Dr. Tracy Duberman of ‘The Leadership Development Group’: How We Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness
Over time, feeling grateful boosts happiness and fosters both physical and psychological health. Increased gratitude shifts inner attention away from negative emotions and minimizes ruminating, which is a hallmark of depression. People who are grateful feel less pain, less stress, suffer insomnia less, have stronger immune systems, experience healthier relationships, and do better academically and professionally. Overall, it can boost both your mental and your physical health. Grateful people are indeed less likely to have mental health problems like depression. If you are focusing on things you are thankful for you are focusing on the positive aspects of your life.
As we all know, times are tough right now. In addition to the acute medical crisis caused by the Pandemic, in our post COVID world, we are also experiencing what some have called a “mental health pandemic”.
What can each of us do to get out of this “Pandemic Induced Mental and Emotional Funk”?
One tool that each of us has access to is the simple power of daily gratitude. As a part of our series about the “How Each Of Us Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness” I had the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Duberman, PhD, MPH, FACHE, PCC, President and Founder of The Leadership Development Group
Tracy is the Founder of The Leadership Development Group, a global talent development firm supporting leaders, teams, and organizations across the health ecosystem. Duberman is a published author of From Competition to Collaboration: How Leaders Cultivate Partnerships to Deliver Value and Transform Health and a recognized expert on leadership. Before founding TLD Group, Duberman led the Healthcare Practice at a leading boutique executive coaching firm and was a Senior Consultant with Hay Group. Earlier in her career, Duberman held executive positions in a variety of leading organizations including Oxford Health Plans, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Tracy earned her PhD in Public Health Policy and Management from New York University, her MPH from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, and BA from the University of Rochester. She serves on the board of the Physician Coaching Institute and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and Harvard McClean’s Institute of Coaching.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive into our discussion, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about you and about what brought you to your specific career path?
Well, it was a circuitous route, for sure. I have had a great deal of luck on my side coupled with an innate ability to rise from failure. I owe a debt of gratitude to my parents who taught me and my siblings to make the best of every situation not matter how challenging.
I learned early on that every step you take leads to the next and not all steps are smooth. I went to University of Rochester with the hopes of going to medical school. Failing the introductory chemistry class forced me to reconsider a clinical career. Instead, I pivoted to an administrative track in public health. Turns out, I really liked the coursework, met great professors, and continued on to my master’s degree in Public Health. The first job I landed out of grad school was as a research assistant (aka courier) to the National Institutes of Health where my role was to collect urine samples from women who worked for the Newark, NJ Board of Education to be used to study the impact of video display terminals on spontaneous abortions. Glamorous, huh? However, that job enabled me to secure my first administrative position within the health industry in a provider organization and further opportunities within the payer and pharmaceutical sectors. These experiences plus that of working for a leadership development consultancy led to TLD Group a company which provides leadership development to the health ecosystem.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
There were two “interesting” moments in my career. The first was having the courage to leave a steady job in healthcare administration to work at a consulting firm. The second was leaving a steady paycheck at the consulting firm to open my own firm.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?
“Life’s best lessons are often learned at the worst times.” Joan Frommer, my mom
Why do you think that resonates with you?
Because it is simply true and at times of chaos and challenge it helps to refocus me on what is positive.
Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
The untimely death of my mother (Feb 18, 2020). The quote helped in the grieving process by re-focusing it on celebration of my mom’s life versus focusing on loss.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story about why that resonated with you?
Siddhartha is one that I love which demonstrates the journey of a young prophet and the trials and tribulations he faced that ultimately defined himself. I also love the Color of Water, a memoir from James Baldwin about his life growing up the black child of a white mom. It is a story of acceptance.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
We (TLD Group) launched an innovative leadership academy program for a large pharmaceutical company where the focus is on developing leaders from underrepresented groups. The academy program is creating an inclusive culture and focuses on leadership competencies such as leading self (emotional intelligence and gratitude), leading others, leading change, and leading for results.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My parents & grandparents, through their actions, who instilled in me the importance of family. Many academic professors who have championed my success without expectations. My husband and children who have supported me throughout the many facets of my life.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now that we are on the topic of gratitude, let’s move to the main focus of our interview. As you know, the collective mental health of our country is facing extreme pressure. We would like to explore together how every one of us can use gratitude to improve our mental wellness. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms. How do you define the concept of Gratitude? Can you explain what you mean?
Gratitude is the expression of appreciation for what one has. As a choice, gratitude is an attitude or disposition. As a mindset, it can be cultivated by being aware of and expressing appreciation for what one has.
Why do you think so many people do not feel gratitude? How would you articulate why a simple emotion can be so elusive?
It is all about perspective — we are born with genetic predispositions. That coupled with environmental and socio-economic factors impact our perspective. Why is it, after all, that some who have suffered unimaginable trauma (Elie Wiesel, Martin Luther King, Malala Yousafzai) are capable of espousing positivity and gratefulness. Truth be told in our fast-paced world where expectations are so high and we crave a dopamine hit with each click of the mouse and tap of the screen, many forget to focus on the simple things in life that bring gratitude.
This might be intuitive to you, but I think it will be constructive to help spell it out. Can you share with us a few ways that increased gratitude can benefit and enhance our life?
Over time, feeling grateful boosts happiness and fosters both physical and psychological health. Increased gratitude shifts inner attention away from negative emotions and minimizes ruminating, which is a hallmark of depression. People who are grateful feel less pain, less stress, suffer insomnia less, have stronger immune systems, experience healthier relationships, and do better academically and professionally. Overall, it can boost both your mental and your physical health. Grateful people are indeed less likely to have mental health problems like depression. If you are focusing on things you are thankful for you are focusing on the positive aspects of your life.
Ok wonderful. Now here is the main question of our discussion. From your experience or research, what are “Five Ways That Each Of Us Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness”. Can you please share a story or example for each?
1.) Meditating — the simple act of breathing — every night I listen to a meditation tape — it could be as simple as focusing on your breath. The purpose it to shut out everything else that gets in the way of thought to calm your mind. We work so hard during the day — meditation is an intermezzo — transitioning us from one part of the day to another.
2.) Journaling — Writing things down. Each day I write three thing that I am grateful for — there are good things despite the chaos we are living in.
3.) The Rule of Three — In the Jewish religion we do tzedakah = which is to give to others. While tzedakah is focused on the recipient, the giver benefits as well. Every day, I encourage my kids to do one good deed for a stranger, one good deed for a family member or friend, and one good thing for themselves. We reflect at the end of each day.
4.) Write thank-you notes to others.
5.) Think about people who have inspired you and what about them was most significant.
6.) Engage in “mental subtraction.” Imagine what your life would be like if some positive event had not occurred.
7.) The practice of gratitude is a tool to stay level and positive in the face of adversity.
Is there a particular practice that can be used during a time when one is feeling really down, really vulnerable, or really sensitive?
Depends — if it is acutely happening, I go into breathing. If it is long term — bad marriage, friendship issue, I think journaling is important. Gratitude as a practice is a great tool to help deal with feelings — but this alone may not be the answer — but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that you would recommend to our readers to help them to live with gratitude?
I use the meditation app Calm with Tamara Levitt. I also subscribe to Headspace and JKZ Series by John Kabot Zinn Guided Mindfulness Meditation. There are also widely available gratitude journals.
What is the best way our readers can further follow your work online?
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
