"I believe that stress is the major source of our illness, over and above diet, genetics, even treatment. Stress is psychological. Events don't cause stress. What causes stress are the views you take of the event. Rather than think how awful it is, give yourself 5 reasons why it might actually be an advantage."
Today, we have a true pioneer in the world of psychology, Dr. Ellen Langer. She made history as the first woman to be tenured in psychology at Harvard University. Known as the “mother of mindfulness” and the “mother of positive psychology,” Dr. Langer’s work has shown that our thoughts can influence our physical well-being, from weight loss to wound healing. In her new book, “The Mindful Body,” Dr. Langer challenges conventional thinking about the mind and body. We’ll delve into her fascinating findings and her bold theory of mind-body unity.
Buy her book The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health
And now let’s jump into episode 1578 of The School of Greatenss!
"The way of thinking should be no different. Life is exciting when you address it as brand new. When you're not afraid of trying new things. When you recognize that all of the stops you've put on yourself were just decisions that some other people made and there's no reason not to do whatever it is you want to do." @ellenjl
Some Questions I Ask:
- Can we truly heal our bodies with our minds?
- What results did your Counterclockwise Studies produce?
- What new research has been conducted to back up your theory of mind/body connection and reverse aging?
- What is the difference between meditation and mindfulness?
- You book is titled, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health, how do we think our selves healthier? What science backs this up?
- What is something you’ve discovered recently that you thought you knew that entirely changed your perspective?
- What is the root of sickness and disease in your mind?
- How do you navigate the stress of the world without stressing yourself into sickness and disease?
- So many people hold on to past negative experiences and breathe more meaning into them as time goes on. How do these patterns keep us sick and in a negative mindset?
- Your Chambermaid Studies produced fascinating results. Can you explain this study?
- Tell us about the recent study you did where you tested whether our thoughts heal physical wounds.
- Can a placebo be considered a form of real medicine?
- What is the perfect formula to living life stress free, age gracefully and without anxiety?
- Can thinking alone cause someone to get thinner?
- Is forgiveness good or bad?
- How important is language in our lives?
- How many years have you been teaching at Harvard? If you could give parents one skillset to learn, what would that be?
- How can we fill our lives with abundance even when everything around us seems to be lacking?
- In your book you say “Don’t make the right decision, make the decision right.” What does that mean?
In this episode, you will learn:
- The potential of harnessing the power of your mind to facilitate healing in your body.
- Recent research supporting the theory of the mind/body connection and its role in reversing aging.
- The distinction between meditation and mindfulness.
- How to cultivate health through the power of thought, supported by scientific evidence.
- Paradigm-shifting discoveries that challenge previous perspectives on the mind/body connection.
- The underlying causes of sickness and disease from a psychological perspective.
- Plus much more…
Show Notes:
Buy her book The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health
Transcript of this Episode
Music Credits:
MUSIC CREDIT
Kaibu by Killercats
Stitcher
Pandora
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