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Willful Blindness

2024-01-25 Mama Minimalist

When faced with information that challenges our long-held beliefs, we humans do one of two things. Either we think hard about our values and adapt our lifestyles to reflect this new data, or we cling to willful blindness so that we may continue to think and act in the ways we’ve always thought and acted.

In honor of Veganuary I bring you a conversation with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau about changing our beliefs — and our diets! — in the face of new information.

Here’s a preview:

[7:30] Unpacking willful blindness: How and why we tell ourselves untruths to maintain long-held beliefs

[11:00] Cognitive dissonance is uncomfortable. Why, then, do some people learn and change while others cling to defunct beliefs?

[19:00] It’s not giving up, it’s letting go! Uncovering the story that’s underneath your eating habits that you’re unwilling to let go of

[23:00] Debunking 3 commonly-held plant-based myths to reflect updated science

[37:00] Attitude is everything, so flip the script!

Resources mentioned:

Previous Veganuary episodes:

Episode #334: Plant-Based Families
Episode #238: The Future Of Food

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Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

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The Cost of Constant Connection

In this era of relentless connectivity, taking an exit ramp from our digital lives has never looked more inviting. In fact, emerging science is now confirming what many of us feel: Smartphones are draining our cognitive reserves, shattering our focus, and keeping us in a state of low-level chronic anxiety.

To see if there’s a better way, reporter Courtney Lindwall shelved her iPhone for a $45 Nokia flip phone. Courtney is on the show today to discuss the "dumb phone" movement, the logistical friction of navigating an app-dependent world, and why research says our brains are so desperate for a break.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] Continuous partial attention, instinctual muscle memory, and other ways in which our smartphones are working against us

[9:00] Gray scale? screen limits? Here's why the tools and tricks don't work for the vast majority of us

[14:00] Thoughts on our emotional attachments to our phones—and the emotional experiences they provide

[22:00] The psychological benefits of embracing a bit more "friction"

[33:00] Our brains are malleable, and we get used to a new normal quite quickly. Lean into that!

Resources mentioned:

How an old-school flip phone changed my life (via Consumer Reports)
This detox may erase 10 years of social media brain damage, researchers say (via The Washington Post)
The Brick phone access blocker device

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My Story

Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

Want to know more? Read my story.