Therapy's Role in Easing Anxiety and Decision-Making | Mihailo Joksimovic | DSC Europe 23

Summary

The speaker discusses the profound impact of therapy on personal growth, decision-making, and professional development. They emphasize the importance of owning decisions, drawing inspiration from books like *Extreme Ownership* and *Meditations* by Marcus Aurelius. Reflecting on their own experiences, the speaker highlights how therapy helped them navigate major life changes, such as having children and advancing in their career. They encourage ongoing therapy for self-improvement while acknowledging the challenge of knowing when to wrap it up. The presentation also explores the need for mental health support in the workplace.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Bible of Human Biases covers over 150 cognitive biases that impact decision-making and highlights common reasoning mistakes we all make.
• 😀 Extreme Ownership emphasizes the importance of taking full responsibility for all actions, whether good or bad, and is written by two Navy SEALs.
• 😀 Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers profound insights into human fears and anxieties, even from the perspective of a powerful Roman Emperor.
• 😀 Therapy is seen as a long-term growth tool, with the speaker noting that it played a major role in life decisions like having children and career choices.
• 😀 The speaker acknowledges that therapy might not be for everyone, but emphasizes how it can fuel personal growth and facilitate significant life changes.
• 😀 Therapy can take time to show results, with the speaker mentioning it took about six to eight months before making big decisions like enrolling in a master's program.
• 😀 A key lesson from therapy is the importance of taking ownership of your decisions, paralleling the philosophy found in Extreme Ownership.
• 😀 The speaker reveals that even a Roman Emperor like Marcus Aurelius struggled with common human emotions, helping people feel more relatable to historical figures.
• 😀 The therapist’s tendency to suggest ending therapy every couple of years challenges the speaker, but they continuously find new areas to work on.
• 😀 The audience engages in the discussion, raising questions about when to end therapy, whether friends can share the same therapist, and how personal growth is measured.
• 😀 The importance of deciding to seek therapy is emphasized as a personal choice, and the speaker believes it should be done at your own pace, without pressure.

Q & A

What are cognitive biases, and why are they important to understand?

Cognitive biases are errors in reasoning that occur when individuals make decisions. These biases can lead to flawed thinking and poor judgment. The speaker refers to a book that explores over 150 cognitive biases, emphasizing their importance in decision-making and how understanding them can lead to better choices.

What is 'Extreme Ownership' about, and why does the speaker recommend it?

'Extreme Ownership' is a book written by two Navy SEALs that focuses on taking full responsibility for one's actions, whether they result in success or failure. The speaker highly recommends it because of its empowering message of personal accountability, which has had a profound impact on their own life.

What is the significance of Marcus Aurelius' 'Meditations' according to the speaker?

The speaker highlights 'Meditations' as a personal diary of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, revealing how even the most powerful people experience common human fears and anxieties. The speaker suggests reading a contemporary adaptation of the book to make it more accessible and relatable for modern readers.

How has therapy impacted the speaker's personal and professional life?

Therapy has played a crucial role in the speaker's personal and professional growth. It helped them overcome challenges, such as the fear of parenthood and the decision to join Microsoft. The speaker views therapy as a tool for growth, leading to significant life decisions like pursuing a master's degree and making career advancements.

What is the speaker's perspective on the duration of therapy?

The speaker believes that therapy can be a long-term process, but emphasizes that the duration is not fixed. For them, therapy continues as long as it supports their growth. While many people may finish therapy in a year or less, the speaker values it as an ongoing process for personal development.

Why does the speaker continue therapy despite their therapist suggesting they wrap it up?

The speaker continues therapy because they find it valuable for their personal growth. Despite their therapist suggesting they end the sessions every couple of years, the speaker always finds more areas to work on, citing personal milestones like having a child and advancing in their career as proof of therapy's positive impact.

What advice does the speaker give about recommending a therapist to others?

The speaker shares that they have recommended their therapist to friends, which led to positive outcomes for them. However, they also point out that it’s important to consider whether a therapist is appropriate for each individual, and that not all therapy relationships are the same.

What challenges did the speaker face in deciding to have children?

The speaker initially resisted the idea of having children, due to a dislike of the responsibility involved. However, after years of therapy, they came to view parenthood as a positive choice, noting that the decision to have children was one of the best they ever made.

How does the speaker view the relationship between therapy and personal achievement?

The speaker sees therapy as directly contributing to their personal achievements. They mention that therapy was crucial in helping them make major life decisions, such as pursuing higher education and joining a company like Microsoft. Therapy helped them overcome fears and make choices that aligned with their personal values.

What was the first significant change the speaker noticed after starting therapy?

The speaker noticed a sense of relief after starting therapy. They don't recall a specific moment of change but point to significant decisions, like enrolling in a master's degree program, as evidence of therapy's positive effects on their decision-making and personal growth.