<p>Laurie's former student and friend, Dr. Maya Shankar, has a Pushkin podcast we love called <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-slight-change-of-plans/id1561860622">A Slight Change of Plans</a>. If you like The Happiness Lab, then this show is right up your alley. In this episode, Maya and author Michael Pollan discuss the fascinating science of psychedelics and how they have the power to transform our minds and improve our mental health. You’ll also get a glimpse into Michael’s personal experience with psychedelic trips and how they unlocked a singular kind of joy within him. Plus, you'll hear him try and convince scaredy-cat Maya to give them a try. </p> <p>You can hear more from <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-slight-change-of-plans/id1561860622">A Slight Change of Plans</a> wherever you get your podcasts. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
Actionable Insights
1. Gain Ego Perspective
Develop a perspective on your ego or sense of self, recognizing it as one voice among several in your mind, so you can distance yourself from its hypercritical or worrying patterns and choose not to listen to it.
2. Pursue Natural Transcendence
Seek transcendence and altered states of consciousness through non-pharmacological means like extreme sports, intense physical activity, fasting, ecstatic dance, rhythm, or drumming, as these can release brain chemicals and provide profound experiences.
3. Try Holotropic Breathwork
Engage in holotropic breathwork, a technique involving fast breathing (hyperventilating, exhaling more than inhaling) combined with loud, rhythmic drumming, to induce a trance state that is very much like psychedelic experiences without drugs.
4. Ensure Safety in Exploration
When exploring altered states of consciousness, whether through psychedelics or other means, prioritize ‘set and setting’ (mindset and environment) and ideally do so with a trusted guide in a safe environment to mitigate psychological risks.
5. Donate for Happiness
Consider being generous and donating to charity, even small amounts like five or ten dollars, as helping people in need can contribute to your own happiness.