An acclaimed science writer on how to upgrade your mind by using more than your head.
Annie Murphy Paul is a science writer and TED speaker. Her latest book is The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain.
In this episode we talk about:
- Why upgrading your mind involves more than just using your head.
- How our bodies, surroundings, and relationships all have the power to enhance our thinking.
- Practical strategies for "thinking with the body," including interoception, the role of intuition, movement breaks, and even fidgeting.
- The importance of gesture and movement—why sitting perfectly still actually makes thinking harder for many of us.
- Tips for "thinking with your surroundings"—from stepping outdoors to using evocative objects and whiteboards to organize your ideas.
- The social side of thinking: how to learn from experts, think with peers, and harness the intelligence of groups.
- The challenges—and potential—of group collaboration, avoiding the pitfalls of groupthink, and fostering what psychologists call "groupiness."
- The concept of "extension inequality": why access to the resources that enhance thinking—like nature, movement, and mentorship—is not distributed equally, and why that matters.
- And finally, why returning to the way kids learn—using hands, bodies, play, and connection—might actually be good for all of us.
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Get ready for another Meditation Party at Omega Institute! This in-person workshop brings together Dan with his friends and meditation teachers, Sebene Selassie, Jeff Warren, and for the first time, Ofosu Jones-Quartey. The event runs October 24th-26th. Sign up and learn more here!
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