113 - Dr. Judson Brewer - Getting Unhooked

It's not everyday that you find an MD/PhD who gains as much insight from talking about 2,000-year-old Buddhist philosophy as he does from the latest findings in the New England Journal of Medicine. Judson Brewer is director of research in the Center for Mindfulness at the University Massachusetts Medical School, and holds affiliations at the Yale University School of Medicine and MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. He also really likes to sit in meditation because, well, it once changed his life. As a young student overwhelmed with figuring out his future, Judson saw firsthand how mindfulness could improve health issues related to stress—as well as the angst of a difficult breakup. With this in mind, he has dedicated his career to helping others transform their lives—especially those riddled with addiction. In his forthcoming book, The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love—Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits, Judson outlines the reasons behind the decisions we make and how we can literally rethink our behavior. It's a highly relatable expansion of his famous TED Talk, which has garnered almost six million views, and complements two very helpful apps he has developed—Craving to Quit and Eat Right Now. Take a listen to Judson's accessible ideas and be prepared to re-imagine, for good reason, many of your own patterns and habits.