This episode of the Innovation show features an interview with Ellen Langer, the first woman to be tenured in psychology at Harvard. Known worldwide as the mother of mindfulness and the mother of Positive Psychology, she shares insights from her esteemed career and her latest book, 'The Mindful Body Thinking, our Way to Lasting Health'.

Langer discusses her role in pioneering research in Mind Body Unity and emphasises the importance of mindfulness as a way of enhancing health. She explains how attitudes and personal perspectives can often influence our physical and mental well-being, including how we perceive and treat stress, illnesses like cancer, chronic diseases and even factors like age and physical appearance. She emphasises the power of perception, contextual considerations, and the important role that language plays in mediating our experiences.

00:00 Introduction to Ellen and Her Work
00:48 Understanding Mindfulness and Its Impact
01:34 Exploring the Concept of Mindfulness
02:25 The Power of Being Mindful
03:27 The Prevalence of Mindlessness
04:10 The Benefits of Noticing Change
05:24 The Journey to Mindfulness
05:47 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Research
06:40 Exploring the Mind-Body Unity Concept
08:25 The Power of Mindset in Physical Health
10:54 The Influence of Perception on Healing
11:32 The Role of Mind-Body Unity in Chronic Illness
19:05 The Power of Attention to Symptom Variability
23:40 Understanding and Addressing Addictions
28:50 The Impact of Perception on Sleep
28:57 The Power of Perception in Sleep and Attitude
29:37 The Impact of Clothing on Perception and Age
30:33 The Influence of Uniforms and Balding on Age Perception
31:41 The Mind-Body Connection and Personal Experiences
33:57 The Power of Placebos and the Challenge of Social Conditioning
39:27 The Role of Stress in Health and Disease
43:23 Challenging the Rules and Embracing Innovation
46:30 The Power of Language in Shaping Our Reality
52:16 The Illusion of Control and the Role of Risk in Decision Making

Ellen Langer, Social Psychology, Stress Management, Health Awareness, Thinking habits, Motivational Interview, Personal Development, Positive Psychology, Mind-Behaviour Connection, Chronic Health, Lifestyle, Habitual Behaviour, Carrying out tasks, Confidence Building, Empowerment

Find Ellen here:
https://www.ellenlanger.me