This individual is a self-proclaimed enthusiast of positive psychology, seeking innovative ways to integrate this knowledge into technology use.
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I’ve read extensively about positive psychology and often ponder how to apply this knowledge to our technology use. Recently, I found a new perspective through neuroscience. Inspired by a discussion between well-known scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Dalai Lama on enhancing global peace and well-being, I delved deeper into this topic. One of the moderators, Professor Davidson, a renowned neuroscientist , has published numerous studies on meditation ‘s effects on the brain and our well-being.
Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from adversity. Resilient individuals’ brain areas return to baseline faster after adversity, enhancing well-being.
Rewiring Resilience Using Technology. Barbara Fredrickson’s research shows that positive emotions enhance resilience. Now, think about the last moment you smiled or even laughed out loud. It is likely that it was a moment you were with someone else, but it is similarly likely it was a moment where you received a funny text message from a friend or stumbled over a funny reel on IG while (let’s be honest) using the bathroom. While these incidental moments boost mood, apps like Happify or Moodfit provide scientifically proven exercises and games that enhance resilience by increasing positive emotions throughout the day and therefore boost resilience.
This involves seeing positives in negatives or others and savoring positive experiences. Specific brain circuits underlie this ability, which can be quickly changed through Love and Kindness Meditation (LKM). LKM leads to increased social connectedness, empathy, compassion, and prosocial behaviors, reducing stress and even migraines .
Rewiring a Positive Outlook Using Technology. It is hard to keep a positive outlook when a lot of the media landscape today is saturated with negativity. This is why we need to leverage technology for the good. Meditation, once exclusive to monks, is now accessible through apps, making it mainstream. For instance, some apps, like Healthy Minds, offer step-by-step meditation guides, including practices for increasing kindness and compassion, accommodating various preferences like walking or guided meditations with music.
