Peak Mind (Amishi P. Jha)

 

I learned about this book from a medication on my CALM app by Jay Shetty. I've been meditating pretty faithfully since 2022. I can't say I'm super good at it but I do feel like it is doing something good in my life. This book has the science that backs up why meditation is important. 

One thing that really struck me was when I read about why we don't remember some things. My husband has many more memories of our years as parents and our years together than I do. After reading this, it made me think perhaps it is simply because I'm always trying to multi-task and do more than one thing at one time. If I stop and am in the moment, I will be able to hold on to those memories better. 

p. 256 One meditation to do any time anywhere is to repeat these phrases:
May you be happy
May you be well
May you be safe
May you live with ease. 

 You could also replace the you with I and send goodwill to yourself.

p. 241 The author says that distraction = disconnection. This is how this relates to working memory:

Distracted
- You can't keep your attentional flashlight pointing to one or more conversational partners.

- Your mental whiteboard is cluttered - you have failed to let distracting content fade from your working memory.

- You keep time traveling, unable to stay in the present moment of the conversation as it unfolds.

Disregulated
- You can't regulate your emotions.

- You are reactive or display volatile behavior during the interaction. 

Disconnected
- You incorrectly believe that thoughts are facts.

- You fail to have a shared mental model of the situation.

- You apply the wrong mental model to the situation.

p. 235  There is a concept in Buddhism called the "Second Arrow." It comes from the famous parable: The Buddha asked one of his students, "If you are struck by an arrow, does it hurt?"
"Yes! the student replied.
"If you are struck by a second arrow," the Buddha asked, "does it hurt even more?"
"It does," the student replied.
The Buddha explained: In life, we can't control whether we're hit by an arrow or not. But the second arrow is our reaction to the first. The first arrow causes pain - the second arrow is our distress about that pain.
I love this parable because it very simply encapsulates the connection between mindfulness and attention: The first arrow happens. There are arrows every day. But the second arrow - your response to the first = is what sucks up your attentional bandwith. And that is within your control. There is another choice point you can access - if you have an awareness of your own mind.

Goodreads says:

Research shows we are missing 50 percent of our lives. Why?
Because we aren’t paying attention.

From the constant buzz of your phone and the lure of your media feed to your unrelenting, all-encompassing, and evergrowing mental to-do list—the demands on your attention have never been so severe. The result is an escalating crisis, where we feel mentally foggy, scattered, and overwhelmed. Remarkably, the solution to our attention crisis has been right here in front of us the entire time. Acclaimed neuroscientist Amishi P. Jha, PhD, has dedicated her life’s work to understanding the science of attention at every level—from brain-imaging studies in the lab to field-testing soldiers, firefighters, athletes, healthcare and business professionals, and students. Her mission has been to scientifically determine how we can harness the full power of our attention to better meet all that life demands. Dr. Jha expertly guides readers through fascinating research, debunking common assumptions and offering stunning new insights into where presence and purpose really come from. Peak Mind reveals remarkably easy to adapt, flexible, 12-minute-a-day exercises to lift the mental fog, declutter the mind, and strengthen focus so that you can experience more of your life.

About the author: Amishi P. Jha, Ph.D is professor of psychology and director of contemplative neuroscience at the University of Miami. She leads research on the neural bases of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion, and resilience. She has spoken at TED.com, the World Economic Forum, and NATO, and has been covered by Scientific American, the New York Times, NPR, and Forbes.