What if the biggest shift in your practice this year doesn’t come from a new piece of equipment, a new hire, or a new plan — but from the way you train your brain to notice joy?
In this episode of Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman is joined by Allegra Cohen (TEDx speaker, author, and Chief Joy Officer of BRAVE LIFE) for a conversation that blends neuroscience, leadership, and everyday happiness in a way that’s deeply relevant to optometrists and practice leaders.
Eugene first encountered Allegra’s work when they shared a TEDx stage; he watched her talk sitting next to his daughter, and both were completely drawn in by Allegra’s message about micro joys, resilience, and how you can literally train your brain to notice more of what you want in life. That experience led to this episode — an opportunity to bring that same shift in perspective to the Power Hour audience.
Joy as Neuroscience
Allegra’s central message is simple but powerful: joy is not naive, it’s neuroscience. Using an analogy every listener can relate to, she compares the brain to a TikTok algorithm: whatever you engage with, you get more of. Focus on stress and problems, and your brain will keep serving them up. Focus on micro moments of joy, and your brain’s reticular activating system (RAS) begins to filter the world to find more of what uplifts you.
She introduces her concept of “Micro Joys” — tiny, accessible moments that make you feel alive: sunlight on your face, a favorite song at just the right time, a funny moment with your kids, the smell of morning coffee. They don’t erase the hard things, but they shift your state in the present moment, giving you more energy, clarity, and resilience to handle what’s in front of you.
From Exam Lane to Team Huddles: Joy as a Business Tool
Throughout the conversation, Allegra and Eugene translate these ideas directly into optometry and practice leadership. They talk about how a doctor’s energy walks into the exam room before they say a word — patients can feel whether you’re present, engaged, and genuinely glad to be there, even if you never mention what’s on your mind.
When you come in exhausted, frustrated, or stuck in “problem mode,” patients and staff feel it. When you come in with grounded, joyful energy, patients are more confident in your recommendations, staff feel seen rather than judged, and the entire practice culture can shift from “putting out fires” to shared ownership and solutions.
They explore how many practice owners (and managers) default to scanning for what’s wrong — red numbers on reports, missed targets, mistakes in charts, while recognition and appreciation quietly slip off the agenda.
Practical Tools: “Name It, Shift It, Claim It” and Daily Rituals
One of Allegra’s core techniques is “Name it, Shift it, Claim it”:
- Name it – Honestly acknowledge how you’re feeling in the moment (“I’m anxious,” “I’m overwhelmed,” “I’m stressed about the next three meetings”).
- Shift it – Take one small action to change your state: a deep breath, a stretch, a 30-second shake-out, a quick laugh — anything that gets you out of your head and back into your body.
- Claim it – Notice the change, let it land, and mentally “bookmark” that feeling with gratitude, so your brain remembers it as a pattern worth repeating.
They even do this live on the show, with Eugene participating in a quick “shake it out” exercise and immediately feeling lighter, more relaxed, and better able to see simple solutions to a stressful situation.
She’s taught these tools everywhere from corporate teams to the U.S. Navy’s Warrior Toughness initiative, helping people transition from high-alert environments back into presence with their teams, their families, and themselves.
If you’ve been feeling reactive, worn down, or like your entire day is spent chasing problems instead of leading with purpose, this episode offers a different operating system.
Allegra Cohen doesn’t ask you to ignore what’s hard; she shows you how to notice what’s good alongside what’s hard — so you can lead with more clarity, compassion, and courage in your practice and your life.
And maybe, the next time you walk into an exam room, or staff meeting, you’ll bring a little more joy with you.
Key Takeaways
- Why Joy Is a Leadership Skill, Not a Luxury: How your energy as a doctor or manager shapes patient trust, staff morale, and business outcomes.
- How the Brain’s “Algorithm” Works: What the reticular activating system is, and how focusing on joy changes what your brain notices and amplifies.
- The Power of Micro Joys: How small, everyday moments can become a practical resilience tool during stress, uncertainty, and long clinic days.
- “Name It, Shift It, Claim It”: A simple, repeatable method to reset your mood and mindset in under a minute.
- Making Joy Contagious at Work: How to balance solving problems with celebrating wins so your team feels seen, not just scrutinized.
In This Episode
- 00:00 | Introduction
- 02:42 | Why This Episode is Different: Joy and Leadership
- 03:35 | The TikTok Algorithm vs. Your Brain
- 05:23 | What Are Micro Joys? The Neuroscience Behind Small Moments
- 09:17 | How Stress Affects Decision-Making in Your Practice
- 28:59 | Practical Exercise: Shifting Your Focus in Real Time
- 45:07 | How Leaders’ Moods Ripple Through Teams
- 46:51 | The DMV Story: Choosing Your Experience
- 48:55 | Handling Negativity
- 51:15 | Where to Find Allegra and Her Book
Contact Information
Connect with Allegra Cohen
Allegra Cohen is the Chief Joy Officer and founder of Brave Life, a science-backed wellbeing platform that helps individuals and organizations “stress less and play more.”
A TEDx speaker and author of Your Playbook for Living Brave Life, she is known for her signature micro-JOYS® method and the “Joy Algorithm” framework: tools that blend neuroscience, mindfulness, and storytelling to increase resilience, presence, and energized leadership.
Allegra has brought her message to audiences in corporate, educational, and military sectors, including a partnership with the U.S. Navy Warrior Toughness Initiative —demonstrating the tactical impact of joy in high-pressure environments.
Drawing on personal experience overcoming chronic illness and adversity, Allegra empowers professionals to shift their nervous-system state, transform leadership culture, and elevate performance through micro moments of joy.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allegracohen/
- Website: https://www.allegracohen.com/
Connect with Eugene Shatsman (Managing Partner, NSG)
Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman