Neuroscientist Suggests 10 Signs You’re Doing Better Than You Think

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dr. Laura Podcast

Episode: Neuroscientist Suggests 10 Signs You’re Doing Better Than You Think
Date: November 18, 2025
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Source Article: “A Neuroscientist’s 10 Signs You're Doing Better Than You Think in Life,” by Jessica Stillman, Inc.com

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Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Dr. Laura Schlessinger dives into an article that highlights ten neuroscience-backed signs that people are doing better than they may realize in life. Dr. Laura brings her signature candid style to unpack each point, reflecting on her own journey and encouraging listeners to rethink the definition of success. The overall theme: Many of us are already succeeding in meaningful ways, even if we don’t recognize it.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Real Struggle: Feeling Successful Versus Being Successful

• [01:34] Dr. Laura opens with the idea that we focus too much on “how to be successful” instead of “how to feel successful when we are.”
• She challenges the fixation on chasing the next milestone and invites listeners to appreciate the growth process, even with its uncertainties.
• Quote:

  “What if the real struggle for lots of us isn’t how to be successful, but instead how to actually feel successful when we are?” (Dr. Laura, [02:10])

The Concept of "Enough"

• [03:30] She recounts a conversation with a wealthy acquaintance about what “enough money” really means. The punchline: it’s always “a little bit more,” illustrating the endless nature of comparison and striving.

  Quote:

  “Do you know what is enough money?... A little bit more.” (Dr. Laura, [04:48])

The Downside of Chasing More

• [08:13] Dr. Laura notes that constantly pursuing “a little bit more” leads to dissatisfaction.
• She segues into the neuroscience-based “10 signs” that indicate genuine growth and maturity—true markers of success.

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The 10 Signs You’re Doing Better Than You Think

Dr. Laura reads and comments on each sign, relating them to her experiences with self-improvement and resilience.

1. You Celebrate Small Wins

• [08:40] Dr. Laura identifies with this, saying she’s “like a silly four-year-old girl” over small victories.
• Quote:

  “Hallelujah. I do. I'm like a silly four-year-old girl on a small win. So that's good.” (Dr. Laura, [08:43])

2. You Try Again After Failing

• [09:05] She admits to initially complaining, but then analyzing failures to avoid repeating them.
• Quote:

  “That’s me. But first I bitch a little bit and then I do research to find out why I failed.” (Dr. Laura, [09:10])

3. You Pause Before Reacting

• [09:25] Dr. Laura confesses she’s improved here but “it’s not my best quality.”
• She highlights progress over perfection.

4. You Take Breaks Without Guilt

• [09:38] Candidly referencing her upbringing, Dr. Laura now values guilt-free rest, especially enjoying hikes, walks, movies, or chatting with friends.

5. You Recover from Setbacks Faster

• [10:00] She’s quick to bounce back, noting the difference time and experience have made.

6. You Ask for Help When You Need It

• [10:18] Dr. Laura is “compulsive” about seeking guidance, emphasizing that learning from others is a strength, not a weakness.
• Quote:

  “I start making calls… would you help me with this? Am I doing this right? What’s a better machine?” (Dr. Laura, [10:30])

7. You’re Kind to Yourself When You Make Mistakes

• [10:58] She allows herself to vent (with “bad words”), then focuses on solutions rather than self-blame.

8. You Notice Patterns Instead of Judging Them

• [11:22] As a psychotherapist, Dr. Laura often addresses behavioral patterns, reflecting professional insight on the power of observation over criticism.

9. You Make Decisions Based on Values, Not Pressure

• [11:40] She stands strong on her values, refusing to bow to external pressure—“You can bring me to the gates of hell, but I won’t back down, baby.”

10. You’re More Curious Than Anxious About the Future

• [12:12] Dr. Laura is invested in curiosity and discovery. She views anxiety as wasted energy, while curiosity fuels her continual engagement with life.
• Quote:

  “A lot of you call about anxiety, which I think is just wasted energy… you’re more curious than anxious about what’s next. Oh, God, that’s me.” (Dr. Laura, [12:15])

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Memorable Reflections and Encouragement

Dr. Laura’s Creative Journey

• She shares how curiosity propels her through hobbies like leatherwork, knitting, glasswork, and more, always finishing projects before moving to the next.
• Her attitude: “Surprise me!”—embracing uncertainty and growth.

The Kurt Vonnegut Inspiration

• [16:34] Dr. Laura quotes Vonnegut, who encouraged practicing any art to “make your soul grow,” highlighting that the journey, not achievement, is what expands us as people.

  Quote:

  “Practice any art… not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you. To make your soul grow. I love that. To make your soul grow.” (Dr. Laura, [16:45])

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Time-stamped Highlights

| Time | Segment | |--------|------------------------------------------------| | 01:34 | Opening reflections on feeling vs. being successful | | 03:30 | The endless pursuit of "enough" | | 08:13 | Transition to the 10 signs; introduction | | 08:40–12:12 | Walkthrough of all 10 signs—Dr. Laura's commentary | | 13:45 | Dr. Laura’s creative hobbies and curiosity | | 16:34 | Kurt Vonnegut quote and its meaning |

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Tone and Takeaways

Dr. Laura maintains an upbeat, direct, and compassionate style throughout, peppered with humor and personal stories. The episode is an inspiring reminder that maturity, growth, and balance are the true measures of success—qualities most listeners have, even if unnoticed.

Final Encouragement:
Dr. Laura urges listeners to appreciate their growth and progress, to dig deeper than daily struggles, and to recognize themselves as “works in progress” deserving of celebration.

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Recommended Action

Consider the 10 signs in your own life and celebrate your progress—however incremental. Let curiosity, not anxiety, steer you forward and remember: you’re likely doing better than you think!

Transcript

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[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Ultimately, that didn't go well. The pursuit of a little bit more is generally a downhill experience. So these are signs. I've got 10 signs of maturity, growth and balance in your life, which by definition make you successful. So I immediately started reading these and seeing how many I could check off for me. So you do the same thing. Okay, you celebrate small wins. Hallelujah. I do. I'm like a silly four year old girl on a small win. So that's good. I checked off that one. You try again after failing. Holy cow, that's me. But first I bitch a little bit and then I do research to find out why I failed. Because I just don't like repeating the same failure again and again. That's kind of stupid. So why did this go wrong? Was it me? Was it moon spots? Was it equipment? What? Number three. You pause before reacting. I'm not that great at that one. Much better than I used to be. But that's not my best quality. Number four. You take breaks without guilt. That took a long time to develop when you have a dad who just constantly tells you you're stupid and why are you sitting there and doing that? Yeah, so I'm good at breaks. My favorite break is either hiking, walking, eating, or a movie. Those are good. Or talking to a friend. I'll pick up my cell phone and call a buddy. Five. You recover from setbacks faster. Yep, I do. Number six. You ask for help when you need it. Oh, I'm compulsive in that department. Anything I try to do getting into leather now, I start looking. Who's expert in this? I start making calls and write. Would you help me with this? Am I doing this right? Is there a better way? What's a better machine? Oh, I tap into all the good brains I can find. Because I can't lead 10 lives, I lead mine. And I have nine people who are good at something. Okay, okay. Number seven, you're kind to yourself when you make mistakes. As long as I can use some bad words temporarily just to blow steam. Yeah. And then I figure out how to make it right. Because I'm determined to make it right. I'm more determined to make it right than worry about me. Am I smart enough? Am I this or that? I don't get on my case about that at all anymore. No. Eight, you notice patterns instead of judging them. Not exactly sure what that means. On the air, I'm always talking about patterns of behavior. So I guess as a psychotherapist, I'm in tune with that. Number nine, you make decision based on values, not pressure. Damn straight. That's me. You can bring me to the gates of hell, but I won't back down, baby. Anybody who knows me knows. Oh, hold on. No, no, I don't take crap. No, 10, you're more curious. Oh, I like this one. Because a lot of you call about anxiety, which I think is just wasted energy. It's a matter of energy to do things in life when you waste it on. Because it takes energy to be anxious, you know, you're more curious than anxious about what's next. Oh, God, that's me. So I'm a very successful person in spite of awards or this or that or the other thing. Because I have evolved. Didn't start out this way. I have evolved into these characteristics, like I'm working on leather. I determined to get really good at that to the level I wish to be. No hand sewing, only machine. So the real elegant stuff, I think that's done by hand, make very pretty things. And I'll learn a lot and make a lot of money for charity. Because that's the point of all of it for me. I have no idea where I'm going next. People have asked me, oh, my God, here you go again. Now you're doing leather. What comes after leather? I don't know. Silver, jewelry, resin, denim, semi precious stones. I'm just a crazy woman. Can't wait to see. I'm not thinking about it right now? Hell, no. Because I am invested in today. So this is what I say to life. Surprise me. Surprise me. I have no idea and I don't care. It'll be what it is, and I'm sure I'll love it. Knitting, crocheting, did all of that. Knitting machines got really good at. Computerized knitting machines. Oh, I even taught it. I end up teaching all these things because I get excited when somebody wants to learn them. Oh, glass. Oh, yeah. Fusing glass. That was a biggie. Yeah. I get curious, I get invested. I get to a certain point, feels good, move on. But I finish things before I move on. That occurs to me sometime because when I was crocheting and not machine knitting, you'd go from beginning to end. But when I was crocheting, I would start two projects and go back and forth. That was kind of nutty. All right. I hope you learned a lot. One more thing. She writes. Writer Kurt Vonnegut once advised a young correspondent practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly. Not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you. To make your soul grow. I love that. To make your soul grow. In other words, we're all works in progress and then we die. But between now and dead, you're a constant work in progress. We often feel like we need to reach out just one more milestone before we can feel successful. But the time to celebrate isn't when you arrived at some kind of success. None of us fully ever gets there. It's at every moment of growth and wisdom along the journey. The article again. This is one of the best things I've ever read to be helpful to you. Www.inc www.inc.com Jessica Stillman. Just one I didn't understand. I'll have to give that some thought. I don't mind not understanding something, because I will eventually. All right, my number, 1-800-375-2872. Let's take part of your journey, your development and deepening of your soul, and talk about that today. Not just who's not talking to you. We do a lot of that here, interpersonal stuff. But I'd sure like to spend more time with you on the depth of your progress as a person and your soul. You ever think about that? Or you just think about if you have to put gas in the car and which of your kids is obnoxious and won't talk to you? There's more to you than those annoying, upsetting issues. Dig deep again. My number 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

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