Why Thinking Is Not All In Your Head & Secrets From the Longest Study of Happiness - SYSK Choice
Feb 1, 2025
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Annie Murphy Paul, a renowned science writer and author of "The Extended Mind," dives into how our thinking extends beyond the brain, highlighting the role of gestures and surroundings in cognitive processes. She explores the benefits of unconventional thinking methods. Robert J. Waldinger, a Harvard psychiatrist and director of the longest study on happiness, shares insights into how meaningful relationships shape emotional well-being and longevity. Their discussions bridge the gap between cognition, environment, and the essence of happiness.
Humans possess an inherent desire for novelty, which drives exploration but can lead to challenges in maintaining sustained interest over time.
Strong and reliable relationships are crucial for health and happiness, emphasizing the importance of social connections in managing life's stresses.
Deep dives
The Insatiable Appetite for Novelty
Human beings have an innate drive to seek out novelty, a trait that can be traced back to survival instincts from early human history. This desire for change often leads to quick boredom with new experiences, as demonstrated in research where even newborns show a preference for new stimuli after a brief exposure. Notably, about 15% of individuals are thrill-seekers eager for constant change, while a similar percentage prefers stability, with the majority falling somewhere in between. Understanding where one fits on this novelty-seeking spectrum can help individuals appreciate their own preferences without judgment.
Thinking Beyond the Brain
The notion that thinking is confined to the brain is challenged by the concept of 'thinking outside the brain,' which suggests that various external resources enhance cognitive processes. This encompasses bodily sensations, physical surroundings, social relationships, and tools that aid in idea formulation. For instance, using a bulletin board to visualize ideas can lead to clearer thinking, as externalizing thoughts helps provide new perspectives. By being intentional about utilizing these outside resources, individuals can improve their cognitive efficiencies and outcomes.
The Importance of Relationships for Health
Research highlights that strong relationships significantly contribute to overall happiness and health, with those maintaining warm connections being less susceptible to chronic diseases. Such connections do not need to be intimate; even casual relationships can foster a sense of belonging and support. The key is having at least one reliable relationship where one feels secure enough to seek help during tough times. Building and nurturing these relationships is vital for managing stress and maintaining a balanced life.
Building Meaningful Connections
To cultivate lasting friendships, engaging in activities that are enjoyable or meaningful is effective, as shared interests create common grounds for connection. Opportunities to meet others can arise from joining clubs or participating in community events centered around one’s passions. While developing these relationships may take time and effort, consistent encounters with the same people can lead to deeper conversations and lasting friendships. It’s important to recognize that while friendships require nurturing, they enrich our lives with joy and support.
We humans love novelty. We seek it out. While that can be good, it can also get us in trouble. This episode begins by exploring why we seek out new things, places and experiences and what happens after we do. Source: Winifred Gallagher author of the book New (https://amzn.to/3XsAxRb)
Did you know that one of the reasons we gesture with our hands when we talk is to help us figure out what to say next? That is just one example of how thinking isn’t all about what goes on in the brain, according to my guest Annie Murphy Paul. She is science writer whose work has appeared in the Boston Globe, Scientific American, Slate, Time magazine and she is author of the bestselling book The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain (https://amzn.to/3Hp3k3R)
Imagine if you followed and studied a group of people for decades and watched how they lived? You would discover a lot about what makes people healthy and happy over time. That’s what The Harvard Study of Adult Development is all about. Researchers have followed the lives of two generations of individuals from the same families for more than 80 years. Listen and you will be amazed by what they found. My guest is Robert J. Waldinger, who directs the study and is author of the book, The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness (https://amzn.to/3HpbFVc)
Where are you on the introvert/extrovert scale? Listen as I explain the difference between extroversion and introversion and how to tell which one you are. You will also discover the difference between being shy and being introverted. And it’s a big difference. Source: Susan Cain author Quiet (https://amzn.to/3XQUH7d)