Dr Dosti Regmi Blog

Mindfulness is a form of brain training. Training attention to where we want it to be. As an example, if we use our breath as an anchor to focus our attention as our attention wanders, we notice our attention has wandered. We notice our reaction, and we return our attention to the sensation of breathing. We use the breath as an anchor as our attention wanders. We notice that our attention has wandered, we notice our reaction, and we return our attention to the sensation of breathing. When we are practicing mindfulness, we repeat this cycle over and over again, and with each repetition, we further strengthen the neural pathways in our brain connected with this activity. How we do this is really important. If we do this with frustration and with excess effort, we end up becoming tense, which triggers our sympathetic nervous system, flooding our system with fight or flight hormones, and we fail to reduce our physiological state down to more of a resting state. Our mind will continue to f...

Neuroscience Studies Suggesting Habits for Happiness 1.   Gratitude Practice Study : Kini et al., 2016 (University of Indiana) Findings : Writing gratitude letters increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) — even 3 months later . Sustained activation suggests lasting rewiring for positive emotion and pro-social thinking . Daily Habit : Write down 3 things you’re grateful for each day. Even once or twice a week improves brain function and mood. 2.   Acts of Kindness Study : Moll et al., 2006 Findings : Giving to others activated the ventral striatum and orbitofrontal cortex — areas linked to reward and pleasure . Altruism lights up the brain like eating chocolate or winning money. Daily Habit : Perform 1 small act of kindness — a compliment, donation, or simple gesture. 3.   Mind-Wandering & Unhappiness Study : Killingsworth & Gilbert, 2010 (Harvard) — “A wandering mind is an unhappy mind” Findings : Participants reported lo...

9 attitudes of mindfulness. It is an active lifelong process. There is no enlightenment or a state of permanent wisdom. It is the gradual cultivation of the following attitudes.  Beginner's Mind Non-judging Non-striving: Not doing but being. Being with the unfolding of life moment to moment without having any agenda. Acceptance Letting go: (means letting be when evidence suggests they have already been), eg, Monkey traps itself by grasping the banana in a cage. It's just like our breath. If we do not release our breath, we cannot take the next breath. Trust: Just like we trust that our cells, organs, and systems take care of themselves. Why can't we trust our brains and hearts? Our brain trusts in letting go, so it sleeps. Patience: Things will unfold in their own time, and we cannot hurry. It's because we are never really present, anytime and anywhere. Gratitude: Generosity: It enhances interconnectedness.