The Anatomy of a Habit
Habits have three main components: a cue (triggering when to "do" the habit), the behavior, and the reward.
For example: we finish dinner (cue), it's time to have a cigarette or turn on the TV (behavior), the reward is the nicotine high or the comfort of being distracted.
Craving for the reward develops once a habit gets established because we start to anticipate the reward as soon as we experience the cue. It is the craving that keeps a habit alive in our life.
The Buddha taught a lot about craving and the need to abandon it. When we become conscious of an unhealthy habit, any behavior that leads to unhappiness, we can change it.
Our special guests Ronna Kabatznick, author of the "Zen of Eating" and David DeYoung (see bios below) will join us to discuss habits and craving: a key to changing our habits and our lives for greater happiness.
Bring any questions you have and tell your friends. Everyone is welcome!
Ronna Kabatznick is a social psychologist who specializes in compulsive eating, depression and relationships. She has been practicing Vipasanna meditation since 1985. She lived in Thailand for nearly three years where she practiced under the guidance of two great forest masters Ajahn Anan and Ajahn Ganha. She co-Directed a program for psychiatrists at Langley Porter Psychiatric institute on Mindful-Based Therapies and is currently an Advisor to the Center for Mindful Eating, a web-based organization. She is also the author of The Zen of Eating: Ancient Answers to Modern Weight Problems. Dr. Kabatznick has a private practice in Berkeley, CA
David DeYoung teaches Buddhism in the Bay Area. He was a Buddhist monk for 14 years in the Ajahn Chah tradition of Theravada Buddhism, spending 10 of those years in monasteries in Thailand. He has now returned to lay life and will soon relocate in Thailand as director of an international program at the Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives, also known as "Suan Mokkh Bangkok", a meditation center in Bangkok dedicated to the heritage of the late Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.
For example: we finish dinner (cue), it's time to have a cigarette or turn on the TV (behavior), the reward is the nicotine high or the comfort of being distracted.
Craving for the reward develops once a habit gets established because we start to anticipate the reward as soon as we experience the cue. It is the craving that keeps a habit alive in our life.
The Buddha taught a lot about craving and the need to abandon it. When we become conscious of an unhealthy habit, any behavior that leads to unhappiness, we can change it.
Our special guests Ronna Kabatznick, author of the "Zen of Eating" and David DeYoung (see bios below) will join us to discuss habits and craving: a key to changing our habits and our lives for greater happiness.
Bring any questions you have and tell your friends. Everyone is welcome!
Ronna Kabatznick is a social psychologist who specializes in compulsive eating, depression and relationships. She has been practicing Vipasanna meditation since 1985. She lived in Thailand for nearly three years where she practiced under the guidance of two great forest masters Ajahn Anan and Ajahn Ganha. She co-Directed a program for psychiatrists at Langley Porter Psychiatric institute on Mindful-Based Therapies and is currently an Advisor to the Center for Mindful Eating, a web-based organization. She is also the author of The Zen of Eating: Ancient Answers to Modern Weight Problems. Dr. Kabatznick has a private practice in Berkeley, CA
David DeYoung teaches Buddhism in the Bay Area. He was a Buddhist monk for 14 years in the Ajahn Chah tradition of Theravada Buddhism, spending 10 of those years in monasteries in Thailand. He has now returned to lay life and will soon relocate in Thailand as director of an international program at the Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives, also known as "Suan Mokkh Bangkok", a meditation center in Bangkok dedicated to the heritage of the late Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.
