How mindfulness changes the emotional life of our brains | Richard J. Davidson | TEDxSanFrancisco

How mindfulness changes the emotional life of our brains | Richard J. Davidson | TEDxSanFrancisco

“Why is it that some people are more vulnerable to life’s slings and arrows and others more resilient?” In this eye-opening talk, Richard Davidson discusses how mindfulness can improve well-being and outlines strategies to boost four components of a healthy mind: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose.

Richard Davidson is researching how mindfulness changes the emotional life of our brains and what we know about people’s brains of individuals showing more resilience than others. Davidson is Wiliam James and Vilas professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as well as founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds. His research is focused on the neural bases of emotion and emotional style and methods to promote human flourishing, including meditation and related contemplative practices. #Neuroscience #Wellbeing #MentalHealth Richard Davidson is Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and Founder & Director of the Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison.Davidson’s research is focused on the neural bases of emotion and emotional style and methods to promote human flourishing including meditation and related contemplative practices. He has published more than 400 articles and is the co-author of “The Emotional Life of Your Brain” and “Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body”, both published by Penguin. Davidson has been recognized for his research through various awards, such as a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Award and an Established Investigator Award from the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders (NARSAD). Davidson received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Psychology and has been teaching psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1984. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

43 Comments

  1. @dolikarmakar8543 on August 10, 2025 at 12:00 am

    time to time we need to check ourselves : What am I doing right now? Where is my mind right now, focused or unfocused ? at this very moment how happy or unhappy are you?

  2. @markhall3323 on August 10, 2025 at 12:03 am

    Rather too negative and grim I think

  3. @SanngeeitaasaruMager on August 10, 2025 at 12:06 am

    Its like praying for any person you see and it makes you feel relaxed, happy and you have a sense of happiness that you did something good . As we all are human being and it feels happy and satisfied when we do something good and gradually our mind or it become our habit to do good to others and ourselves like self positive thing.

  4. @VenusLover17 on August 10, 2025 at 12:06 am

    ❤❤

  5. @DeniseSkinner-z9d on August 10, 2025 at 12:11 am

    A wandering mind is an unhappy mind and a focused mind is a depressed mind at times depending who’s on stage speaking

  6. @MYRRHfamily on August 10, 2025 at 12:11 am

    The rise in attention deficit disorders could by explained by the eagerness of the profession to diagnose this. It’s a fashionable diagnosis both for the patient and the doctor. It helps that there is a ‘fun’ drug for it. Love
    The talk of though.

  7. @readplustravel on August 10, 2025 at 12:13 am

    每个人都要找到生命的意义

  8. @markpelter3078 on August 10, 2025 at 12:15 am

    A wonderful reminder to savor the small things with awareness.

  9. @lueladebiville5769 on August 10, 2025 at 12:16 am

    that was beautiful ❤

  10. @GudeliaTrevizo on August 10, 2025 at 12:17 am

    Seek First the Kingdom of God.

  11. @DeniseSkinner-z9d on August 10, 2025 at 12:19 am

    Most people with ADHD with a wandering mind has inner emotional trauma going on and they just label it ADHD in my opinion I dealt with ADHD on the on the placebos on the medication and without medication

  12. @BenjaminBryant-s9e9b on August 10, 2025 at 12:19 am

    very intresting

  13. @JardineKarate1 on August 10, 2025 at 12:20 am

    How to find purpose in a universe that essentially has none.

  14. @liznorth4028 on August 10, 2025 at 12:20 am

    I so much appreciate this! Thank you.

  15. @colorchangingsoup on August 10, 2025 at 12:22 am

    Can someone please explain what he meant for us to do for 3 minutes??

  16. @katherinemaluia2820 on August 10, 2025 at 12:22 am

    May you be happy, may you be free of suffering

  17. @goo2286 on August 10, 2025 at 12:23 am

    Most people have a misconception about happiness is a good life and feel “good” all the time. And they try to hold on to it as long as possible. Just like trying to hold your breath! Try it and see what happened. This leads to suffering. If you don’t want the rainy day then the sunny day will never come. Happiness is a byproducts of what we doing a meaningful purpose in life even though it’s difficult and challenging but worthwhile. It does not need to be feel good all the time! Don’t chase the happiness.

  18. @КамиллаБерезеева on August 10, 2025 at 12:30 am

    I just turned 42 and I aim to retire 50. my portfolio has grown from $83k saved up to $510k in 14 months. Having robert carlos wright manage it was the smartest approach I took, cause the traditional 401(k), tsp and the rest dampen your retirement plans

  19. @Eric-w2z8l on August 10, 2025 at 12:31 am

    wow

  20. @DeniseSkinner-z9d on August 10, 2025 at 12:34 am

    I know I’m more tuned in I hear what people are not saying and the truth of the matter what they’re not saying is not very nice which caused more depression in me and others

  21. @KaryKuney on August 10, 2025 at 12:35 am

    This is called loving kindness meditation in Buddhism which is very powerful. You can start with you , your family and extend to whole universe.

  22. @DZ-rf9fh on August 10, 2025 at 12:36 am

    Great book on Grief another area that impacts the pillers."What’s your Grief." Covers all grief types.

  23. @carmenvbaker753 on August 10, 2025 at 12:38 am

  24. @GudeliaTrevizo on August 10, 2025 at 12:39 am

    Negative trends is because of the enemy that attacks us daily. Only Jesus can help no doubt.

  25. @erinsercia1706 on August 10, 2025 at 12:39 am

    Prayer (talking) to/with God and simply learning to Him is by far the most helpful, life changing form of meditation I’ve ever experienced

  26. @rose-bl5cz on August 10, 2025 at 12:40 am

    ❤❤

  27. @Andrea_Marie_Rainbowstar on August 10, 2025 at 12:41 am

    Im going to play devils advocate here. I am a multi tasker, and I enjoy distraction (what you’re labeling as attention deficit) from the matter at hand. I end up completing 3 tasks at once, and I am happier for it. There is bias in this study in having a set opinion on distraction. Happiness is a choice. People must learn to CHOOSE it. It is about perception and prerogative.

  28. @GudeliaTrevizo on August 10, 2025 at 12:44 am

    Prayer works

  29. @LoveimmeLalas on August 10, 2025 at 12:45 am

  30. @HieuLebg on August 10, 2025 at 12:45 am

    very impressive.

  31. @sukumard4537 on August 10, 2025 at 12:48 am

    Wonderful academic session ..and will apply in life by becoming aware of these and operate at my best ..

  32. @StephillWoodard on August 10, 2025 at 12:49 am

    Spiritual transformation isn’t easy, but with mansaarnault’s guidance, I’ve seen my life change in ways I never thought possible

  33. @FelixTheCat7 on August 10, 2025 at 12:49 am

    This comment section is driving me crazy, looking at all of you, so clear minded, able to get away from your thoughts.
    While I’m still here, lonely, full of HATRED, and SADNESS, and LONGING, and DREAD. I HATE being like this! Is THIS is what it’s like to live like A.M., the machine given thoughts and creativity, but placed in a world where being thoughtful and creative is reacted to with punishment! What it must like to be like that, quiet minded, head empty, everything so clear.
    I really do want to change, but I don’t know the proper step that will work for me, nor do I have the drive to do it.

  34. @DeniseSkinner-z9d on August 10, 2025 at 12:53 am

    I’m psychologically educated and I see right through the BS which is very very depressing

  35. @Belinda99 on August 10, 2025 at 12:54 am

    Videos like these should be on mainstream television

  36. @mirasenglishid on August 10, 2025 at 12:54 am

    I thought he was Elliot Gould. What?? Jack Geller is on TedTalk????!

  37. @PatrickCostello-xm4wj on August 10, 2025 at 12:54 am

    Positive energy

  38. @trebaneconapise7793 on August 10, 2025 at 12:55 am

    There are big jumps in conclusions from the data they got and he’s forgetting to factor in how many people were undiagnosed and under the radar (like children and adults (especially girls and women) with ADHD, and women with depression and anxiety.)

  39. @StephenPoor on August 10, 2025 at 12:55 am

    > always focus on what you’re doing.

    > while you’re brushing your teeth, think about something else.

    Pick one.

  40. @DeniseSkinner-z9d on August 10, 2025 at 12:55 am

    Attention deficit is a chemical imbalance in some they’re uncapable to slow their stimulations down now add rewiring of the brain 2 a d h d or a ADD child and now what do you have with the millions of people that feed in polluted and then raise those endorphins with an ADHD that sounds like a chemical imbalance in itself

  41. @DeniseSkinner-z9d on August 10, 2025 at 12:55 am

    But anyways I’m going to pass on this one this is good for parents that have ADHD children my child is now almost 40

  42. @LibraryOfAlexandria24 on August 10, 2025 at 12:56 am

    Thich Nhat Hanh’s Zen approach to mindfulness is quite good. Many of his audiobooks are on YouTube for free. How to See, How to Communicate etc ❤

  43. @Kush.prajapati144 on August 10, 2025 at 12:57 am

    Why this video is marked as self harm

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