Dual Decision Making Systems
Quest for Success
Why do smart people make decisions they later regret—even when they know better? In this episode of the Quest for Success Podcast, you’ll discover how your brain actually makes decisions and why willpower alone is rarely enough to create lasting change. We break down the two systems running your choices every day, the fast, automatic system that keeps life moving, and the slower, deliberate system that plans, reflects, and sets goals. You’ll learn why knowing the right thing doesn’t always lead to doing the right thing, how mental fatigue quietly sabotages discipline, and why...
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Learning Courage, Conviction, and Control from Tex Holiday
Quest for Success
What do a rodeo arena and a therapy office have in common? More than you think. In this episode of the Quest for Success podcast, Dr. Jerry Cunningham sits down with Tex Holiday, a man who lives in two high-stakes worlds as both a mental health professional and a rodeo bullfighting clown. One role helps people manage fear, trauma, and pressure from the inside out. The other requires stepping directly into chaos to protect others, using timing, awareness, and even humor as tools for safety. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to stay calm under pressure, build trust...
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Navigating the Dunning-Kruger Effect
Quest for Success
Ever notice how the most confident people in the room are often the least accurate… while the people who actually know what they’re doing tend to hesitate? That’s psychology. In this episode of the Quest for Success Podcast, we break down the Dunning-Kruger Effect and show you how to use it to your advantage instead of letting it quietly sabotage your growth. You’ll learn why confidence often spikes early, why it drops when learning gets real, and how to rebuild it the right way through competence, clarity, and consistency. This isn’t about tearing yourself down or doubting...
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The Power of the Stockdale Paradox
Quest for Success
What do you do when life, leadership, or faith doesn’t turn out the way you planned and optimism alone just isn’t cutting it? In this episode of Quest for Success, you’ll be challenged to rethink how you handle adversity through the lens of the Stockdale Paradox: the ability to confront brutal reality without losing hope. This isn’t motivational fluff or “just stay positive” advice. This is about learning how to endure difficulty, lead with clarity, and stay grounded when results take longer than expected. You’ll discover how this principle applies to business leadership,...
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The Science of Confidence and Growth
Quest for Success
What if the confidence you’ve been chasing isn’t something you’re supposed to feel, but something you’re supposed to build? In this episode of the Quest for Success Podcast, Dr. Jerry Cunningham breaks down the powerful relationship between confidence and competence and why one without the other eventually falls apart. If you’ve ever felt capable but hesitant, confident but inconsistent, or stuck waiting to “feel ready,” this conversation is for you. You’ll discover why real confidence doesn’t come from hype, personality, or pretending you’ve got it all together. Instead,...
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Understanding Life Balance with Dr. Russ
Quest for Success
What if balance isn’t about slowing down, but about lining up your life so your ambition actually works for you? In this episode of the Quest for Success Podcast, Dr. Jerry Cunningham sits down with Dr. Russell Gaede, known by everyone as Dr. Russ, for a powerful conversation on life balance, leadership, and burnout. Together, they unpack why so many high performers feel stretched thin despite outward success and how leaders can reclaim clarity, energy, and effectiveness without sacrificing drive. Dr. Russ introduces his practical VERBS framework—Vocational, Emotional, Relational,...
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The Danger of Good Intentions
Quest for Success
Have you ever ended a busy day feeling exhausted… and still unsure what you actually accomplished? If so, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Quest for Success podcast, we unpack what I call the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” distraction, the surprisingly common way good, well-intentioned things sneak into the wrong moments and quietly derail progress. Using a simple nursery rhyme with a powerful lesson, we explore why focus breaks down, how attention gets overloaded, and why discipline alone isn’t enough to protect what matters most. I did not make up this theory, I am just...
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Mastering Your Emotions: A Path to Growth
Quest for Success
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “That’s just who I am,” right after snapping at someone, shutting down, or feeling stuck in the same emotional patterns? What if that label is doing more damage than the emotion itself? In this episode of the Quest for Success podcast, we take a practical and eye-opening look at why labeling emotions like anger, anxiety, or negativity as “normal” or “just your personality” can quietly sabotage your growth. You’ll learn how your brain wires emotional habits, why certain reactions feel automatic, and how unmanaged emotions spill into your...
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The Power of Acceptance in Leadership
Quest for Success
What if the stress you’re carrying isn’t coming from what you’re doing wrong but from what you’re trying to control that was never yours to begin with? In this episode of the Quest for Success Podcast, Dr. Jerry Cunningham breaks down the Serenity Prayer as a practical, everyday leadership framework and not just something reserved for recovery rooms or crisis moments. You’ll learn how to apply serenity, courage, and wisdom to real-life decisions at work, at home, and in your own personal growth. This episode blends psychology, leadership, and faith in a grounded, relatable way....
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From Battlefields to Boardrooms: Ed Gargas
Quest for Success
What does it really take to build success that lasts, financially, professionally, and personally? In this episode of the Quest for Success Podcast, Dr. Jerry L. Cunningham sits down with retired Army Colonel and financial planner Ed Gargas to unpack leadership lessons forged in the military and refined in the world of finance, business, and community service. This is not a technical finance episode. It’s a conversation about discipline, decision-making, and building a life that works in the real world. You’ll hear how military leadership principles translate directly into business and...
info_outlineHave you ever caught yourself saying, “That’s just who I am,” right after snapping at someone, shutting down, or feeling stuck in the same emotional patterns? What if that label is doing more damage than the emotion itself?
In this episode of the Quest for Success podcast, we take a practical and eye-opening look at why labeling emotions like anger, anxiety, or negativity as “normal” or “just your personality” can quietly sabotage your growth. You’ll learn how your brain wires emotional habits, why certain reactions feel automatic, and how unmanaged emotions spill into your work life, home life, and relationships often without you realizing it.
This isn’t about suppressing feelings or pretending everything is fine. It’s about understanding emotions as signals, not identities, and learning how to lead them instead of letting them run the show. If you want clearer thinking, healthier relationships, and more emotional consistency in daily life, this episode will challenge how you see yourself and give you a better path forward.
Takeaways
- We often excuse emotional reactions as part of our identity.
- Labeling emotions can hinder personal growth and leadership.
- The brain reinforces emotional patterns, making them default responses.
- Emotional habits can feel comforting, even when destructive.
- Curiosity about our emotions can lead to better self-regulation.
- Emotions are not fixed traits; they are signals that can be managed.
- Emotional awareness is crucial for healthy relationships.
- Unmanaged emotions can negatively impact social dynamics.
- Emotional intelligence involves recognizing and regulating feelings.
- Leading emotions instead of defending them fosters personal and social growth.
Learn more and explore additional resources at https://www.Quest-Success.com
Recommended Resources to Go Deeper
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Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence
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Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders
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Ellis, A. (1994). Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy
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Lieberman, M. D. (2013). Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect