Srini Pillay, M.D.

11/04/2025

We often chase goals believing happiness lies on the other side of achievement. But neuroscience says it works the other way around.

Happiness leads to success — not the reverse. When you free your mind from fear, overthinking, and desperation, your unconscious brain can finally do its best work.

✨ Lead with happiness.
✨ Let go of the outcome.
✨ Watch your brain align with what you truly want.

Find out more about The Science of Getting What You Want: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/understanding-the-biology_b_706996

Strive for happiness without tying it into getting the things you want. Lead with happiness. If you do this, you will free up your brain to do its work. How can you do this?

11/03/2025

💭 Mental health isn’t just about the mind — it’s about the body too.

Despite decades of research showing that depression and anxiety increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, and dementia, governments allocate only 2% of healthcare budgets to mental health.

When mental health is underfunded, physical health suffers — and the economic and human costs are enormous.

It’s time for policy to catch up with science.
🧠 The brain doesn’t stop functioning below the neck. Find out more: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/debunking-myths-of-the-mind/202305/meager-mental-health-funding-can-worsen-physical-health

Did you know depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders can increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, and dementia? Here's what policymakers are missing.

11/03/2025

What do you do when a friend lets you down—again? 💔

It feels like it’s about this moment — the missed call, the canceled plan, the promise broken. But your brain doesn’t just record moments — it traces patterns. 🧠
That’s why one disappointment can cut so deep. It’s not just about them — it’s about the echo of every time you felt unseen, unchosen, or let down.

Here’s the shift I’ve learned: don’t just ask “Why did they do this now?” Ask “What pattern in me does this connect to?” Because once you see the old story, you can stop living it — and start writing a new one. That’s where real power begins.

💬 Have you noticed a pattern you’re ready to rewrite? Tell me in the comments.
Check out the article to learn more: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11903913/

11/01/2025

We’re often told that success comes from setting clear goals, building solid strategies, and sticking to them with determination. But what if that’s only half the story?

Recent research suggests that logic and grit may play a surprisingly small role in achieving our goals. Instead, our greatest breakthroughs often arise when we let go—when we allow curiosity, exploration, and intuition to guide us.

Our brains don’t just “think” our way to success. They tune in—to subtle signals, insights, and awareness that emerge when we stop forcing answers and start listening more deeply.

So, the next time you feel stuck, try loosening your focus. Go for a walk. Reflect. Let curiosity—not logic—take the lead. You might be surprised at what reveals itself.

Find out more: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/debunking-myths-of-the-mind/202304/change-your-awareness-to-achieve-your-goals

Are you feeling stuck, not achieving your goals? Recent research suggests that you might benefit from looking outside your brain.

10/31/2025

Why do I put on weight when I eat carbs in the US, but not in Italy? 🍝

It’s easy to think carbs are just carbs — but what if the real difference isn’t on the plate at all? In Italy, the flour is less processed, the meals are slower, and the air itself feels calmer. I’m surrounded by laughter, conversation, and ease — and that changes everything, from stress hormones to digestion.

Science now shows your microbiome shifts with your environment. So maybe the secret isn’t cutting carbs — it’s changing the field you live in.

💬 If this resonates, 🔁 share this reel with someone who’s blamed the pasta instead of the pace.

Check out the article to learn more: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8641399/

10/30/2025

Who knew beauty could literally talk to your genes? ✨

What if your favorite skin treatments weren’t just about looking younger—but about turning back your biological clock?
Epigenetic research now shows that therapies like fractional lasers and radiofrequency don’t just boost collagen—they can reset your skin’s aging code at the molecular level.

So next time you book that appointment, remember—it’s not just a glow-up. It’s a way to age smarter, not just slower.

Check out the full article to learn more about how science is redefining beauty and aging: https://buff.ly/jod6SXR

10/30/2025

This summit lineup is unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Learn directly from trusted names like Bessel van der Kolk, MD, Kristin Neff, PhD, and Daniel Siegel, MD — plus fresh new perspectives from John Gray, PhD (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus) and David Allen (Getting Things Done).

✨ Every session is all-new and free to watch for 24 hours.
📅 November 11–17, 2025
👉 Free Tickets
https://buff.ly/HzzyGDC

10/29/2025

Many of our “bad habits” aren’t just about willpower—they’re the brain’s way of managing fear and uncertainty.

In this article we explore 7 brain-based principles behind habits and how fear circuits can keep us stuck—until we learn to calm them.

When we understand that stress, context, and fear drive our habits, change becomes less about force and more about understanding.

Find out more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-brain-based-ways-to-sto_b_681004

In this brief reflection, I will identify seven brain-based principles that lie behind bad habits and how we can use these principles based in the fear-brain to overcome them.

10/28/2025

We often think we’re stuck because change is hard.
But neuroscience tells a deeper story — one of hidden fears, guilt about outgrowing others, and brain biases that tether us to the familiar, even when it hurts us.

The real cost of change isn’t time or effort.
It’s the courage to live a life true to yourself — not the one others expect.

In Recipes for Success Week 43 I explore how unconscious forces and neural wiring keep us repeating old patterns, and how to finally break free. https://drsrinipillay.substack.com/p/week-43-beyond-switch-cost-how-the

The hidden biases, unconscious fears, and closed temperaments that keep you from making meaningful choices — and what to do about them.

10/28/2025

I’m excited to share that my brand-new LinkedIn Learning course — Brain-Based Strategies for Professional Success— is now live!

This updated course blends the latest neuroscience insights with AI chats to help you retain information, rewire old habits, and boost professional performance.

Whether you want to sharpen your focus, build confidence, or elevate how you lead — this course gives you brain-based tools to get there.

Watch it now on LinkedIn Learning and share with a friend who loves learning that lasts! https://buff.ly/20buaSu

Learn about the connections between brain science and business success.

10/27/2025

Play is your brain's built-in pharmacy

In episode 6 of Monday's with Mia, I sit down with Mia Sundstrom to explore how play naturally boosts your brain chemistry.

Play releases opioids for calm, dopamine for reward, and endocannabinoids for relaxation-no prescription needed. If you've forgotten how to play, maybe it's time to rediscover what joy feels like for you.

Tag a friend who plays the same way you do — or
one who needs a reminder to play again.

10/24/2025

What if stepping into a virtual space could calm your mind, sharpen your focus, and even extend your life?

That’s the vision behind Reulay Rooms, immersive wellness environments powered by Lenovo’s XR technology and grounded in neuroscience.

Together, Lenovo and Reulay are reimagining mental wellness through virtual reality, making it more accessible, scalable, and transformative than ever before.

💡 This isn’t VR as escapism. It’s VR as empowerment.

🔗 Dive into how neuroscience, AI, and XR are shaping the future of human potential: https://buff.ly/hSaHGcm