Jason Meno

Right. Yeah. Like if we scaled up these numbers and we got a group of people who weren't so familiar with David, weren't so familiar with meditation, and we gathered those demographics and controlled for them, what effects would we see then? Yeah, that's a big question too.

Right. Yeah. Like if we scaled up these numbers and we got a group of people who weren't so familiar with David, weren't so familiar with meditation, and we gathered those demographics and controlled for them, what effects would we see then? Yeah, that's a big question too.

Yes. Like I sent out an email and the title of this experiment is called the mindfulness mystery and experiment. So people who probably are interested in helping out with this experiment or interested in mindfulness and meditation, they self-selected into participating as well.

Yes. Like I sent out an email and the title of this experiment is called the mindfulness mystery and experiment. So people who probably are interested in helping out with this experiment or interested in mindfulness and meditation, they self-selected into participating as well.

Yeah. And again, just a reminder, the first meditation was a body scan. And it's actually quite a hands on meditation where the guided meditation is this woman talking to you every couple seconds telling you, OK, now pay attention to this part of your body and relax that. Now pay attention to this part of your body. So, you know, big question is why would that have such a effect?

Yeah. And again, just a reminder, the first meditation was a body scan. And it's actually quite a hands on meditation where the guided meditation is this woman talking to you every couple seconds telling you, OK, now pay attention to this part of your body and relax that. Now pay attention to this part of your body. So, you know, big question is why would that have such a effect?

effect on your belief in your negative thoughts and how upsetting they are. Here's my hypothesis. Because what we're talking about with the placebo effect is how are you making meaning of what's happening to you? And how are you making meaning about the things that upset you? And what would it be about sitting and feeling like you're meditating by scanning through your body

effect on your belief in your negative thoughts and how upsetting they are. Here's my hypothesis. Because what we're talking about with the placebo effect is how are you making meaning of what's happening to you? And how are you making meaning about the things that upset you? And what would it be about sitting and feeling like you're meditating by scanning through your body

What would change the meaning making you're doing about your life or yourself or the problems going on that are upsetting you just by engaging in that activity? And I imagine it's very similar to exercise, where when you're exercising, you believe you're doing something very good for yourself. I think there's quite a universal belief that exercise is good thing. Exercise is healthy.

What would change the meaning making you're doing about your life or yourself or the problems going on that are upsetting you just by engaging in that activity? And I imagine it's very similar to exercise, where when you're exercising, you believe you're doing something very good for yourself. I think there's quite a universal belief that exercise is good thing. Exercise is healthy.

Exercise will help me. Yeah. That in itself is a huge, huge meaning making effect you're doing.

Exercise will help me. Yeah. That in itself is a huge, huge meaning making effect you're doing.

And so with meditation, I imagine there might be a similar belief here that's happening, which is this is going to help me. This is something good for me.

And so with meditation, I imagine there might be a similar belief here that's happening, which is this is going to help me. This is something good for me.

Yeah, relaxing. Like that's the other part of this too, which is I really think in my personal experience with meditating as well, because I meditate a lot and I'm also like challenging my negative thoughts on the side too. And I can see the limits of how my meditation does and doesn't help me.

Yeah, relaxing. Like that's the other part of this too, which is I really think in my personal experience with meditating as well, because I meditate a lot and I'm also like challenging my negative thoughts on the side too. And I can see the limits of how my meditation does and doesn't help me.

And I can certainly say that there is a therapeutic benefit sometimes to disengaging from the problem for a little bit before trying to re-engage it again. Yeah. So there might be something quite good about basically – when you're caught up in your negative thoughts, it's almost like you have blinders on and you're just staring down the tunnel of all the negativity.

And I can certainly say that there is a therapeutic benefit sometimes to disengaging from the problem for a little bit before trying to re-engage it again. Yeah. So there might be something quite good about basically – when you're caught up in your negative thoughts, it's almost like you have blinders on and you're just staring down the tunnel of all the negativity.

Like you're really – you're discounting the positive.

Like you're really – you're discounting the positive.