I went to a panel discussion Wednesday moderated by Arianna Huffington to hear the Dalai Lama and Richard Davidson (PhD) speak about Science, Happiness, and Well-being. Davidson shared 5 interesting facts science teaches us about well-being:
- Well-being is a skill you can harness if you practice it.
- Research shows the brain can change its response to experiences and with training.
- So you can harness well-being through various techniques.
- Well-being is inversely related to your mind-wandering. So if you’re not focused, it’ll be harder to feel happier.
- When your brain is at ease, your body is at ease or can have less “dis-ease.”
- There are 3 components of well-being:
- Equanimity (emotional balance): the ability to return back to baseline after a stressful event occurs.
- Mindfulness/attentiveness: related to point #2 above, with more focus that can be achieved through mindfulness, you’ll experience less suffering and therefor can feel happier.
- Generosity: research shows you can feel more/similar positive feelings when giving as you do receiving.
- We have an innate disposition for well-being and generosity.
- Research shows that even babies 6 months of age have a propensity towards cooperative behavior.
With this awareness, what can you do to practice more well-being? Can you take a new action every day for the next 40 days? I’m doing so as a part of Tru Transformation 40 Day Makeover (transforming through movement, mindset, and meditation). Good luck and enjoy your new found well-being!
