Tame Your Dragons, Train Your Brain and Take Back Your Happiness – Dr. Daniel Amen with Dave Asprey

This episode of Bulletproof Radio goes deep into the dragon psyche. No, not “Game of Thrones,” but specifically our inner dragons.  “A dragon is an issue you're dealing with, that your brain is listening to, but it's not helping you,” says brain expert Dr. Daniel Amen. These dragons are the ones that “breathe fire on our emotional brain,” like anxiety, depression, grief, loneliness and more (you can find out what yours are at www.knowyourdragons.com). As a physician, double board-certified psychiatrist, professor, and author of 30 books, Dr. Amen has a lot to share about taming the beasts that beset us.   In his newest book “Your Brain is Always Listening: Tame the Hidden Dragons that Control Your Happiness, Habits and Hang-ups,” he talks about those dragon origin stories, their triggers, your reactions and how to tame them. He has a lot of tips for how we can step outside of our mind to distance ourselves from the dragon’s fire, like tuning into your pleasure centers, and how to guide your mind to look for what’s right rather than what’s wrong. “It's like a little treasure hunt,” Dr. Amen says. “And I look for even the micro moments. What are the smallest things that happened today that just made me happy? And it sets your dreams up to be more positive. These little habits are so helpful if you can make them part of your everyday life. You literally can train your brain. And when you do, your life is happier.” We talk about the ways past physical and emotional trauma may impact the way we heal, how our dragons are always interacting with other people’s dragons, how this is all affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and much more.  Dr. Amen gives practical tools you can use to stop feeling sad, mad, nervous or out of control and start being happier, calmer, and more in control of your own destiny.  Enjoy! And get more resources at Dave.Asprey/podcasts. Got a comment, idea or question for the podcast? Submit via this form.     SPECIAL OFFER FOR BULLETPROOF RADIO LISTENERS https://yourbrainisalwayslistening.com book order to get FREE stuff! Ends March 7. WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS. CHECK THEM OUT! Better-For-You Brews: https://www.flyingembers.com/DAVE, use code DAVE to save 15% Light Therapy: https://joovv.com/dave, use code DAVE Brain Power: https://www.cognibiotics.com/dave, use code DAVE10  DAVE ASPREY’S NEW BOOK! “Fast This Way: Burn Fat, Heal Inflammation, and Become the High-Performing Human You Were Meant to Be” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.