Very Bad Wizards Episode 205: Making Your Nervous System Your Ally (William James on "Habit")
01:32:58
The Importance of Habits
- Habits are central to human life, driving behavior and shaping character.
- Aristotle and the Stoics understood this, but modern philosophy often overlooks it.
Habits for Well-being
- Tamler Sommers improved his well-being by cultivating habits like exercise, meditation, and biking to work.
- He emphasizes the transformative power of making your nervous system "your ally."
The Power of Habit
- Habit simplifies movements, reduces fatigue, and frees up conscious attention.
- William James uses the metaphor of water flowing through a valley to illustrate how habits form.
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Introduction
00:00 • 2min
I Love Being Back to Apathy
01:37 • 2min
The Great Disappointment
03:10 • 2min
Are You a Lizard?
04:46 • 2min
I've Lost the Title, It's Political Humor, Sharing and Remembering
07:12 • 2min
Social Cognition
09:00 • 2min
Neuro Science
10:45 • 2min
Why Do You Think They Involved Ephemera in a Study?
13:15 • 2min
The Brain Is Not Just a Habit
15:43 • 3min
Emotions Are Kicking an Helping Memory Set in A
19:06 • 2min
Amigdala Activation in Memory
20:51 • 2min
Using Robots Is Just Sociologically Enticingu
22:41 • 2min
Is There Any Pressure on Them in Neuroscience?
25:07 • 2min
How True Is This?
26:56 • 1min
Is It the Cuanon of Science?
28:18 • 4min
Very Bad Wizards - What's Up With That?
32:33 • 1min
Ik Over the Ears Review
33:59 • 2min
We Really Appreciate Your Support
35:39 • 2min
The Principles of Psychology - Volume Two
37:30 • 2min
William James's Habit
39:07 • 2min
The Importance of Habits in Psychology and Philosophy
40:54 • 2min
The Replication Crisis - A Quote From Doctor Carpenter
43:21 • 3min
The Process of Acquiring a Habit
46:16 • 2min
How to Build a Habit of Learning
48:30 • 3min
Is There a Word for This?
51:33 • 2min
What Makes Us a Habit?
53:46 • 2min
You Can Pick Up Habits Without Trying
56:02 • 4min
Givewell Podcast - Thank You
01:00:24 • 3min
Better Help - Listen to This Episode of Very Bad Wizards
01:03:19 • 4min
How to Acquire a New Habit
01:07:40 • 2min
New Year's Resolutions - Don't Trust Your Present Will
01:09:41 • 2min
How to Develop Good Habits
01:11:48 • 3min
The Only Thing That Matters Is Doing
01:14:33 • 2min
The Montage Is the Montageili
01:16:58 • 2min
The Inertly Sensitive Condition Is Keeping Up
01:18:48 • 2min
Let the Expression Be the Least Thing in the World
01:20:38 • 1min
Getting Used to a Little Bit of Hardship?
01:22:03 • 3min
Is It a Disciplined Mentality?
01:24:53 • 2min
You Have to Eat Ill, Like Two Boxes of Gobstoppers.
01:27:17 • 2min
Do Something Cause You Don't Want to Do It?
01:28:50 • 2min
Introspection, You Know?
01:30:25 • 3min
Ever wonder why you’re still listening to VBW all of these years? Or why you check your phone 50 times a day? Or why you put on your pants the same way every morning? (If you still wear pants these days.) David and Tamler talk about William James’ essay on habits, why they’re so powerful, and how you can make your nervous system your ally instead of your enemy. Plus, a shocking new neuroscience study reveals that we remember and share funny stories more than boring ones.
Sponsored By:
- Physical Attraction: Physical Attraction is a podcast about physics, but it is also more broadly about science, technology, climate change, and other scientific issues we face in modern society. Check out the over 200 episodes, which include stand-alone discussions as well as interviews with a series of great scientists, scholars, and authors reflecting on the history and future of science and technology.
- GiveWell: Givewell searches for the charities that save or improve lives the most per dollar. Consider a donation this holiday season--your dollar goes a lot further than you might think! Promo Code: verybadwizards
- BetterHelp: You deserve to be happy. BetterHelp online counseling is there for you. Connect with your professional counselor in a safe and private online environment. Our listeners get 10% off the first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/vbw. Promo Code: VBW
Links:
- Scariest Movies of All Time - Based on Science! | The Science Of Scare | Broadbandchoices
- New Study Finds that Delivering the News with Humor Makes Young Adults More Likely to Remember and Share | Annenberg School for Communication
- Political Humor, Sharing, and Remembering: Insights from Neuroimaging
- William James - Wikipedia
- The Principles of Psychology - Wikipedia
- Chapter 4 Habit by William James