In this first episode with a freer discussion format we talk about how we form new habits and the difficulties we face as we try to keep them, in particular regarding Magnus’ attempt to start meditating regularly. David tells us about his own mindfulness meditation habit and we contrast our personal experiences against Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit” and Sam Harris’ “Waking Up”.

TIME STAMPS--------------------00:30 Today’s topic: Unknown01:10 Background: Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit” and Sam Harris’ “Waking Up”01:30 David: How is your meditation habit going?01:55 Magnus: How I’ve failed03:00 Not being disciplined might be a question of the chicken or the egg04:35 Magnus trying to explain…(away?)05:10 Analogy: the successful habit of exercising06:50 How more positive self-talk motivates07:10 Magnus: A conscious decision not letting reality get in the way of the exercise habit09:15 The connection between the two books and the question of not being able to create the habit to meditate11:30 The parts of a habit: Cue, routine, reward12:00 The conscious decision to exercise might not be conscious14:10 Sam Harris: All our experiences are products of our consciousness -> The illusion of the I (or the self)17:00 Motivation comes out of the narratives we tell ourselves17:20 Mindfulness helps us see these narratives18:30 Narratives are useful to create meaning. Unsound behaviours can be avoided by seeing and getting rid of counter-productive narratives19:40 Meditation can help your long-term ego21:20 If you can be fully content in the present, are long term plans then really important?23:35 Meditation is not removing meaning, rather to be able to see it (and its roots) clearly.25:50 You can keep, see and experience your narratives if you do mindfulness27:20 When meditating don’t try to analyze the narratives, just experience them and let them move on28:50 David’s meditation habits31:50 About The Power of Habit32:50 Combining mindfulness meditation and meta-cognition34:30 Bye!

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