Psychiatrist Judson Brewer studies the relationship between mindfulness and addiction — from smoking to overeating to all those other things we do even though we know they're bad for us. In this TedMed Talk, learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover how being curious might help you beat your next urge to smoke, snack or check a text while driving.

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  • Paula Schneider

    The reminder that curiosity is a miraculous thing. I reflected on how I felt when I felt curious and I really like the feeling. I feel proud to learn something new (like looking up topics in Wikipedia) and then when I can share that new knowledge, I get another "hit," because I love to share ideas. Great video! Sadly, it has been my observation that most people do not appear to be curious. They might actually be, but perhaps laziness overrides the feeling to act on their curiousity. I often encourage them to engage their curiosity factor for enhanced well-being.

  • Nisha Halai

    Good speech based on his actual lived life biography. Similarly, Rudolf Steiner had given humanity this framework of moving through Initiations of transformation decades ago. Taking the Spiritual out of the soul experience is the problem here. Whether people intellectualise it with words such as Data Points, Process, Pre-Frontal Cortex, Mechanisms or Mindfulness, it’s the same threefold movement of becoming curious, and open to accepting change; the same as what the spiritual mystics have shared with us.

  • heide

    well said , clear and concise. I believe that this feeds into developing our emotional intelligence as well. High levels of emotional intelligence have been shown to lead to success in adapting to situations... rather than constantly reacting we become “pro-acting”... as well this contributes to good heart health as we learn to listen with our ears, be aware with our hearts, use our brains, and reduce the number of times that we perceive the world through our gut and react through our gut ...

  • Judy

    Notice the urge, get curious, feel the joy of letting go. Sounds like a plan for me. Thank you.

  • SHADAKSHARY

    Inspirational talk

  • Kristin Pedemonti

    Excellent reframe and so simple Here's to getting curious and noticing!

  • Nick Heap

    The simple and exciting idea about being curious about what's going on instead of just acting destructively or forcing yourself to stop. This sounds as though it might even be fun!

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  • Learn more about Dr. Brewer and how to overcome negative behavior patterns, bad habits and addictions, by using specific techniques that create lasting change.
  • Discover the causes for addiction and how mindfulness meditation can help with them in this Psychology Today article by Ronald Alexander, Ph.D.
  • Listen to Dr. Brewer’s four simple steps to breaking a habit, then take action. 

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