Paying Attention & Mindfulness | Sam Chase | TEDxNYU
TEDx Talks・2 minutes read
Sam Chase, a meditation teacher, highlights that mind-wandering is less happy than focusing on the present, as shown in various studies. Research suggests that mindfulness practice can enhance focus and attention, while multitasking is ineffective and detrimental to performance.
Insights
- According to Sam Chase, mindfulness practice can enhance focus and attention, contrasting the detrimental effects of multitasking on performance.
- Research indicates that individuals often find their own thoughts boring and unpleasant, opting to engage in potentially painful activities like self-shocking to avoid mind-wandering, highlighting the challenges of being alone with one's thoughts and the quest for external distractions.
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Recent questions
What is the impact of mind-wandering on happiness?
Less happy than focusing on the present.
How does being alone with thoughts affect individuals?
Boring and unpleasant.
What did people choose to do when given the option to shock themselves?
Shock themselves, some repeatedly.
How does multitasking affect performance?
Ineffective and worsens performance.
How can mindfulness practice help improve focus and attention?
Improve focus and attention.
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Summary
00:00
"Mind-wandering, mindfulness, and focus studies"
- Sam Chase teaches meditation and studies conscious attention.
- A Harvard study found that minds wander about 47% of the time.
- Mind-wandering is less happy than focusing on the present.
- A 2014 study showed people found being alone with their thoughts boring and unpleasant.
- People were willing to pay to avoid painful electric shocks.
- In an experiment, people were given the option to shock themselves while alone.
- Many individuals chose to shock themselves, some repeatedly.
- Multitasking is ineffective and worsens performance.
- Mindfulness practice can help improve focus and attention.
