The Approval Trap: The Dark Side of Success | EP1

In this inaugural episode of What's the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch sits down with renowned performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais for an intimate conversation about the journey from high performance to true mastery. Together, they explore how sometimes our greatest breakthroughs come not from pushing harder, but from having the courage to be still.Show notes:In this episode, Rebecca and Dr. Gervais discuss: The distinction between high performance and masteryWhy the first rule of mastery is to stop worrying about what others thinkThe power of vulnerability in personal growthFinding wisdom through stillness and self-examinationTransformative Insights:The three foundational practices for meeting yourself: meditation, journaling, and conversations with people of wisdomHow trauma and hardship can be gateways to deeper understandingWhy purpose and connection are the two key variables for a fulfilled lifeThe difference between being thoughtful and true meditationVulnerable Moments:Rebecca opens up about hiding her concussion symptoms for yearsDr. Gervais shares his journey of understanding his own drive for achievementRebecca discusses her mother's recent passing and the tools for processing griefBoth explore their ongoing work to shed perfectionism and find playPractical Wisdom:How to approach meditation as a practice of starting overThe importance of creating space for vulnerability in high achievementWhy awareness is fundamental to high performanceTools for building authentic communityPersonal Growth:Dr. Gervais's ongoing journey to embrace play over intensityRebecca's evolution from "Queen of Pain" to embracing vulnerabilityHow traumatic experiences can become catalysts for transformationThe power of sharing our struggles to help othersHelpful Links: https://findingmastery.com/ https://www.instagram.com/michaelgervais/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichaelgervais/ https://x.com/michaelgervais?lang=en The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of YouFinding Mastery Podcast: Explorer's Guide to Self-Discovery with Rebecca RuschSPONSORThank you so much to our sponsor Momentous. They are offering you 20% off your first order.  Livemomentous.com Use code RUSCH20.PROMOTIONAL OFFERS:“Our minds are our greatest asset… and if you want to learn more about how you can train your mind, I want to encourage you to check out Dr. Gervais’ online high performance mindset course -- Finding Your Best – where he’s pulled together THE best practices to help you unlock your potential and perform at your best in any environment.In Finding Your Best, Dr. Gervais teaches the same high-performance...