There was a time when I thought I needed the best of everything. A sleek car, the finest motorcycle, the thrill of piloting planes for sport, the pride of riding our horses, and the sense of accomplishment walking through the hospital in my pristine white coat as a psychophysiologist and scientist. In those days, I worked in operating rooms, assisting in awake craniotomies, captivated by the brain’s power to transform lives.

I wasn’t truly rich then—not in the way that matters. I had beautiful moments, full of adrenaline and achievements, and honestly, much of it was worth it. Those chapters shaped me, taught me, and I wouldn’t trade them. But my gaze was fixed outward, chasing external markers of success.

Now, as I look inward, I’ve discovered a wealth that cannot be measured by possessions or accolades. It’s a wealth born from the soul, from the simple, profound moments that fill my life with purpose. Let me share my true treasure:

• Serene mornings with the love of my life ❤️. Waking up beside her, talking without rush, sipping coffee (or mate, connecting us to our roots), laughing, being present. Those moments are the foundation of my happiness.

• Walking together through the hills or by the lake 🌄, where nature mirrors the calm in my heart.

• A family that lights up my world: my extraordinary wife, my remarkable children, and my grandchildren, whose smiles melt me. My parents, my siblings, my father’s lineage, and this family God has gifted me are my greatest treasure 🙏. Words cannot express my gratitude.

• Friends and colleagues who are priceless, with whom I share laughter, ideas, and a commitment to making a difference through neurocoaching.

• The freedom to be myself. No need to be “polished” in a suit and tie. I move through the world like I did at 23: in jeans, cowboy boots, and a heart full of dreams.

• The privilege of sharing what I’ve learned. Through neurocoaching, I help others find their purpose, lead with empathy, and build more human, safer teams.

• Daily awe at science 🔬 and humanity. As a psychophysiologist, I’m amazed by the brain’s capacity to learn, love, and transform. As a human, I’m moved by people’s kindness and potential.

• Moments of guitar and song with Tis, my great love 🎶, where time pauses and everything else fades away.

Above all, my greatest wealth is carrying God in my heart. That presence guides me, brings me peace 🕊️, and reminds me that life is a gift to be lived with purpose, love, and compassion.

Today, my heart is at peace. I’ve learned that true wealth lies in what you value, the connections you nurture, and the impact you make. As a pioneer of neurocoaching, I’ve seen how aligning life with purpose transforms individuals and organizations, reducing accidents and strengthening leadership through Behavior-Based Safety.

What is your greatest wealth? I invite you to reflect and share your story in the comments 💬. Let’s inspire each other!

Born when April came to stay

Blue eyes bright as morning sky

My heart swells more each passing day

Little Martina, little Martina

You're the light that guides my way

She stands up for the ones who can't

Protects the small and weak

Got a heart that's twice her size

And wisdom when she speaks

Little Martina, little Martina

You're everything I seek

Oh my darling granddaughter

You're my pride and joy

Smart and kind and beautiful

Since you were just a girl, not a boy

Little Martina, little Martina

My heart you'll never destroy

Little Martina, little Martina

You're grandpa's greatest joy

When your daddy was just your age

I dreamed of days like these

Now I watch you grow so tall

But still you climb my knees

Little Martina, little Martina

You bring me to my knees

You've got talent running through your veins

And grace in every move

Thirteen years have passed us by

But there's nothing left to prove

Little Martina, little Martina

There's nothing you can't do

Oh my darling granddaughter

You're my pride and joy

Smart and kind and beautiful

Since you were just a girl, not a boy

Little Martina, little Martina

My heart you'll never destroy

Little Martina, little Martina

You're grandpa's greatest joy

When this old man's voice grows quiet

And my hair turns silver white

I'll remember April's gift to me

My precious little light

Little Martina, little Martina

You make everything all right

Oh my darling granddaughter

You're my pride and joy

Smart and kind and beautiful

Since you were just a girl, not a boy

Little Martina, little Martina

My heart you'll never destroy

Little Martina, little Martina

You're grandpa's greatest joy

Little Martina, little Martina

You're grandpa's greatest joy

Composed with the help of AI, for my beautiful Martina, by Granddad Luis.

Dear friends at Substack,

Last week, life threw me a curveball: a pre-heart attack landed me in a Texas hospital, hooked up to monitors with my vitals flashing like a neon sign. As a neurocoach and clinical psychophysiologist, I’ve spent years teaching how to lead through crises, and there I was, putting it all to the test. From that hospital bed, I recorded a video to share how I faced this moment with calm, love, and clarity—because that’s how I choose to live, and I want to invite you to do the same.

That morning, I woke up, meditated, and felt a heavy tightness in my chest, radiating to my left arm. My heart was screaming for oxygen, and as a clinician, I knew the signs: time to get to the ER. I gently woke Tis, my wife, my love, my partner in crime, and said, “Amor, change of plans. We’re heading to the hospital.”

We had big plans—graduations, outings, the works—but life had other ideas. No drama, though. We showered, I popped a nitroglycerin under my tongue, and we drove an hour to the hospital, chatting calmly like it was just another day.

Why no panic? Because drama is a cortisol bomb. It triggers rapid breathing, a racing heart, and a flood of stress hormones that weaken your defenses and fuel inflammation. A pre-heart attack happens when a coronary artery is partially blocked, and your heart cells cry out in pain—burning, squeezing pain, in my case.

My response? Breathe slowly: four seconds in, four seconds out. This simple technique, which I teach at the Neuroscience & Coaching Institute, flips on your parasympathetic nervous system, the one that says, “Chill, we’ve got this.” It cuts through the chaos of tachycardia and rapid breathing in minutes.

While waiting for my catheterization—where they slid a stent into my artery to open it up—I kept my mind on what matters: Tis, holding my hand; my kids and grandkids, who melt my heart; and the love that fills my life. We talked, laughed, and even planned for the worst with serenity, because clarity and love go hand in hand.

I called my grown kids, shared what was happening, and we spoke with calm, mapping out plans just in case. That’s my philosophy: live with a love so big it brings peace, not drama. It’s not just something I teach in masterclasses; it’s how I live, even with wires taped to my chest.

A recent stress test showed my heart is strong, thanks to regular walks with Tis and a careful diet. But my family’s history—four siblings and my grandfather with heart issues—means I carry a genetic load. I don’t control that, but I control my breathing, my thoughts, and my faith.

I don’t let negative news steal my peace. I’d rather read poetry or watch documentaries that lift my spirit. In the hospital, Tis and I were already planning our next steps for the Institute, as if we were in a boardroom, not a ward. She’s our director of logistics, after all!

The real fight isn’t out there; it’s in your mind. Your thoughts shape your emotions, and your emotions drive your actions. Choose thoughts of love, and you’ll find clarity even in chaos.

To my fellow leaders, coaches, and friends: treat others with kindness, not demands. The medical staff were doing their best, and I respected that, asking only for what I needed while fasting without complaint—no daydreams about scrambled eggs or fresh bread, though I was tempted!

My faith carries me. I know I’m in God’s hands, and if this body gives out, I’ll be in a divine place. So I live like a kamikaze—giving my all, fearlessly, alongside Tis and my kids, who share this mindset of love without drama.

What did I learn? Breathe slowly, love deeply, trust fully. Life doesn’t pause, but you can choose how to face it. Have you faced a moment that tested you? Drop your story in the comments—I’d love to hear how you led through it.

A big hug from my newly stented heart,

Luis Gaviria
Director
Neuroscience & Coaching Institute

#Neurocoaching #Resilience #Wellness #Neuroscience #ConsciousLeadership

After experiencing a pre-heart attack (myocardial infarction), I’ve confirmed several things that can help us live a better life.

Let me be clear: my life is far from perfect, and I have many flaws. In other words, I’m just a human being, surrounded by other human beings who also have flaws, sometimes quite irritating ones. Almost as irritating as my own.

Yet, in my home, within our family, we’ve chosen to live with joy, gratitude, dedication, loyalty, and hard work infused with love, cherishing each other deeply. At home and in my children’s homes, we approach life and its challenges with humor. We lead beautiful lives.

We strive to live fruitful lives, peaceful lives, emotionally abundant lives, lives of mutual support, lives of service, and lives with purpose.

I feel overwhelming gratitude for my family—my parents, siblings, uncles, cousins, and nephews. They taught me how to love. This is how I was able to build the home I have and nurture the beautiful, abundant relationships I share with my children and grandchildren.

I want to share some decisions that lead to better outcomes in life (in no particular order). This list isn’t exhaustive, but it gives you an idea:

• One of the most important decisions anyone can make is who they marry and build a home and life with. I’m fortunate to have Tis (Beatriz), my beloved wife. She is my best friend, my lover, my sweetheart, my partner in crime, and I love her deeply.

• The decision to love and care for my children. I have three biological children and a daughter Tis brought into my life—two boys and two girls. I love them dearly and would give anything, endure any hardship, to have them in my life. They’ve also blessed me with grandchildren who melt my heart. Being a father and now a grandfather is one of the most profound aspects of my life. It’s a school of love, understanding, and soul-fulfillment—not without its challenging moments.

• The decision to dedicate my life to serving something greater, the greater good, what some call “the source,” others “the creator,” and which I’m neither afraid nor ashamed to call God. This choice imbues my life with transcendence, allowing me to serve others not only as a clinician, neurocoach, and teacher but also as a human being. It gives me a profound sense of purpose and meaning. My life was one thing before I made the decision to surrender to God, and entirely different afterward. I like my life so much more now.

• The decision to live from love rather than from fear and mistrust.

• The decision to love our family. Love isn’t just an emotion that comes and goes; it’s the result of a conscious choice. Some people choose not to love anyone, perhaps because they’ve been hurt or fear the pain of abandonment or betrayal. I not only feel deep love for my sisters, nephews, cousins, and extended family, but I choose to love them and accept them as they are. They have almost as many flaws as I do, and I embrace them, honor them, and love them as they are—just as I loved my parents and the siblings who are no longer with us. This gives me a sense of belonging and connection that’s hard to put into words. How I love my family!

• The decision to honor my father and mother. This ledshe humble decision to seek psychotherapy. Even the most “well-adjusted” people need to work through things with the guidance of a good therapist—ideally a systemic one who understands family dynamics. When we don’t, we spend our lives chasing relationships with people who represent the ghosts of our parents, leading to decisions that can be deeply counterproductive. I’m not talking about years of weekly sessions on a couch, endlessly revisiting our relationships with Mom or Dad. Most of our emotional “knots” and limitations can be resolved with just a few sessions of good therapy.

• The decision to choose who I spend my time with outside my family. A select few who are my dearest friends. This also leads me to the decision to love my colleagues, my neurocoaching peers, who are always by my side. After all, what are friends but the siblings we get to choose?

• The decision to accept life as it comes. Not as I wish it to be, but as it arrives. This choice stems from deciding to live outside the Drama Triangle (Dr. Stephen Karpman). I strive to live as free as possible from blame, guilt, complaints, or tantrums.

• The decision to work on my inner self, to refine myself as a person, to develop mature empathy, and to learn to accept myself as I am. It’s about being open to examining myself and improving where there’s room for growth, strengthening my discipline and focus. Self-help alone isn’t enough. There are millions of people who read wonderful books and attend seminars, yet it does them no good. They continue living lives full of drama, with a need to control others (starting with their partners and then their children), trapped in cycles of neurosis. They may have certifications in every trendy problem-solving approach, but they resist change. They’re brilliant and energetic in preaching but poor in applying what they learn.

• The decision to see this planet and the world as a great school. We’re always in class. Every difficulty or obstacle is a lesson. The people in our lives—those we love and those we find hard to accept—are our life teachers. Some show us how to live; others show us how not to live. Those we clash with the most are the ones who polish us and strengthen our character. Like the smooth river stones we call pebbles, which were once sharp and jagged, difficult people have made me softer, with fewer rough edges.

• The decision to, whenever possible, approach life with humor. With joy and constant celebration.

• The decision to live in constant gratitude. This leaves no room for depression, hatred, or resentment. Even those we feel have harmed us become our life teachers, free of resentment.

• The decision to have a mentor from whom I choose to learn. With humility and gratitude. If they’re also a coach, even better. Beyond my parents and siblings, my first mentors and coaches, I was fortunate to have a great coach, Dr. Fernando Villa Uribe. He was also my best friend until his passing. He and his wife, Amparo, were a constant source of inspiration and learning. Amparo remains my friend to this day, after many years.

• The decision to practice emotional regulation in every moment. I learned this in emergency rooms, intensive care units, and other unique settings. We must learn to breathe slowly and steadily to activate our parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress in just minutes. The simplest form of emotional regulation is slow breathing: count to four while inhaling and four while exhaling—4x4 breathing, about four seconds each time. Do this for a few minutes, and the change is remarkable.

  If you want to go a step further, inhale for four counts, hold your breath for six, and exhale slowly for eight. I call this 4-6-8. Do it four or five times, then return to 4x4, and afterward breathe normally. This resets our prefrontal lobes, bringing back mental clarity.

• The decision to focus only on what I can control or manage. I can’t control a pre-heart attack, but I can manage my breathing and thoughts. This frees me from the burden of the past and fear of the future. I do my very best, with full commitment, and let the results unfold. I accept them as they come.

There are many more decisions worth making, as our lives are the result of countless choices—some made by others, but the vast majority are our own.

What decisions would you add? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Deja un comentario

La neurociencia nos enseña que plasmar ideas en papel las hace tangibles, como los planos de un arquitecto.

Un abrazo, una caminata o pensar en quienes amamos también avivan nuestra mente.

¿Qué sueño vas a escribir hoy?

Escribe en los comentarios y sigamos creciendo juntos.

Con cariño,

Luis Gaviria

To you, reading this article, I invite you to envision a leadership that doesn’t just weather storms but turns them into opportunities. In today’s fast-paced world, where chaos often seems to rule, calmness isn’t just a virtue—it’s a superpower. As a neurocoach and clinical psychophysiologist, I’ve witnessed how great leaders, from operating rooms to boardrooms, harness calmness to inspire, motivate, and build resilient teams.

Today, I want to share why calmness is essential for leading with impact and how you can cultivate it to elevate your leadership. Get ready for a transformative journey! Keep reading…

Uncertainty is all around us — from shifting markets to personal challenges that weigh on our hearts. As a neurocoach and clinical psychophysiologist, I’ve seen how stress can freeze us, whether in a high-stakes boardroom or a quiet moment of doubt. In my new video, The Brain Under Stress: Why Uncertainty Freezes Us, I share what happens in our brains when chaos hits and how leaders can find calm to guide others.

Drawing from neuroscience and years of work in leadership and safety, this video is for anyone looking to transform anxiety into action. Whether you’re leading a team through tough times or navigating your own path, I hope it inspires you to see your brain as a powerful ally.

Watch it below, and let me know: How do you find clarity when uncertainty strikes? Your thoughts mean the world to me, so please share them in the comments.

With gratitude,

Luis Gaviria

That’s why I recorded this video, "The Weight of Silence" (watch it below, 2 min). It’s a personal reflection on why speaking up with clarity and empathy doesn’t break—it builds. Whether you lead a team or a family, this is for you.

Want more? Check out the full article on Neurocoaching.us, where I share neuroscience-backed tools for these tough talks: Click here.

I’d love to hear what silence you’re ready to break. Leave a comment or reply to this email.

Warm regards,

Luis

Read article in Neurocoaching.us

What’s your story? I’d love for you to read this, reflect, and share your own experience in the comments. It’ll be a joy to connect with you and follow you back.

A big hug to you!

Luis

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Neuroscience tells us the brain has its own patterns. When an accident happens, the amygdala sounds the alarm, the heart races, and the senses sharpen. But it can’t stay in overdrive forever. Hedonic adaptation calms us down, even when risks remain. If a loose cable never sparks trouble, the brain stops seeing it as a threat. Add in the optimism bias—“it won’t happen to me”—and the exhaustion of constant vigilance, and you’ve got a risky mix at work.

That’s where neurocoaching steps in, blending neuroscience and coaching to rewire how we handle safety. Rules and talks alone aren’t enough; we need to work with the mind. Neurocoaching helps workers spot their own complacency, trains their attention with tools like mindfulness, and uses emotions—like family well-being—to anchor prevention.

Workplace safety isn’t just about helmets and signs, Luis. It’s about understanding the brain and giving it tools to protect us. When someone says “nothing ever happens,” it’s not negligence—it’s biology. With neurocoaching, we can reprogram it to save lives.

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Catch you soon.

Luis Gaviria

References:

• Bechara, A., Damasio, H., & Damasio, A. R. (2000). Emotion, decision making and the orbitofrontal cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 10(3), 295-307.

• Kringelbach, M. L., & Berridge, K. C. (2009). Towards a functional neuroanatomy of pleasure and happiness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 13(11), 479-487.

• Posner, M. I., & Rothbart, M. K. (2007). Research on attention networks as a model for the integration of psychological science. Annual Review of Psychology, 58, 1-23.

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