In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha shares a reflective monologue on how we think about the mind—as both a noun and a verb. Drawing from personal experience, everyday stressors, and the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, he probes the labels we apply to our thoughts and feelings. Joseph explores the practice he calls “dropping the shades,” a method of pausing and resetting through nostalgic reconnection. He explains how this mental reset—whether through music, memory, or a moment of solitude—can help us observe our inner storms without becoming them.

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:00:00] Introduction: the concept of the mind as noun vs. verb
[00:01:30] How internal labeling shapes self-perception
[00:02:55] The metaphor of the garden and choosing what we “water”
[00:03:30] Introducing “dropping the shades” as a coping mechanism
[00:04:05] Navigating emotional rapids and life’s stressors
[00:04:21] Using nostalgia to reset and re-center
[00:05:45] Operating room metaphor: connecting, pausing, and returning
[00:06:40] Neuroscience behind nostalgia’s effect on the brain
[00:07:15] Individual ways to “drop the shades” and reconnect
[00:07:40] Closing reflections and invitation to apply the concept

Joseph Elisha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-elisha-m-d-a9b7aab

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