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Feeling overwhelmed isn’t a personality trait—it’s a solvable problem. And on World Mental Health Day, what better time to talk about stress, worry, and how to reclaim your focus?

My guest today is Dr. Gary Sprouse, known as the Less Stress Doc. Gary is a retired primary care physician, award-winning author of Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress, and co-author of Mindset Matters with Jack Canfield. He’s just released the audiobook of Highway to Your Happy Place and has an online course on the way.

In this conversation, Gary shares practical, no-nonsense tools that you can use right away to shift from feeling trapped in stress to feeling in charge of your time, energy, and priorities. We cover gratitude practices, worry management strategies, and why overwhelm doesn’t have to be your default state.

If you’ve ever said, “I just don’t have a choice,” this episode is for you.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why “less stress” isn’t a destination, and how to define your own happy place
• A daily “50-Point Wake-Up” practice to start your mornings with gratitude
• The Worry Organizer: a 5-step tool to stop spinning and start planning
• How to shift from “I have to” → “I choose to” and reclaim your sense of agency
• The shoebox trick to reduce overwhelm and keep problems manageable
• Why limiting your media intake protects your mental health
• How hope functions as an antidote to despair
  

Mentioned resources:

• Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress by Dr. Gary Sprouse (book + audiobook)
• Mindset Matters by Jack Canfield & contributors (including Dr. Gary Sprouse)
• Website: https://thelessstressdoc.com
• Email: [email protected]
  

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://www.dr-alise.com
• Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment: https://www.prior10.com
• Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/dralisem

Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment.
The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.