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Are we losing the battle against the relentless buzz of the modern world? Find out as I, Jim Cunningham, delve into the transformative power of stillness on mental wellness. In this engaging episode of Unscripted Mind, we rekindle the age-old wisdom of Blaise Pascal and examine the heavy toll our omnipresent digital distractions impose on our lives. From the deteriorating mental health of adolescents glued to social media to the eroding attention spans and relationships in adults, we uncover research that reveals today's digital dilemma. But fear not, as we also uncover a cost-free remedy to the stresses of contemporary life that requires no more than a pause.

This episode isn't just a wake-up call; it's an invitation to rediscover tranquility in your daily routine. We offer practical strategies to reclaim moments of peace, which, as Ryan Holiday suggests, help steady the archer's aim in life. We're not just talking theory; we're proposing a lifestyle shift towards balance and mindfulness. Join me in exploring how embracing the profound power of pause can lead to a more balanced existence and the profound benefits that ripple out from the simple act of being still. Whether it's engaging with neighbors or savoring quietude alone, this podcast episode is your guide to stepping back from the cacophony and embracing the profound power of stillness.

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Holiday, Ryan. Stillness is the Key. New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2019.

Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: The influence of social media on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior, 91, 234-243.

Lepp, A., Barkley, J. E., & Karpinski, A. C. (2015). The relationship between cell phone use and academic performance in a sample of U.S. college students. Educational Psychology, 35(4), 507-515. Link

Psych Central. (2021). The mental health benefits of journaling. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com

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Shensa, A., Escobar-Viera, C. G., Sidani, J. E., Bowman, N. D., Marshal, M. P., & Primack, B. A. (2017). Problematic social media use and depressive symptoms among U.S. young adults: A nationally-representative study. Computers in Human Behavior, 69, 71-79. Link

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University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). Benefits of journaling. Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu

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The goal of The UnScripted Mind Podcast is to give you fresh perspectives, practical insights and tools you can use to give you more choices, self-awareness and control of your feelings, reactions and behaviors.