Happy Brain: How to Overcome Our Neural Predispositions to Suffering | Amit Sood, MD | TEDxUNI
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- Опубліковано 21 лис 2024
- Twenty years ago, Dr. Amit Sood, a Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, came to the U.S. thinking he was coming to the Disneyland of the world. He expected everyone here to be very happy. What he saw surprised and shocked him. In this funny, fast-moving, and deeply insightful talk, Dr. Sood shares his journey over two decades and across two continents, finding a way to help us outsmart our neural predispositions to suffering. In the process, he takes us on a back-stage tour of the human brain and outlines the gist of a structured program he is taking globally to decrease stress and improve focus, resilience, and happiness.
Amit Sood, MD, is Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic and Director of Mayo's Complementary and Integrative Medicine program. He is the author of The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living and The Mayo Clinic Guide to Happiness. He is one of the most sought-after speakers at Mayo. He has received several NIH and foundation awards to test and implement integrative and mind-body approaches within medicine. Dr. Sood received the 2010 Distinguished Service Award, the 2010 Innovator of the Year Award, and the 2013 Outstanding Physician Award from Mayo Clinic.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
1. Focus on gratitude. Think of 3 people you care about.
2. Find novelty where love is. Think of your loved ones like you haven’t seen them in a long time. Don’t try to improve anybody within the first 3 minutes. Creatively praise them.
3. 2 second: Before your mind judges a person for the first 2 seconds, align your heart and send them well wishes.
I summarise because it helps me remember the practices. Hope it helps someone!
Thank you!!
5 people.
Ty!!!
Thanks..
Thanks for highlighting these points!
Negative Adaptations:
1. Mind Wandering - uncontrolled thoughts
2. Negativity Bias - we remember negative over positives
3. Hedonic Adaptations - we get used to the good.
The Solution: Science and Spirituality
1. Gratitude in morning: think about 5 people you are grateful for
Focus on maximum net worth...
2. Find novelty where love is: Meet family each day as if you're meeting them after 30 days
3. Creatively Praise! Do not judge
4. Silently wish people good when first meeting. Look at the world the way you want people to look at your children.
5. Reframe your challenges
Gratitude
Compassion
Acceptance
Meaning
Forgiveness
Thank you for summarizing all the important points. ❤️
Thank you so much.😇😘
Sophia Khuloud Hassen well done.
I say thank you also. Dear one.
This summary is spot on. Thanks. Loved the pointers on how to actively mould our attitudes away from their neural predispositions, but I confess I wasn't quite convinced by the "science".
“Science is nothing but systematic study of spirituality. Science doesn’t know it but will know it at some point.” 👏👏💕
Amazing session. Lot to learn and most important is to practice in our life
Spirituality isn't a thing. It's like saying science is nothing but systematic study of unicorn powder. It makes no sense. You can't and never will define unicorn powder.
It's exactly the opposite... What the scientific method has already shown is that this verbose discourse of the so-called "spirituality", which has been used to enrich people with malicious intentions, or severely affected by personality disorders, is not enough - and just throwing words to the wind... You do need to be able to actually predict something, when you claim to understand a phenomenon... E.g., you can claim to heal an infection "spiritually", with the "laying on of hands", or you can give 500 mg of tetracycline... And what really predicts the cure of the infection? It's exactly the opposite... We are living 3 times longer, dying 40 times less at birth, and 100 times less violent... In 250,000 years we add up to 1 billion people, and dying at 25, on average... In just 250 years of medical science, even with birth control, we have multiplied the human population 8 times, by adaptability and longevity... It's exactly the opposite... The pocket of so-called "spirituality" is increasingly empty...
It's exactly the opposite... What the scientific method has already shown is that this verbose discourse of the so-called "spirituality", which has been used to enrich people with malicious intentions, or severely affected by personality disorders, is not enough - and just throwing words to the wind... You do need to be able to actually predict something, when you claim to understand a phenomenon... E.g., you can claim to heal an infection "spiritually", with the "laying on of hands", or you can give 500 mg of tetracycline... And what really predicts the cure of the infection? It's exactly the opposite... We are living 3 times longer, dying 40 times less at birth, and 100 times less violent... In 250,000 years we add up to 1 billion people, and dying at 25, on average... In just 250 years of medical science, even with birth control, we have multiplied the human population 8 times, by adaptability and longevity... It's exactly the opposite... The pocket of so-called "spirituality" is increasingly empty...
I’m a PhD student in engineering and I think what he meant is open to interpretation. Also re conclusions, from my experience, a scientific study usually raises more questions than answers-solid conclusions or scientific fact only comes after numerous years, often decades of verification from others. I think this speaker is trying to say that the part of our mind that is logical / scientific is the same part that is mindful, spiritual and intentional. I’m thinking of zen Buddhism specifically which teach us to view our minds with scientific curiosity.
“Science is nothing but the systematic study of spirituality” WOW! Never thought of science like that! That opens a new whole world to me!
Always found science to be supporting evidence of creative intelligence. Just look at the human body from microscopic to surface level, it's miraculous.
HARMONY OF SCIENCE And region is one of the principles of the Baha'i faith...
The problem with SCIENCE is it is cold & clinical. MANY TIMES there is no room or opportunity for scientists & TEACHERS to convey WONDER with compassion.
///
The problem with SPIRITUALITY is It Gets Dragged Down Into The Mud of Dogma & Religion. THERE IS A VESTED INTEREST TO CONTAIN & DENY SCIENCE SO AS TO KEEP ALL AUTHORITY WITH "THEIR" BRANCH OF RELIGION.
(The only Genuine one - sarcasm.)
Summary: humans have neural predisposition to be unhappy. We have 2 modes of the brain: a. focused mode (processing info, engaged) b. default mode (mind wondering, 50-80% of our time). Also, humans have this evolutionary predisposition to focus on threats, negative bias. These neural predispositions keep us from enjoying life.
Few practices to train the brain to be happy:
a. morning gratitude meditation - think of 5 ppl you're grateful for
b. afternoon validation session - think of 3 ppl who care for you
c. evening intentionality practice - meet your fnf as if you're seeing them after a long time, look for novelty and find creative ways to praise
d. send silent wishes to random ppl instead of silent judgement
5 keys: gratitude, compassion acceptance meaning forgiveness.
Thank you! 💐🤗
Thank you for this wonderful summary :-)
Agape this is on point.
@Repent and believe in Jesus Christ 😂🤣😂
Thanks 🙏🏽
What a great message. I adopted a little practice last year to help me not drive so absentmindedly or aggressively. Because I realized that this was making me anxious. So, every time I stopped at a red light I would say, out loud, "Thank you, Lord", or "Thank you, Universe". I felt that if I was stopped at a red light I was safe, I was in control, and was grateful for it. Somehow, that little practice morphed into saying silent words of gratitude at other times. In particular, when I realized that I had just dodged some kind of small bullet, or heard my child say something that made me realize she wasn't that raging teenager on the inside. Little things. And every time I do that, there is a shift in my thinking. Every time. Well worth it!
"for the first three minutes when you're with your family, don't try to improve anybody.
Two supporting ideas here.
One is to be genuinely interested in what is of interest to them, and second is to creatively praise."
"for the first two seconds, instead of seeing negatively or neutrally, align your heart and send them a silent 'I wish you well.' ".
"so the idea is to meet your family at the end of each day, intentionally, as if you are meeting them after 30 days".
"what happens is we get used to the goodness and start focusing on imperfections"
these quotes really stood out to me, thank you Amit!
Hands down, one of the best TED talks and talks in general I have seen. I could feel the compassion and wisdom emanating from Dr. Sood. Thank you so much! I will now be following Dr. Sood and his work.
@Repent and believe in Jesus Christ the only time I found peace and happiness in life was when I left the church. The church is full of demons pretending to be angels.
I had a stroke on 4/29/22. Medicine that was prescribed for anxiety did not help. I love Ted talks and finally I can be the person I am meant to be since my stroke. I don't need a new purpose... I just need to love better. Maybe I can teach the world too. (At least my city and community) thank you so much.
I did cry when you talked about meeting/greeting people in my life and saying thank you. Very well done. thank you.
Me to. Ditto😉
Yea. Powerful
I did too, when I thought of the deceased .
Me too. His voice is very hypnotic
So do I...
When I closed my eyes, I cried. And I imagine that was the reason that bought me here in the 1st place. These 18 minutes will change my life forever.
Thank you!
Riipi If I can continue to practice what he shared, my life will be changed as well!
🙏🏻
I am relieved to know I wasn't the only one...
Riipi any updates?
"Science is the study of spirituality." oof. I loved this line. Thank you for this uplifting and insightful talk, Dr. Sood.
This TEDTalk is now seven years old ..
I have heard it for the first time this morning.
The
perspective/explanation
of humans judgement towards each other and its origins has enlightened me.
Going forward
I understand better
with the knowledge imparted in this talk,
a method and approach towards humanity.
That i can try from now on in my daily life.
Dr Sood Thank you 👏👏👏
Frickin brilliant. I KNOW all of this but having a concise way to practice it is revolutionary. Thank you, Dr. Sood.
I love to watch Ted talks at my lunchbreak and this one is by far the one I made more notes on! The title doesn't make it justice: 5 principles: Gratitude, compassion, acceptance, meaning and forgiveness. 3 Skills Five people, three minutes and two seconds. Gold nuggets for life! thank you Dr Sood!
Thank you, Dr. Sood - "I wish you well!" Your advice completely changed my day. Bless you. Also, "Science is the systematic study of spirituality." Amen.
I love this so much! Thank you for appearing in my life in 2022, many years after it was originally posted (2015). Dr. Sood, you are incredible.
Brilliant. This is brilliant to me, and much needed in a time when I've felt very stressed, couldn't sleep, up at 3AM+ because of stress and anger. Thinking of five people I'm grateful for in my life helped me heal a little--- helped me see humanity again. And my connection to it. I think I can go back to sleep now, and maybe see the world as "going to be alright" when I wake up. I hope others who see this benefit from this too.
earthwielder, it's been two years. How has this practice worked for you? Have you kept it up?
I love this. I have been inadvertently doing something like this for a while and it works. Focusing on the people you love (even if it's just by thinking of their face and feeling gratitude) makes you feel connected, even when you're physically alone. It's pretty amazing.
I am all for using science and am 100% pro research/evidence -- But I think spirituality is so fundamental to our health as humans. We are smart and we can be rational, but our brains are wired to thrive on people and community. Saying a prayer, at its core, is not intended to be a literal conversation with people who aren't present. It's a way of setting intention towards the things that bring comfort and happiness (which is almost always a sense of connection with others).
Science is nothing but systematic study of spirituality.
Never thought like that... Really Impressive
When I did the meeting and silent gratitude meditation, I cried and came out of it with sheer joy. Thank you so much.
"I wish you well"..............awww, so beautiful.
He’s essentially teaching Buddhist meditation practices hundreds of years old, and explaining it well for modern western audiences. Nicely done. Now how many of those who wrote nice comments will actually do this daily? We could change the world.
I pray many will follow these suggested daily practices. Blessings
Because you all claim this is a religious TED TALK, I am not as
Interested. But,I am making myself
Watch it. I’m sorry. But,that is the truth.
@@marciasloan534 I don't see it as religious - if people do align it with religious beliefs so be it. It is equally valid to interpret this talk and phrases such as ' higher meaning' as finding a meaning that connects you to community, country, environment, nature and purposes that benefit, uplift and protect and assist others.
@@marciasloan534 I consider it more a study in neurplasticity. If I consider it religion-leaning, I may get resentful, so I change my approach in order to avoid a negative attitude. It's a practice that's helped me a lot. 😊
@@joannacosgrove4362 I thought that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion
Years of therapy and attempting to meditate and you just made those attempts much easier and practical for a logical overthinker! Brilliant.
WOW. Just WOW. The exercise brought tears to my eyes as I was overwhelmed with gratitude. It was so calming too. I wish everyone could hear this Ted talk. Life-changing!
My words exactly, I was in tears...this is Mrs Rogers by the way lol. I agree 💯
me too
i was in tears
I did, too. It made me cry
Omg sameeeee it did make me cry
Dr. Sood was funny and kept my interest. He offered positive actions.
great man ! starting next morning i will wake up by bleesing the people that i love first my brother Jesus and my parents then doc Amit Sood and all my friends and every body all over this world God bless you all ....
I love the gratitude exercise and the attitude of meeting your family as if you hadn’t seen them for 30 days.
I listen to this video several times a month. I find it the most inspiring of any I have heard before.
That was excellent! I teach middle school at a Catholic school, and though we often begin with gratitude "journals to Jesus," we can go a long way with your tips. God bless you!
Oh my gosh, I wish he was in my friends circle! He’s so entertaining and is probably a lot of fun to be around. 😃
this is perfect! I wake up feeling low and just go jogging, on returning home, the low feelings have disappeared
I wish You all a very good luck! and thank you Dr. Amit Sood!
Phenomenally brilliant talk. One of the best talks I have heard so far in my life.
"Science is nothing but a systematic study of spirituality." Sending my utmost regards and gratitude from India and Seattle, WA.
I love this talk. sending Dr.Sood my most sincere salutations and respect.
It was like the last piece of the puzzle. Amit Sood inspired me and widened my understaning in this talk. I'm very lucky to catch his talk. That's my gratitude.
Thank you Dr.Amit Sood for teaching to stay happy
I love this so much! I'm anxious before I'm fully awake. I'd much rather be grateful! Love to all ❤️
About 1:50, for each dish washed, one can find a reason to be grateful for, today or lately. It works: It brings joy and 😇!
The nicest one, besides Disneyland, was the baby elephant walking on the street!
This needs to be taught in school early age, God bless us all 🤟🏻🇺🇲
"Science is nothing but systematic study of spirituality" - what a great way to put it. Loved the talk!!
It doesn't have to be people.......gratitude for anything is powerful tool to start the day with I've found......I've used gratitude for many years now to counteract negativity in my life or around me.
"dont try to improve anybody" thats hard. Thanks. Great talk.
That moment when you are on 7th minute of this talk, and then you realize you have already listened to it before, but forgot most of it, over mind wandering during that time.
Such a wise yet humble man. Absolutely beautiful.
hankypanky IOI Yep absolutely 😀
I wish I could give more like to this talk. I wish him well.
Thank you for your energy Amit
I also use this for my glass of water. I put intention in my water and then I drink it. I also put intention in gardening and walking in the woods. Be well and love your Self like no one.
16:00 Silent intentions of compassion 💖
Science is the mechanical study of spirituality 🧘🏽♂️👑🌈
I have had anxiety most my life and I would have to say this is one of the best talks I have heard that I find helpful.thankyou
This is one of the best Ted Talks I’ve seen in a while! Dr. Sood was informative, inspiring and incredibly insightful.
You get good at what you practice...so practice happiness instead of anxiety
First person is a very dear friend. The three other persons were medical/psychological helpers. Lastly, I barely remember my eight year old self. Says a lot about my life 😭 This is a wonderful video, thank you for those insight and tips 👏
wow Dr am speechless, it is the most thoughtful excellent way of seeing happiness, God bless you. you have talked a lot of unique and wonderful thoughts and ideas in just few minutes. And the one you said "Science is a systematic study of spirituality" has a great power to it especially to people who are both strong believers in the community and also scientist in the work place where they are forced to pick sides in their daily life. Thank you for sharing this great wisdom and your love for humanity.
What an incredible experience. I wish I had found this superb message years ago rather than in 2022. Dr. Sood the principles you shared about happiness are so important and I just hope more and more people are able to watch this awesome presentation. Thank you - you have changed my focus forever
People cried in the crowd when he did the gratitude practice. Wow.
simple self-evident guidance back into our own selves where everything resides. bravo
8armwrap
Dr. Amit Sood is great. He teaches us to appreciate those in our families and to focus and not walk around like zombies. We loose so much of out life time not appreciating. In my opinion he teaches how he believes. For reminding to send love to those that r so valuable to us. Most important for those that have religious values send a prayer to them. Thank you Dr Sood!
The ending of this Ted Talk reminds me of discovering all the varied science courses my first year of college. I told myself that they were all inter related, but they had not figured out the connections yet. I still believe this.
Who could dislike this?? It's so brilliant.
Children hope we adults to be kind/grateful , to be compassionate , to be accepting , to live our life with meaning, and have forgiveness . If we do that, we will create a better world for us and our children
Is that the reason I'm so happy? I have maybe 3 user ID's tops and maybe 10 undone tasks. Lots of people to be grateful for and I'm always reading a book in my free time or listening to an audiobook so I don't have the whole mind wondering to negative thoughts problem. I don't know but I'm happy to be happy.
Wow
Great. So find another Ted talk then.
V. Hansen do you meditate or do yoga? That can significantly transform the brain :)
Love this Guy ..a gentle spirit so clever and has not lost the child within ..Total respect ..Thank you
why do we feel unhappy
There are some neuron predispositions that predispose us to suffering.
1. Mind wandering. This is the default mode, we spend about 50 to 80% of time during the day on it. The more time we spend on the default mode the more risk we have for anxiety depression, attention deficit even dementia. On the contrary is the focus mode.
2. Our focus on threats and imperfection, or negativity bias.
Happiness is more about the inner state, how do we cultivate it?
The 5-3-2 program. Five people, three minutes, two seconds.
5-When you wake up in the morning or when you feel safe, think about five person that you feel grateful for. Think about how they affect your life and sent your gratitude to them. (Can include the dead and yourself at any age)
3-when your self-esteem is low, think about three people who care about you. It brings you back to the highway. The idea is not to end the rumble trip, The key is how quickly we recover, so we don’t end in a ditch.
Notice that we have finite time with people who are important to us. For the first three minutes with that person, don’t try to improve anybody. Give them three minutes of undivided attention.
2-for the first two seconds when you see someone, don’t judge that person. Instead, send them a silent “I wish you well”.
Your whole engagement with the world changes. Your threat perception goes down.
When your attention is back to control it’s time to reframe life‘s challenges use higher order principles.
Gratitude ❤compassion ❤acceptance❤ meaning❤ forgiveness❤
You can practice it by focusing on one on each day.
These are all intentional sprinkle practice we are not meditating on breath or emptiness, we are meditating on wisdom, love and relationships. That is what we need and we are sprinkle it, we are not adding milk to your glass of milk, we are adding chocolate powder to the milk.
I really appreciate the way happiness practice is explained by him. Being a psychologist I would love to give this to my clients. Happiness is the ultimate goal of our life
Tremendous respect for this man and his findings in this field.
The talk was quick. But what he said was so important and I've read so many scriptures etc and nothing made sense to me because my mind would always go, that's not true because I don't see it in the world but what he suggested I can do because it's simple and doesn't force me to believe anything first.
I cried. and I thank you for your ted talk. I could almost feel hugging my dad. Thank you
Grateful for the sprinklers that are simple,practical and extremely effective. Its worth sharing with one and all to make this world a kinder, safer and happier place to live in.
Amazing Ted talk and resonates well with me.....love, kindness, compassion, understanding and forgiveness is what makes the world go round!.... Thankyou Dr Sood for sharing.
Stay well, happy and blessed for you are an inspirational soul indeed🙏🏼❤️
Thank you for this talk, Dr. Sood! So much wisdom ! I was crying performing these three methods. It is truly happiness to know that you’re blessed to have so many people you love. And I’m delighted when imagine that another stranger treats me likewise in third practice sending me all good wishes❤❤❤
ת1
What a fabulous Ted talk. One of the best I've heard. What a wise, good man he is. Surprised I'd never heard of him before but will look out for him from now on.
I cried and laughed, best lecture 👏🏻let's be better people! 🙏🏻 gratitude.
2 seconds = privately wish another well.
To celebrate the similarity of our humanity, rather than picking apart our differences - oh what a world it would be 💜
This gentleman without referencing religion or prayer is focusing on what many people of many faiths have done which is first thing when you "come back to life" is to give thanks (gratitude), and the more you practice that mindset, the more goodness will flow from you out into the world... And what you send out will always come back to you.
This is one of the best TedTalks that I have listened to in a long time.
Wow...Dr Sood in less than 20 mins you have given such a precious message in a way that's easy to remember too. Practicing is of course not as easy. But can get there surely. God bless you and your endeavours
“Looking at the world the way we want the world to look at our children.”❤❤❤❤
I come back here often. It is the only tedTalk I share with others.
My favorite.
How wonderful. How refreshing. How simple.
I LOVE the gratitude 🙏🏻 practice for the people in my life. Thank YOU!
Fantastic! Especially science being the systematic study of spirituality!!
Full of gratitude for THIS! Thank you.
You can send a prayer or private intention for someone when you sense danger too. I did this once and it diffused the situation.
As a neuroscientist I assure you that was the best Ted 👏👏👏
As a fellow neuroscientist, i agree with you
I’ve listened to numerous Ted talks and this has to be the most informative & helpful talk I’ve heard. Good work
This has GOT TO be the MOST USEFUL, MOST IMPORTANT TED Talks ever!!! (The ONLY thing that could make it better, is if he/the speaker would just slow down his talking just a tad.)
Beautiful talk with practical things to benefit from. Thank you, Dr Amit.
Science is the systemic Study of SPIRITUALITY 😮👍🏽
I absolutely love what I just wrote. I never understood why people thought they had to pick a "side" Great Great comment 👏
Very moving heartfelt presentation. Thank you Dr. Sood
What a brilliant talk. Thank you Dr Sood for opening our eyes to what matters the most
Wow! This guy is amazing and so practical.
Wonderful message, Dr. Sood. I loved it because it was not just "talk", it was action oriented message.
I love this. The people I love most and think of are those who were always kind to me.
Excellent talk - when science meets spirituality then transformation happens!
Bravo! This 18 min flew so fast! Very useful and cheerful advices!
I was about to give up on Ted Talks. This is good and refreshing. I learned something that can’t be summed up with a quick google search on the topic. Very valuable info!!
Thank You For Your Courage, I Love You! ❤️
This was so wonderful. He’s spot on about this being what the world needs. Love, love, love.
Modus operandi to be grateful, accept what we got as anti-dote to default position that sinks into worrying about Universal entropy ... a great praxis reminding us our living way towards the upward growth of life in all living creatures ....like plants 🌱... beautiful 🪴 . Namaste Dr. Amit Sood.
This is probably one of the most useful Ted talks I have seen. A lot of gems in here :)
Negative Adaptations:
1. Mind Wandering - uncontrolled thoughts
2. Negativity Bias - we remember negative over positives
3. Hedonic Adaptations - we get used to the good.
The Solution: Science and Spirituality
1. Gratitude in morning: think about 5 people you are grateful for
Focus on maximum net worth...
2. Find novelty where love is: Meet family each day as if you're meeting them after 30 days
3. Creatively Praise! Do not judge
4. Silently wish people good when first meeting. Look at the world the way you want people to look at your children.
5. Reframe your challenges
Gratitude
Compassion
Acceptance
Meaning
Forgiveness
So true! Interesting how we already do some of these good practices without knowing the science behind it. The structure of his talk has an inspired flow, happy to have stumbled upon it!
I totally agree!
🍬
agreed