EP 302: The Science of Habit (And Mindfulness Practices)

“Whatever a person frequently thinks and reflects on, that will become the inclination of their mind.” - Gautama Buddha The Buddha wrote these words over 2500 years ago, and sometime around 1995, neuroscientists finally agreed with him. What is described in this quote is the quality of the brain that neuroscientists call neuroplasticity - how the brain’s synaptic connections and neural anatomy are plastic, or moldable. Neuroplasticity is the basis of habit and is also the reason that after about 8 weeks of practicing mindfulness - bringing a non-judging awareness to our moment-to-moment experiences - it becomes an automatic function of our minds.