Dr. Jannell MacAulay /// Turn Surviving into Thriving/// Season5:E123

Competitive stress culture: have you experienced it and if so at what cost?

 

The competitive stress culture’s narrative of success pushes the idea that you must be constantly busy and stressed out to achieve a great amount of success. And if you are not stressed or busy, you are not that successful. Redefining success through self-reflection and mindfulness can reshape the emphasis and associated stressors we tie to success. Ultimately if you have lost a connection to yourself but are super successful, what does that really mean?

 

From firsthand experience, our guest, Dr. Jannell MacAulay, a former U.S Air Force leader and combat pilot, understands the pressure of high stress situations and the importance of succeeding.

 

In her career she notes how often she placed too much emphasis on achievement which stripped the joy from life. Currently she is a mindfulness advocate and shares her tools on creating the balance between harmony and work.

 

It is undeniable what it takes to reshape our mindset around success. You can achieve success without the cost of losing yourself.

“ We get tied up with the narratives of what we do, that we disconnect from who we are” - Dr. Jannell MacAulay
 

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Dr. Jannell MacAulay has managed human performance under high-stress situations for over two decades. As a military leader and combat pilot, she experienced the same stress, frustration, and fears that leaders and teams in corporate America face daily in their personal and professional lives. Her own personal journey led to earning her Ph.D. with work in the field of strategic health and human performance.

 

With her innovative leadership style, she was the first leader to introduce mindfulness as a proactive performance strategy within the US military.

 

Dr. MacAulay is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, has a master's degree in Kinesiology from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D. with work in the field of strategic health & human performance. She is a certified wellness educator, yoga instructor, and holds a certificate in plant-based nutrition.

 

Jannell is a TEDx speaker and mother of two, who is on a mission to help leaders and organizations excel in high-stress and rugged environments, by showing them how to lean into each moment.

 

Topics we discuss:

• Career Background
• Sole female in flight class.
• 13 years lived with her career in the hustle, which led to constant stress and a lack of joy.
• Found that she lost a connection to herself but was super successful.
• Important self-reflection questions
• What do I value?
• How do I define success?
• What you do is important, but who are we and what really gives us purpose.
• The 5 L’s as a self-reflection tool; Labor, Laugh, Lead, Love, Learn.
• Managing stress
• Sounds counterintuitive; but you have to go slow to go fast.
• We should all want to accelerate our success, but in pursuit of that we lose a lot.
• If you get command of your mind on the pathway to success you won't have to lose a lot; this is contrary to what society says today.
• Productivity
• Define what it means to you and understand what distractions you face.
• Distraction is the number one distractor to our productivity.
• We put too much emphasis on achievement and outcome, versus what we can control.
• We can be productive and happy if we find that harmony.
• Everyone at their own version of their best makes the best team.
• Mindfulness
• Bringing awareness to the moment
• The ability to disconnect from the noise.
• We often focus on what could happen instead of being present.
• Yerkes-Dodson law of stress
• Mindfulness tools and training
• “Mental pushups”; strengthening our attention system to focus in the moment.
• “Mindful minute” before grabbing your phone and being mindful of what you're doing.
• Focus your “flashlight” on what is important in the moment.

 

References:

• Her website
• Sympathetic vs. parasympathic nervous systems
• Warriors Edge
• Mindfulness
• Eustress vs. Destress
• Mike Gervais

 

Credits:

 

Lead editor + Producer: Ruf Holmes

 

Music:

Main Theme: "Eaze Does It" by Shye Eaze and DJ Rufbeats, a More In Common Podcast Exclusive.

All music created by DJ Rufbeats