What if I told you you look old. Yeah, you you look old today. You might be confused, thinking, "What? Who me?" If so, you're not alone because these were the exact words my husband said to me.I was perplexed, especially when I grew up with the expression, "Black don't crack." For those who are unfamiliar, this is an expression we use in the black community to suggest that we, especially black women, tend to defy the laws of aging. It was 6:00 a. m., my 40th birthday, only a few months away, and I realized ...

[Music] [Applause] I've joked my whole life about having squirrels in my head, but little did I know how right I was. For as long as I can remember, I've had a million thoughts an hour. got distracted by everything and interrupted people mid-sentence because I had an idea that just couldn't wait. I described what was happening as having squirrels in my head. And oh my god, it was like there was loads of them. There was some in one corner singing opera. There was some in the other corner river dancing. And t ...

[Applause] What sound is always playing but only you can hear it. For each of us, this is the voice within our own inner dialogue. As humans, we move throughout our days with this internal conversation that stays rambling.Sometimes it's quiet. Other times it is maddening for as loud as it gets. Science tells us these internal conversations are a part of our brain waves which we have simplified to call the thinking mind.These are the rhythms of our thoughts as we navigate the world around us. For me, a human ...

Our next speaker is Isha Sharma. Isha is an international development advisor by day and wellness mentor by night with more than a decade of experience across six countries. Isha blends economic policy and social impact with inner transformation.Having left consulting at BCG, Isha now serves as a manager at the UAE Presidential Court. A former board member and charity trustee of the London School of Economics and a World Economic Forum Global Traver, Isha is passionate about youth leadership. Besides being ...

Smiling and Well-being - Smiling, even fake smiling, can trick the brain into recovering from stress faster [9][10] - Smiling at someone can give them a hit of dopamine, making them feel good [10] - Smiling makes individuals more approachable and is contagious [11] - Smiling can lead to the production of dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, the four happy hormones [12] - Smiling makes individuals 40% more attractive [21] - Smiling has overall long-term effects on well-being and makes individuals more approachable [22] Brain Rewiring and Affirmations - Individuals can rewire their brain in real time by using affirmations [16] - Repeating affirmations can help overcome resistance and change negative thought patterns [17][18] Muscle Memory and Facial Expressions - Facial expressions become etched into the face over time, and individuals can train their face muscles [14][15]

Core Message - The speaker shares his life journey from childhood spiritual inquiries to becoming a teacher of the "science of time," rooted in ancient knowledge like astrology and numerology [1][2][5] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding time and aligning with it for success in various aspects of life [5] - The speaker highlights the role of a true master or guru in achieving success and the transformative power of following their advice [6][7] Impact and Reach - The speaker has provided solutions to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide using the science of time [6] - The speaker teaches meditation and has over 5,000 students across more than 70 countries [6] - The speaker's mission is to empower individuals with the knowledge of time for personal and professional growth [6] Methodology and Transformation - The speaker integrates ancient knowledge with modern practices like meditation to help individuals channel and align their energy [5][8] - The speaker aims to transform individuals from "zero to hero" through knowledge, wisdom, and meditation [8] - The speaker's students are reportedly experiencing happiness and satisfaction by guiding others with this knowledge [8]

Mental Health Crisis - Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 24 in the United States [1] - Poor mental health is a significant problem, but solutions are available [1] Factors Contributing to Declining Mental Health - Excessive screen time distracts and lowers self-esteem [3] - Unhealthy diets of junk food negatively impact the gut-brain connection, studied in nutritional psychiatry [4] - Daily challenges, though seemingly small, compound over time and negatively affect mental health [5] Impact of Technology - Teenagers spend an average of 6 to 8 hours per day on devices for leisure [6] - Excessive device usage correlates with increased stress, depression, and anxiety [7] - Smartphones, with their combination of camera, internet, and social media, can negatively impact mental health [7] Mitigation Strategies - Meditation can be used as a tool to improve mental health [8][14] - Meditation cultivates patience, focus, and mindfulness [11] - Mindfulness skills learned through meditation can lead to a calmer mind, improved concentration, and a solid foundation for good mental health [12][13]

Neuroinflammation and its Impact - Neuroinflammation, often ignored, can accelerate memory loss, worsen anxiety and stress, and facilitate Alzheimer's dementia [5][6] - Factors like poor diet, lack of restorative sleep, and absence of joy can fuel neuroinflammation, leading to a decline in the profoundness of life experiences [7][8] - Surgery-induced inflammation can accelerate neuroinflammation, potentially triggering cognitive decline in vulnerable patients [9][10] Meditation as a Solution - Meditation, rooted in Indian traditions, offers a solution to cool neuroinflammation, especially when delivered in a contemporary and accessible way [12] - A 21-minute multimodal meditation process, combining alternative nostril breathing, chanting, rapid breathing, and breath watching, proves beneficial [13] - Meditators practicing this process showed the lowest levels of stress and the highest levels of well-being during the pandemic [15][16] Scientific Evidence of Meditation's Benefits - Meditators showed C-reactive protein levels one-third of that of controls, indicating a low inflamed state [18] - Meditators from a retreat upregulated genes responsible for fighting against COVID, as published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences [19][20] - Meditation can lead to a better gut microbiome with increased lactobacillus and other beneficial bacteria, reducing gut inflammation [25] Brain Function and Connectivity - Meditation enhances the connection between the switch center (salience network) and the mind-wandering center (default mode network), improving the ability to switch between tasks and mind-wandering states [28] - A 15-minute meditation process enhances long-range connectivity and integration in the brain, similar to the effects of a good night's sleep [32][33] - Meditators showed a brain age six years younger compared to individuals without the practice, and 15-20 years younger than those with mild cognitive impairment and dementia [37] Holistic Benefits - Meditation, combined with diet, good sleep, and joy, contributes to a healthy brain [38] - Meditation can influence adherence to a dietary plan, such as eating twice a day with 50% raw plant-based diet [38] - Meditation increases the production of anandamide, also known as the bliss molecule, which acts at the joy center in the brain [39][40]

Meditation Types & Techniques - Transcendental Meditation (TM) is highlighted as a beneficial practice, involving mantra repetition to shift focus away from thoughts [1][2] - The core mechanism involves repeating a sound internally to redirect thoughts [2] Benefits of Meditation - Meditation offers a sense of vacation, fostering creativity and equanimity [3] - Meditation helps to regain clarity and equanimity, enabling better stress management and problem-solving [5] Practice & Implementation - Meditation is recommended in the morning before breakfast and in the evening before dinner [4] - Meditation is also beneficial when feeling stressed or overwhelmed [5] - Impatience during meditation indicates a need for the practice [2][3]