Mindful Thinking for Chronic Health with Ellen Langer
Oct 24, 2023
auto_awesome
Renowned Harvard professor and psychologist Ellen Langer discusses the power of mindfulness. Mindfulness can improve our health, enliven our brains, reverse signs of aging, and embrace uncertainty. Langer believes that practicing mindfulness can cure our ills and lead to a more mindful and nurturing world.
Mindfulness has a positive impact on physical health, aging, and overall well-being.
Embracing uncertainty and actively noticing change leads to better decision-making, authenticity, and fulfillment in life.
Deep dives
Mindfulness and its Impact on Health
Mindfulness, as defined by Ellen Langer, is the act of actively noticing new things and approaching what we think we know as if we don't know it at all. Ellen Langer, a Harvard professor and the mother of mindfulness, has conducted extensive research on the benefits of mindfulness. According to her studies, mindfulness has a positive impact on our physical health and the aging process. By simply noticing and being present in the moment, we can improve our well-being, our health, and our happiness. Recognizing that uncertainty is the rule and accepting that everything is always changing allows us to be more engaged in our lives and more accepting of ourselves and others. Mindfulness helps us control our thoughts and emotions, leading to improved health outcomes and a more fulfilling life.
The Power of Mindful Decision Making
Ellen Langer emphasizes the importance of mindful decision making and suggests that instead of focusing on making the 'right' decision, we should aim to make the decision right. By being fully present and actively noticing new things, we become more engaged and passionate about what we're doing. Mindfulness allows us to open ourselves up to different perspectives and understand that events and situations are not inherently good or bad. Our thoughts and interpretations determine our experiences. By embracing uncertainty and actively noticing change, we can make better decisions and live more authentic and fulfilling lives.
The Mind-Body Connection and the Impact of Mindfulness
Ellen Langer's research on the mind-body connection highlights the profound impact that our thoughts and mindset have on our physical and emotional well-being. She conducted the counterclockwise study, where elderly men lived as if they were 20 years younger, and found that their overall health improved, including hearing, vision, memory, strength, and appearance. Other studies have shown that simply changing our mindset and beliefs, such as perceiving work as exercise, can lead to positive physical changes, such as weight loss and improved blood pressure. The key is to recognize that our thoughts and beliefs shape our experiences, and by being mindful and actively noticing, we can take control of our health and well-being.
The Benefits of Mindfulness for a Better World
Ellen Langer believes that a more mindful world would be a nurturing, warmer, and more loving place. Mindfulness promotes empathy, understanding, and acceptance of others and ourselves. By actively noticing and being present, we become less judgmental and more open to different perspectives. This not only improves our relationships and interactions but also enhances our overall well-being and happiness. Langer's work and research remind us that by embracing the power of mindfulness, we can create positive changes in ourselves and the world around us.
Ellen Langer is a renowned Harvard professor and psychologist who has been studying mindfulness for over 40 years. She is the first woman to be tenured in psychology at Harvard and has conducted extensive research in her lab. She is also known as the “The Mother of Positive Psychology.” Langer is the author of numerous books, including her recent work, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health.
Langer joins Leah Smart to discuss the power of mindfulness in improving our health and well-being. By being mindful, we can enliven our brains, improve our physical health, and live longer. Langer's research has shown that simply noticing and being present can reverse signs of aging, enhance healing, and improve our overall well-being. She encourages us to embrace uncertainty, as it opens us up to new and interesting possibilities. Langer believes that our ills can be cured by practicing mindfulness and recognizing that everything is constantly changing.