Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What if the reason so many of us are struggling right now isn’t a lack of success… but a lack of connection to something deeper?
Dr. Lisa Miller, clinical psychologist, professor at Columbia University, and author of The Awakened Brain, joins Dr. Michael Gervais to explore the science of spirituality and mental health. Her research challenges something many of us have been taught to overlook: spirituality isn’t optional, and it isn’t just religion. It’s an inborn capacity for perception, and one of the strongest protective factors for mental health known to the clinical sciences.
Lisa walks through the origin of her 30-year quest, a Yom Kippur service she led at 26 on an inpatient psychiatric unit, and the single research question that reframed how she saw mental health. She breaks down why spirituality is one-third innate and two-thirds formed by how we live, the three neural circuits behind feeling loved, guided, and never alone, and the MRI research showing that a sustained spiritual life physically strengthens the brain.
Mike and Lisa also dig into the difference between achieving awareness and awakened awareness, how parents and leaders can put this science to work, and how to heal from spiritual injury when a bad messenger breaks your trust. And Mike opens up about his own pendulum swing between the spiritual path and the achievement path.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-Why spirituality is an inborn capacity, not a belief
-The research finding that reframes mental health and resilience
-The three neural circuits behind feeling loved, guided, and never alone
-How sustained spiritual practice physically strengthens the brain
-The difference between achieving awareness and awakened awareness
-How parents can support a child’s natural spiritual awareness
-Why most leaders make their biggest decisions through awakened knowing
-How to recover your connection after spiritual injury
Dr. Miller’s research points to a capacity every one of us is born with. This conversation is an invitation to use it.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Dr.Lisa Miller Introduction
4:04 The Yom Kippur Story That Started a 30-Year Quest
11:30 Why Affluent Kids Are Struggling More
13:50 Spiritual vs. Religious: What Twin Studies Reveal
19:00 Spirituality Is a Perception, Not a Belief
21:04 The Three Neural Circuits: Loved, Guided, Never Alone
30:06 How to Train Spirituality Without Religion
35:05 Bad Torchbearers and Spiritual Injury
39:35 The Finding: 80% Protective Against Addiction
44:27 Children Are Born Spiritual: What Parents Must Do
51:14 The Afterlife, Ancestors, and the Brain as Antenna
57:20 How 90% of Leaders Make Their Biggest Decisions
59:34 The Awakened Brain vs. The Achieving Brain
💥 Support our sponsors and get exclusive discounts: findingmastery.com/sponsors
📬 Sign up for the Finding Mastery newsletter: findingmastery.com/newsletter
🧠 Download Dr. Mike’s Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset
This episode is brought to you in part by our partner, Sunlighten, the company that has pioneered infrared sauna technology. Go to findingmastery.com/sunlighten to see how you can save up to $2,100 on their mPulse Intelligent Sauna.
#FindingMastery #DrLisaMiller #TheAwakenedBrain #Spirituality #Connection #Religion #Belonging #Purpose #SubtleArt #DrMichaelGervais #Mindset #Psychology #SelfHelp #Mindfulness #Buddhism #RadicalOwnership #Mentalhealth #Sincerity #HighPerformance #Attention #Transcendence #Depression #Suicideprevention
What if the reason so many of us are struggling right now isn’t a lack of success… but a lack of connection to something deeper?
Dr. Lisa Miller, clinical psychologist, professor at Columbia University, and author of The Awakened Brain, joins Dr. Michael Gervais to explore the science of spirituality and mental health. Her research challenges something many of us have been taught to overlook: spirituality isn’t optional, and it isn’t just religion. It’s an inborn capacity for perception, and one of the strongest protective factors for mental health known to the clinical sciences.
Lisa walks through the origin of her 30-year quest, a Yom Kippur service she led at 26 on an inpatient psychiatric unit, and the single research question that reframed how she saw mental health. She breaks down why spirituality is one-third innate and two-thirds formed by how we live, the three neural circuits behind feeling loved, guided, and never alone, and the MRI research showing that a sustained spiritual life physically strengthens the brain.
Mike and Lisa also dig into the difference between achieving awareness and awakened awareness, how parents and leaders can put this science to work, and how to heal from spiritual injury when a bad messenger breaks your trust. And Mike opens up about his own pendulum swing between the spiritual path and the achievement path.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-Why spirituality is an inborn capacity, not a belief
-The research finding that reframes mental health and resilience
-The three neural circuits behind feeling loved, guided, and never alone
-How sustained spiritual practice physically strengthens the brain
-The difference between achieving awareness and awakened awareness
-How parents can support a child’s natural spiritual awareness
-Why most leaders make their biggest decisions through awakened knowing
-How to recover your connection after spiritual injury
Dr. Miller’s research points to a capacity every one of us is born with. This conversation is an invitation to use it.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Dr.Lisa Miller Introduction
4:04 The Yom Kippur Story That Started a 30-Year Quest
11:30 Why Affluent Kids Are Struggling More
13:50 Spiritual vs. Religious: What Twin Studies Reveal
19:00 Spirituality Is a Perception, Not a Belief
21:04 The Three Neural Circuits: Loved, Guided, Never Alone
30:06 How to Train Spirituality Without Religion
35:05 Bad Torchbearers and Spiritual Injury
39:35 The Finding: 80% Protective Against Addiction
44:27 Children Are Born Spiritual: What Parents Must Do
51:14 The Afterlife, Ancestors, and the Brain as Antenna
57:20 How 90% of Leaders Make Their Biggest Decisions
59:34 The Awakened Brain vs. The Achieving Brain
💥 Support our sponsors and get exclusive discounts: findingmastery.com/sponsors
📬 Sign up for the Finding Mastery newsletter: findingmastery.com/newsletter
🧠 Download Dr. Mike’s Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset
This episode is brought to you in part by our partner, Sunlighten, the company that has pioneered infrared sauna technology. Go to findingmastery.com/sunlighten to see how you can save up to $2,100 on their mPulse Intelligent Sauna.
#FindingMastery #DrLisaMiller #TheAwakenedBrain #Spirituality #Connection #Religion #Belonging #Purpose #SubtleArt #DrMichaelGervais #Mindset #Psychology #SelfHelp #Mindfulness #Buddhism #RadicalOwnership #Mentalhealth #Sincerity #HighPerformance #Attention #Transcendence #Depression #Suicideprevention
