The Brain and the Mind Can Be Trained

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Neral: I think it speaks to the fact that the mind can be trained. The areas of the brain associated with stress, the gray matter, literally shrinks. The area aso associated with empathy and compassion grows. And this isn't some touchy feely new ag thing. This is hard core, scientific a stuff. At the same time, life changing andn this is why we're seeing everyone from scientists to pro football players to entertainers engaging with what has always been considered a kind of fringy, weirdo activity. It's why i wrote my book, to try to get people who might be sceptical about this stuff to open their minds a little bit exactly

Dan Harris is best known for his work on ABC News, Nightline and Good Morning America. He is the author of the book, 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story

In this episode, Eric and Dan discuss his original skepticism of meditation and the benefits he discovered from developing a regular meditation practice.

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Dan Harris and I Discuss Learning to Be 10% Happier Through Meditation and …

His book, 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story
How the mind can be trained for compassion and happiness
Exercising the brain just like the body
The science of meditation
How we all have an inner voice or narrator in our head
The scientifically proven benefits of meditation
Our tendency to focus on the bad things and ignore the good.
Finding the line of when to push forward or back down
The happiness set point theory.
Motivation coming from happiness versus pain
How a certain amount of stress is necessary
Dealing with failure and setbacks
His experience of discovering awareness in the present moment
Meditation as a mechanism of learning mindfulness
The practice of meditation is about remembering