Do you often choose to feel pleasant, rather than to be present?? Yeah, there's a scientific reason for that! But it's actually really good for our brains to be present. In this episode we talk about why zoning out, or working on auto-pilot are great for survival, but not so great for our happiness and general life-satisfaction. Listen to this episode to find out why something as simple as loading the dishwasher in a new way can be beneficial, and some other super practical ways to apply the concept of mindfulness v. default mode network to your life.
Link to our handbook: https://www.mindfulartco.com/product-page/self-compassion-handbook-early-edition
Link to work one-on-one with Becky: https://www.mindfulartco.com/product-page/mindfulness-fundamentals-private-lessons
Default Mode Network does 3 things
1.Creates a sense of self
It’s your habits, your dog trails. They make you who you are. Without doing those same things you wouldn’t know who you are.
2.Projects that self into the past or future
Because you know your habits you also can sort of predict your day, even your future and also your past.
3. Looks for problems
If your habits get messed up it’s going to trigger resistance. Any change to your sense of self is going to trigger defensiveness. (putting your socks on first, washing your hair last.)
Something to think about is that we are hardwired for survival, not for happiness.
You can be in a mindful state or in a default mode.
Meditation grows gray matter. Gray matter increases emotional retention and regulation, it also increases your ability to make decisions. When you’re caught in the same default mode network, you’re chewing the same piece of gum. Meditate to chew a new piece of gum.
