our nervous system is way beyond that prefrontal cortex and way beyond that amygdala and hippocampus that we discussed. They're very important, but there are other structures, other hidden friends that we have, like your vagus nerve. That's the 10th cranial nerve of the 12 cranial nerves in the body, in the brain. So this vagus nerve is like a secret weapon in your resilience arsenal. The vagus nerve helps us regulate our stress. It calms us down when things get tough, it helps us with our rest and digest systems. And guess what? You can train this vagus nerve to help you to kick in when you face stress or anxiety or things that are bothering you. And you know how you do that With mindfulness, deep breathing, meditation, prayer, even singing. These are all ways to strengthen your vagal nerve and boost your ability to bounce back your ability to bounce back.

Speaker 1: 3:45

So I want you to think about stories that inspire you today and think about the individuals who faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles and still achieved greatness. All week long, I've been telling you about historical figures that we could look to and draw inspiration from to make our moves on a Monday, take action on a Tuesday, win it all on a Wednesday, trust ourselves more on Thursday. And here we are to finish strong on a Friday. I want you to think, think about Dr Charles Drew, a brilliant surgeon and medical researcher back in the day, whose work revolutionized blood storage techniques, saving countless lives. He faced prejudice and segregation, yet his dedication to his work never wavered. His perseverance, his commitment to his vision, his grit the stuff we've been talking about all week. It wasn't just about that individual willpower. It was about his deep-seated belief in something bigger than himself, and he accomplished it. He really did. And when we look at figures like Charles Drew, african-american historical figure, contributed to medicine. We wouldn't even have blood transfusions without this dude. Okay, powerful, he was a strong finisher.

Speaker 1: 5:31

So how do you get that undefeated spirit, how do you become this finisher when it starts with understanding that your brain is not fixed, it's adaptable, it's malleable. Remember we've talked about neuroplasticity in other podcasts. That's the idea that every time you learn something new, every time you push yourself beyond your comfort zone, you are literally rewiring your brain and it's like building a new neuropathway to resilience every time you do it. So, yeah, go learn the guitar. Oh, yeah, go figure out a new skill, a new hobby. Push yourself and watch your brain make you into a huge finisher.

Speaker 1: 6:18

So your challenge this week instead of just setting a goal, I want you to identify the why behind your goals. If you're facing an obstacle, I want you to identify the why behind your goals. If you're facing an obstacle, I want you to remind yourself of the why you're fighting this obstacle and that that remembering your why, knowing your why, will fuel your grit and perseverance. That's what's going to help you finish strong. And remember my friends, finishing strong isn't about just crossing the finish line first. It's about getting back up every time you fall down, remember that famous quote fall down seven, get up eight. Amen, amen. All right, now I'm finished preaching. Thank you for joining me on Finish Strong Friday. My friends, share this episode with someone who needs a little boost of inspiration this week and let's build a community of resilient spirits ready to face any challenge.

Speaker 1: 7:19

This is Dr Derek Sweet. Thank you for listening. I'll see you tomorrow. You know what tomorrow is right? Oh is Dr Derek Sweet. Thank you for listening. I'll see you tomorrow. You know what tomorrow is right? Oh, yes, you do. It is self-care Saturday, so let's bring it home, take care. And if you want to talk to me some more, please join me on LinkedIn or YouTube or Instagram and Twitter. Take care, thank you.