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

Nawal Sharabati explains her journey of learning meditation and the challenges of maintaining attention, influenced by distractions like daydreaming and social media. She discusses the process of learning through reward mechanisms in the brain, highlighting how behaviors form habits that are difficult to change, using examples like smoking and overeating. Sharabati suggests that instead of fighting against our impulses, we could engage curiosity about our experiences to foster more mindful behaviors. She shares a study showing how mindful training helped smokers by shifting their focus to the unpleasant sensory experiences of smoking, eventually leading to more conscious choices. The talk emphasizes transforming awareness of our actions into deeper understanding, allowing for the breaking of old habits and fostering healthier choices.