Welcome to this episode of the podcast, where I have the privilege of speaking with Professor Ian Robertson, an esteemed psychologist and brain researcher. Ian is a Professor Emeritus in Psychology at Trinity College and was the founding director of Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience. He is Co-Director of the Global Brain Health Institute, a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, and a Member of Acadamia Europea. In this episode, Ian and I delved into some fascinating topics—self-doubt, self-confidence, and managing stress and pressure. We discussed how stress can actually be used positively and how it's crucial to perceive it as something that might surpass our coping abilities. One intriguing point was the link between emotions like excitement and anxiety, and we also explored the different ways anger manifests, whether it's "anger in" or "anger out." We even touched on how the imbalance in our brain's hemispheres affects distress. When it comes to building confidence, we highlighted the significance of taking action and setting achievable sub-goals to create moments of success. Towards the end, we tied in the connection between self-confidence, attention, and success, offering strategies for bolstering confidence and handling stress constructively. Throughout, I emphasized the immense power of understanding one's own mind, shifting mindsets, and making use of neuroplasticity. It was an insightful chat, and I'd like to express my gratitude to Ian Robertson. To all our listeners, remember to rate the podcast and subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Chapters 0:00:09 Introduction to It's an Inside Job Podcast 0:00:45 Introduction: Focus on Self-Doubt, Self-Confidence, and Pressure 0:02:48 Finding the Time for a Long-Awaited Chat 0:04:17 The role of noradrenaline in controlling attention 0:09:23 Redefining anger and channeling it for constructive actions 0:16:00 Negative stress and withdrawal leading to anxiety and anger 0:19:46 Building Confidence by Shifting Self-Beliefs 0:20:53 Shifting from anger to action for stress relief 0:23:11 Taking action in spite of anxiety to build confidence 0:28:12 Self-confidence: Can Do and Can Happen 0:35:42 Attention: The Key to Building Confidence 0:37:45 Importance of Understanding One's Mind and Brain 0:39:40 The Power of Simulated Situations in Developing Habits 0:42:45 Setting Goals and Encouragement for Personal Growth 0:53:53 Ian Robertson's Books on Stress and Confidence RESOURCES: The Stress Test: How Pressure Can Make You Stronger and SharperHardcover Paperback How Confidence Works: The New Science of Self-Belief, Why Some People Learn It and Others Don't Hardcover Paperback Audio book Doctor, I have a questionWilliam L Hoover, II, M.D. and Gordon L MacPherson, Medical Media Producer, will dig...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Sign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER takes 5 seconds to fill out receive a fresh update every Wednesday