Have you ever caught yourself feeling more irritated with people at work than you used to be, even when nothing obvious has changed? In this episode, Dr. Bray explores why so many capable, well-intentioned professionals find themselves feeling less patient, less generous, and more easily annoyed by coworkers than they remember being.

Rather than blaming personalities or workplace culture, Dr. Bray unpacks what constant pressure, overload, and unfinished interactions do to the brain, and how a stressed system quietly turns ordinary people into sources of friction. He explains why the issue is often not the people themselves, but the state our brains are operating in day after day.

This conversation offers a fresh and surprisingly relieving perspective on workplace relationships, along with practical ways to reduce irritation, reset perspective, and make work feel lighter again. If you've ever wondered why people feel harder to work with lately, this episode will help you see the situation and your coworkers in a very different way.

Quotes by Dr. Bray

"Once stress lowers, if the irritation fades fast, it was state-driven — not person-driven."

"Sometimes the problem isn't them. It's the story your tired brain won't stop telling you."

"When you understand rumination, you regain space, perspective, and a lot more patience with people."

"It's not because people have gotten worse. It's because your brain is tired — and when the brain is tired, it tells the worst stories."