Episode 444

Doctor Diagnosed with Terminal Cancer Shares Life Lessons People Learn Too Late with Dr. Mark Goulston

With Dr. Mark Goulston
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If you had the opportunity to reflect on your life, relationships, and the legacy you would like to leave the world with, what reflections would you have, and what wisdom would you share on living a content and peaceful life? Would your answers change if you knew your death was impending, and what would you prioritize in your remaining days?

Today, on The Dhru Purohit Podcast, Dhru sits down with Dr. Mark Goulston to discuss the lessons that dying has imparted on him and that he is eager to share with the world. Dr. Goulston shares exercises and practices that can help us be better listeners, build awareness, and create genuine curiosity to make better connections. He also shares a technique that can help our loved ones feel heard and loved and discusses forgiveness of both others and yourself. 

Dr. Mark Goulston is a retired psychiatrist and a specialist in the field of death and dying who is currently confronting his own mortality. He’s also a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer. He is the author or co-author of ten books, with his book, “Just Listen,” ranking as the top book on listening worldwide. He also hosts his highly-rated podcast, “My Wakeup Call”. He’s renowned as the inventor of Surgical Empathy, an approach he employed with suicidal patients. 

Also mentioned in this episode:

For more on Dr. Goulston, follow him on Instagram @markgoulston, Twitter @markgoulston, or through his website, markgoulston.com. 

This episode is brought to you by Birch Living Mattress and Lifeforce.

To get 20% off your Birch Living mattress plus two free eco-rest pillows, head over to birchliving.com/dhru today. 

Right now, get 15% off your first purchase of Lifeforce at Mylifeforce.com with code DHRU.

I hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did.
Wishing you health and happiness.
Dhru Purohit

In this Episode, you will learn

  1. Dr. Goulston’s career and practice and how he found peace in confronting his own terminal diagnosis
    (2:20)
  2. Dr. Goulston’s diagnosis of leukemia and the treatment he is undergoing
    (9:44)
  3. Wisdom from Dr. Goulston’s late father: don’t treat a big thing like a small thing, and don’t treat a small thing like a big thing
    (14:05)
  4. Actual vulnerability and how Dr. Goulston believes he is “giving to live”
    (19:17)
  5. The importance of making sure friends and family feel loved by you
    (26:35)
  6. A key question to create connection: Have I ever been so busy that I made you feel that you are not worth listening to?
    (28:16)
  7. Empathy and compassion are crucial to express to teens rather than offering solutions
    (32:07)
  8. Dr. Goulston’s mentor’s advice on the criteria for having a good death
    (34:50)
  9. Myths about dying, acceptance and surrendering to the idea of dying and the peace of mind you fee
    (41:04)
  10. What prohibits people from prioritizing connection in life
    (43:25)
  11. The importance of listening and how it creates awareness and curiosity
    (48:58)
  12. Listening “for” versus listening “to” and the incredible connection it can build
    (51:22)
  13. Using the HUVA exercise at least once a day and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to determine if they felt truly heard
    (58:00)
  14. Prove, Show, Hide, and Please exercise and eliminating those from your personality
    (1:02:00)
  15. The FUD CRUD technique to invite frustrations out without judgment
    (1:17:00)
  16. Forgiveness and acceptance and what it can release
    (1:20:00)
  17. Dr. Goulston’s ideas on self-forgiveness and letting go of what he felt he did not achieve
    (1:24:00)
  18. How Dr. Goulston practices letting his friends and family be there for him and letting go of the idea of being a burden on people
    (1:30:27)
  19. Dr. Goulston’s belief that he exists as a catalyst to help people heal
    (1:44:25)
  20. Following Dr. Goulston’s journey
    (1:48:00)

Guest

 
Dhru Purohit

Dhru is the host of the Dhru Purohit Podcast, a top 30 health podcast with over 30 million downloads. His interviews focus on the inner workings of the brain and the body and feature the brightest minds in wellness, medicine, and mindset.

Dhru Purohit is also a serial entrepreneur and investor in the health and wellness industry.

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Dr. Mark Goulston

Dr. Mark Goulston is retired psychiatrist and a specialist in the field of death and dying, who is currently confronting his own mortality. He’s also a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer. He is the author or co-author of ten books, with his book, “Just Listen,” ranking as the top book on listening worldwide. He also hosts his highly-rated podcast, “My Wakeup Call”. He’s renowned as the inventor of Surgical Empathy, an approach he employed with suicidal patients.

Learn More
Follow
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