Barbara Gustafson didn't set out to become a brain health educator. Her journey began with leadership development, but everything changed when she witnessed firsthand how Huntington's disease devastated her family. After losing her mother to a stroke, Barbara and her siblings became caregivers for their father, uncovering a genetic condition that would later claim her sister's life as well.

The experience ignited a passionate mission: making brain health an essential part of every leadership conversation. As Barbara eloquently explains, our brain is "the supercomputer that runs the software of our mind." This distinction helps explain why some high-functioning, seemingly successful people struggle internally with burnout or overwhelm – their physical brain needs attention beyond just positive thinking or stress management techniques.

Through her work with clinicians, caregivers, and community leaders, Barbara introduces a transformative four-circle approach to brain health. The physical circle addresses biological functioning influenced by sleep and nutrition. The psychological circle encompasses thoughts and emotional intelligence. The social circle relates to relationships and team dynamics. The spiritual circle connects to purpose and meaning. This holistic framework creates a new language for discussing wellbeing without the stigma sometimes attached to mental health conversations.

What happens when ambitious women face chronic stress? Barbara describes a fascinating "baseball diamond pattern" of brain activity where the limbic system and basal ganglia become overactive, effectively taking the thinking prefrontal cortex offline. This explains why during moments of high stress, our decision-making abilities diminish dramatically. Her practical REGROUP framework offers accessible strategies for examining automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and creating new neural pathways through consistent, small changes.

Ready to transform your relationship with your brain? Visit discovernextstep.com to download Barbara's simple tips for regrouping and improving your brain health. Remember: "Listen to the whisper, don't wait for the two by four."

To view the Transcript from this week's episode, visit our Balance & Beyond Podcast webpage: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast/2025/112

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