Big Think

• Do less, become happier, says Yale cognitive scientist | Laurie Santos

  What if our incessant drive for self-improvement isn't always conducive to happiness? Cognitive scientist Laurie Santos proposes this intriguing question. She notes that while evolution has wired us for relentless self-enhancement, our modern environment, ripe with comparisons and demands for excellence, amplifies this instinct, often to our detriment. The incessant push for "more" and "better" can lead to societal harm, fostering a competitive, individualistic society rather than one rooted in collective harmony and goodwill. Moreover, it can compromise personal happiness. Genuine well-being, Santos suggests, arises from extending compassion towards others and ourselves. Self-compassion, defined as mindfulness, recognition of common humanity, and self-kindness, can surprisingly enhance performance and resilience without a drill-sergeant approach. Breaking free from the pervasive "hustle culture" requires acknowledging its illusory nature, prioritizing kindness towards oneself, orienting towards others, and practicing gratitude to appreciate one's journey. 0:00 The drive for perfection 1:48 2 consequences of pushing too hard 2:38 3 parts of self-compassion 4:15 Why hustle culture is toxic 4:59 Happiness comes from other-oriented behavior .com/the-well/how-hus... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Laurie Santos: Dr. Laurie Santos is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Yale University. Her research provides an interface between evolutionary biology, developmental psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, exploring the evolutionary origins of the human mind by comparing the cognitive abilities of human and non-human primates. Her experiments focus on non-human primates (in captivity and in the field), incorporating methodologies from cognitive development, animal learning psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  9:16

  --------

  9:16
• Finding meaning at the quantum level

  Kmele steps inside Fermilab, America’s premiere particle accelerator facility, to find out how the smallest particles in the universe can teach us about its biggest mysteries. According to Fermilab's Bonnie Flemming, the pursuit of scientific understanding is “daunting in an inspiring way.” What makes it daunting? The seemingly infinite number of questions, with their potentially inaccessible answers. In this episode of Dispatches from The Well, host Kmele Foster tours the grounds of America’s legendary particle accelerator to discover how exploring the mysteries at the heart of particle physics help us better understand some of the most profound mysteries of our universe. Chapters:- 00:00:00 - The Miracle of Birth 00:04:48 - Exploring the Universe's Mysteries 00:09:20 - Building Blocks of Matter and the Standard Model 00:13:35 - The Evolving Body of Knowledge 00:17:39 - Understanding the Early Universe 00:22:05 - Reflections on Particle Physics 00:25:34 - The Extraordinary Effort to Understand the Small 00:29:59 - From Paleontology to Astrophysics 00:33:40 - The Importance of the Scientific Method and Being Critical ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Kmele Foster: Kmele Foster is a media entrepreneur, commentator, and regular contributor to various national publications. He is the co-founder and co-host of The Fifth Column, a popular media criticism podcast. He is the head of content at Founders Fund, a San Francisco based venture capital firm investing in companies building revolutionary technologies, and a partner at Freethink, a digital media company focused on the people and ideas changing our world. Kmele also serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). ------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  45:27

  --------

  45:27
• Psychedelics could heal your trauma, says neuroscientist Rachel Yehuda.

  “Traumatic experiences are here to stay, and we shouldn’t view them as a prison.” Professor of Neuroscience Rachel Yehuda on how psychedelics may help liberate us from our post-traumatic stress. For myriad reasons, trauma is becoming a bigger part of everyday life in our society. Rachel Yehuda, who studies PTSD and the psychological effects of trauma, believes while many of us have become more educated on how traumatic events affect our mental health, we also might be inadvertently convincing ourselves that suffering from mental illness after trauma is inevitable. Yehuda believes trauma is survivable with the right tools and treatments. She is particularly interested in the potential of psychedelics, like MDMA, to facilitate post-traumatic growth and healing. She discusses potential of psychedelics in assisting psychotherapy, allowing individuals to delve deep into their trauma while remaining coherent. She also emphasizes that the success of these therapies depends on the setting, intention, and therapist's expertise. ------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  15:12

  --------

  15:12
• The test that reveals your hidden strengths | Laurie Santos

  Drawing from the wisdom of ancient philosophers like Aristotle, history has taught us that the pursuit of a good life is found in cultivating virtues. Yale psychologist Laurie Santos brings us into the modern era of virtuous living by unpacking various schools of thought — from Martin Seligman and Chris Peterson’s 24 character strengths to the Japanese practice of ikigai. While engaging with character strengths enhances our sense of meaning and happiness, it’s our unique “signature strengths” that have a profound impact on our lives. Contrary to the common belief that monetary rewards drive job satisfaction, engaging more of our signature strengths at work not only leads to increased job fulfillment but also improves performance and potentially increases earnings. But the application of virtue extends beyond the workplace. Finding ways to incorporate humor, zest, or a love of learning into our leisure activities can unlock greater fulfillment and meaning during our free time. Whether through self-reflection or a systematic survey, identifying our signature strengths and committing to their regular practice empowers us to live a more virtuous and meaningful life. 0:00 The wheel of virtue: 6 domains, 24 character strengths 1:11 Your signature strengths 3:06 Job crafting 4:54 Take the signature strengths test ------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  9:39

  --------

  9:39
• 9 tactics to build a stronger mind | Lisa Genova

  Stress shrinks your brain. Neuroscientist Lisa Genova explains how to strengthen it. It may not feel like it when you can't find your phone or "lose" your sunglasses sitting atop your head, but your memory is an amazing ability -- and one we want to protect. So it's little wonder that any blips or blank spaces can send us spiraling into concern. Some recall issues here and there are normal, says neuroscientist and author Lisa Genova, and not every lapse means looming problems. (And don't worry, forgetting names is a surprisingly tough thing for our brains to do!) But, Genova says, there's ways we can improve our memory, increase resilience and recall and be more comfortable with ourselves and our minds. From making lists and getting Google's help to giving yourself a pop quiz, getting some meditation in, and just plain paying attention, these tips will have your steel trap gleaming. 0:00 Introducing the problem 1:19 #1: Practice paying attention 1:45: #2: Bulk up your hippocampus 3:18 A 9-second meditation you can try 3:59 #3 Secure your sleep 5:14 #4 Drink caffeine 5:36 #5 Create associations (the Baker-Baker Paradox) 6:36 #6 Repetition 7:14 #7 Write it down 8:03 #8 Self-testing 8:31 #9 Just Google it 9:14 Forgetting is human ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Lisa Genova: Lisa Genova is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Still Alice, Left Neglected, Love Anthony, Inside the O’Briens, and Every Note Played. Still Alice was adapted into an Oscar-winning film starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, and Kristen Stewart. Lisa graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in biopsychology and holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard University. She travels worldwide speaking about the neurological diseases she writes about and has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, Today, PBS NewsHour, CNN, and NPR. Her TED talk, “What You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s,” has been viewed more than five million times. The New York Times bestseller REMEMBER is her first work of nonfiction. ------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  12:55

  --------

  12:55

Meer Onderwijs podcasts

Trending Onderwijs -podcasts

Over Big Think