The book It Doesn't Get Better. The Neurobiology of Sensation, or How to Regain Your Taste for Life Norman Farb, Zindel Segal

For many of us, everyday life has lost its meaning. The highly efficient mechanisms that once made life easier now exhaust us. Patterns of judgment and negative thinking lead to an emotional spiral. For some, life has simply lost its spark.

When we're struggling with a problem or a bad habit, we think we need to be resilient, to endure it all, and to put in more effort. But when we do, our brain doubles down on the thought patterns that got us stuck in the first place. Fortunately, the science of feeling holds the key to solving this problem.

In their book, “It Doesn’t Get Better: The Neurobiology of Feeling, or How to Reclaim Your Joy in Life,” neuroscientist Norman Farb and clinical psychologist Zindel Segal explain that the brain has two networks: a network for rapid problem-solving (habits) and a sensory network that is responsible for fresh insights. By tuning in to new and everyday sensations—from the feel of our feet on a crowded street to the sound of birdsong in the park—we can engage the sensory network. When we feel stressed or stuck, it’s worth pausing to notice and experience the dynamic, living world around us and increase our resilience, well-being, health, and creativity, wherever we are in the moment.