A simple way to break a bad habit | Judson Brewer | TED

Title: Curiosity and Habit Change: Unlocking Mindfulness' PotentialSpeaker: Dan HarrisLocation: UndisclosedDate: UnknownDan Harris, a journalist and meditation practitioner, delivers a talk on the role of curiosity in breaking habits. He explains that when we are curious about our habits, we begin to notice their effects on our bodies and minds, leading to a natural letting go. Harris cites research showing that mindfulness training is twice as effective as gold standard therapy in helping people quit smoking. He also discusses how technology can be used to deliver mindfulness tools directly to people's fingertips in the context that matters most.Harris emphasizes the importance of cultivating curiosity towards our habits, rather than trying to forcefully stop them. By being curious, we step out of our old fear-based reactive habit patterns and into a state of being. The part of the brain responsible for this process is the posterior singulate cortex, which quiets down when we let go of an urge.Harris also explores how technology can be leveraged to help people tap into their innate capacity for mindfulness in the moment. He encourages the audience to try being curious about their urges to check email or text message compulsively, noticing the joy of letting go and repeating the process.Overall, Harris highlights the significance of curiosity in disenchanting habits and suggests that technology can play a role in helping people tap into their natural capacity for mindfulness.