Want To Live Longer? Start With Your Smile | Ep 079

👉🏼 Ravinder Taylor, mind-scientist shares groundbreaking research on how to train your brain to be happy. Having worked alongside her husband Eldon Taylor (a pioneer in the field), Ravinder has co-authored over 200 personal motivation programs and brings 30+ years of research to this fascinating conversation. 

Endorsed by leading psychologists and featured on Jay Shetty's "On Purpose" podcast, her book "Mind Training" examines how understanding brain chemistry can help eliminate self-destructive behaviors and enhance wellbeing. Discover why optimism reduces disease risk by up to 52%, how smiling can add 7 years to your life, and learn simple 12-minute techniques that can transform your mindset. Based on over 200 scientific studies, this episode proves that controlling your mind isn't just "feel-good fluff" - it's neuroscience that works.

👩🏻‍💻 Ravinder's Website: https://ravindertaylor.com/
 📕 Ravinder's Book Mind Training: https://us.amazon.com/Mind-Training-Self-Empowerment-Ravinder-Taylor-ebook/dp/B0D85FD483?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Chapters with Timecodes:
00:00 - Mark & Stacey: What We Learned from This Episode
01:51 - Official Intro: Welcome to Gurus and Game Changers
02:20 - Meet Ravinder Taylor: From Microbiologist to Mind Scientist
03:19 - Replacing Negative Self-Talk: Practical First Steps
05:16 - Why "Manifesting" Isn't the Answer (A Scientist's View)
07:00 - The Shocking Health Benefits of Optimism
09:23 - The "Smile Effect": How Smiling Can Add Years to Your Life
10:43 - Practical Solutions for Happiness Today
14:22 - The Research Behind Mind Training
16:17 - Why People Self-Sabotage (And How to Stop)
18:23 - Eight Hugs a Day: Simple Techniques for Better Mood
21:33 - Mind Training Made Simple: The 12-Minute Technique
23:31 - Closing Thoughts: Science Behind the "Fluff"

📲 Connect with Our Hosts:
Stacey: https://www.instagram.com/staceymgrant/
Mark: https://www.instagram.com/mark_lubragge_onair/

⭐️ Watch/Subscribe to Gurus and Game Changers on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GurusAndGameChangers
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Transcript

00:02 - Stacey (Host)
here's what I learned in this episode, mark. Okay, I learned that there is actual science that is connected to not self-sabotaging yourself. Oh, can you say it that way? 

00:16 - Mark (Host)
self-sabotaging yourself, no, that's good and the other side of that same equation. I learned just how much research and science yep is behind all of the all this self-empowerment stuff you see on like tiktok, you can change your life and you just gotta right more positive. Just change your mind. There's a whole lot behind that and and our guest today was ravinda taylor she studied the neuroscience of it all the hypno the hypnotherapy of it all. She's married it against all of the niceties, the fluff, I think I call it. 

00:48 - Stacey (Host)
Yes, it's not fluff that we're all so used to hearing. Well, she's a microbiologist by trade, yeah. And then she saw this thing where a hypnotherapist came into the hospital where she was. 

01:00 - Mark (Host)
Right. 

01:00 - Stacey (Host)
Which had some gravitas because they were in this very esteemed group of doctors and nurses, and he totally changed her mind about whether or not it was possible to use hypnotherapy to feel better and change someone's brain. 

01:17 - Mark (Host)
And she saw it happen to her team. She knew the people that it was happening to, which gave it a lot of credibility. So, the reality is, then, all the stuff that we're so used to hearing. You know, get over self-limiting behavior. You got to be more positive in the way you talk to yourself. It's all true. 

01:34 - Stacey (Host)
But here's the proof. 

01:35 - Mark (Host)
This episode is. Here's the proof and the research she calls. She pulls out on nuns and on nurses. 

01:42 - Stacey (Host)
So her book is called Mind Training the Science of Self-Empowerment, and really, if we can all just read this book, I think the world would be a better place. 

01:50 - Mark (Host)
That's probably very true. 

01:51 - Stacey (Host)
Mm-hmm, I love it, I love it. 

01:53 - Mark (Host)
All right, you're going to enjoy it. Revenda Till. 

01:59 - Stacey (Host)
Hi, I'm Stacey. 

02:00 - Mark (Host)
And I am Mark, and this is the Gurus at Game Changers podcast. So welcome everybody. So how many times have you heard motivational experts say things like hey, you need to rewire your brain to unlock your full potential, or you can overcome those self-limiting behaviors and have the life that you want, and all of that stuff right? 

02:20 - Stacey (Host)
Change your self-talk. 

02:21 - Mark (Host)
Everywhere it's in books, it's in videos, on social media. They never tell you how right we all know it's a good thing. They never tell you exactly how am I supposed to do that? Well, today's guest, Ravinda Taylor, can actually answer those questions, because she is a mind science researcher who blends psychology and neuroscience with all of those practical self-improvement strategies, and her goal is to give you science-backed ways to take charge of your mind and improve your life. Ravinda, welcome to the show Welcome. 

02:53 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
How are you? I am well Such an honor to be with you. 

02:57 - Mark (Host)
Well, we can't wait to hear. We can't wait to hear what's in that mind of yours. 

03:00 - Stacey (Host)
So many people struggle with the negative self-talk, like I hear myself doing it. I'm a very positive person, but I'll say something and you know, like I'll be like oof, that was, I just did it over there. I said something and I'm like that was negative self-talk. What specific methods can you give our audience and me? You're fine, mark, I guess. 

03:19 - Mark (Host)
I'm good. 

03:19 - Stacey (Host)
You always say good things about yourself. 

03:26 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
To replace that self-criticism with something positive. You want to start paying attention to it. Lots of people believe that we are simply a product of our environment, our enculturation, our genes, and that isn't the case. You want to pay attention to what you consume. You want to become mindful about what's going on around you. I think the most important thing is to understand that your mind is going to intake this information. So therefore, you want to take conscious control over what gets in there. You want to try and surround yourself with people who are more positive, and the fact is, we tend to surround ourselves with people who are very much like us. 

04:07
So if we tend to be pessimistic, if we're the kind of person that you know, you can get groups of females. I'm sure the guys do the same thing, but groups of females can get together all to complain about their husbands. Well, if you're doing that kind of stuff, you're going to experience those kinds of problems in in your own life. You have to. You have to put a halt to that. You, when you understand how how much influence your subconscious mind has over you, then you need to start protecting it. So you pay attention to what you consume. You pay attention to the people around you. You are going to be as successful in whatever area you know. If you're trying to lose weight or you're trying to be successful in business, you're going to be as successful as the five or six people that are closest to you. So surround yourself with people who support your goals. 

05:01 - Mark (Host)
So it sounds like you're sort of crossing into, also crossing into the realm of sort of a manifestation type thing, where what you're telling yourself sort of creates a reality around you. What are your thoughts on that as somebody who studies the science? 

05:16 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
I don't go to manifesting, when the secret came out that that was huge and everyone went down this avenue of ask, believe, receive. The universe is a cornucopia of abundance, or you have to. Um, that's bs, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to be frank with you spoken like a scientist? That is absolutely yes. Sometimes you just have to say it as it is. So when it comes to creating good things in your life, if you're constantly expecting bad things, that is what you're going to see, and when good things come along, you won't recognize it. 

05:59
It's about changing your bias in these different areas. It's opening yourself up to good things. It's a world of balance. There's lots of good out in the world. It's a beautiful world. 

06:15 - Mark (Host)
But too many people, I think. Just look at the dark side, right, they're just predisposed. They may say I don't want to be this way. I wish I was as optimistic as you, I wish I was positive, but I can't be. Who says that? 

06:29 - Stacey (Host)
People say that you have no people that say that, oh yeah, oh my gosh, you don't know people that are negative by default. I don't hang out with those people. Maybe family. Well, that's what I'm saying. 

06:38 - Mark (Host)
Yeah, yeah. That will look at somebody as positive as you are and say, like, how could you be so positive? Why are you always in a good mood? 

06:45 - Stacey (Host)
Yeah, well, you're so Pollyanna. Well no, they used to say to me at the ad agency what pills are you? 

06:50 - Mark (Host)
what color pills are you on today? Like the yellow pills Because you're so happy all the time, right. 

06:59 - Stacey (Host)
So what's wrong with those? 

07:00 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
people. What's wrong with it? We do all come into this world with certain genes, certain experiences. Those things do influence us. So some people are more optimistic and some people are more pessimistic. That's just the way it is, but it doesn't have to stay that way Exactly Now. Let me give you some incentive for exploring ways to change. In the nurses research that was done, what they found was that the nurses who were more optimistic had significantly less chances of dying from different diseases. The optimistic nurses had a 16% lower risk of dying from cancer. They had a 38% lower risk of dying from respiratory diseases, 52% lower risk of dying from infection, just from being optimistic. They did some research on nuns and what they found was that nuns who were keeping in their journals when they were expressing optimism. After they passed away these same nuns in an autopsy, you could find that their brains were full of Alzheimer plaques, but it never expressed itself. 

08:14 - Mark (Host)
Wow. 

08:14 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
Yeah, that to me was absolutely huge, the fact that if you can stay optimistic, if you stay engaged in life, you don't have to go down the path of dementia and Alzheimer's. So you want to keep your mind active, you want to, you want to stay positive. That will predict better relationships, more success in your career, higher finances. There was two bits of research that I looked at that were that I found really interesting. They were looking at baseball cards and high school photographs and what they found was if the individual was smiling in that picture, they would live longer. 

08:58 - Mark (Host)
What? That's simple, come on. 

09:00 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
Now, if they had a small smile, they would live, on average, two years longer. And if they had the big Duchesne smile? The Duchesne smile is the one that reaches up to the eyes, crinkles up the eyes, the ones that will give you all those lines. Yeah, if they were doing that then they would live, on average, seven years longer. 

09:22 - Mark (Host)
That is wild. 

09:23 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
So there are really simple things. So smiling smiling can bring success to you. It can help you live longer. It can help you be happier. 

09:34
If you're a pessimistic kind of person, at the end of the day, keep a journal and then write down not only what you are afraid is going to happen, but how it may not happen at all or how it may not go down the way that you think it will. And when you do that, you will find most of the time the worst things don't happen, the worst things rarely ever happen. So spending all of that time being pessimistic, imagining the worst, it's a waste of time. It's a waste of time. It's not going to help you and it's going to create all of these other issues. So keeping a gratitude journal, keeping an optimism journal, is a great technique. Being afraid is a waste of time because most of the times it's not going to happen and you're just detracting from your quality of life right now. But when you keep a journal, you get to see this actually acting out. So you write down your fears, you write down what could happen, yeah, and you see that it doesn't. So that becomes part of your experience. 

10:43 - Mark (Host)
We're laughing because we're fighting over the mic. 

10:45 - Stacey (Host)
I know we both want to talk. Go ahead, you can ask. 

10:48 - Mark (Host)
So, and maybe the answer here is a journal. 

10:53 - Stacey (Host)
Maybe we have the same question. That would be crazy, never happens? 

10:54 - Mark (Host)
it never happens. There are people watching right now. Some of them will be saying I wish I had more money. I wish I would. Others will be. I wish I was happier. Others I wish I had a better relationship. Others I wish I just felt better about myself or had more confidence. Like what? And they come to you like what can? What does the science tell me to do today? 

11:16 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
I yeah, that that's a big one, that that is exactly where I go to. Lots of people will come to me with this whole array of things that they want to fix. You know they want to be successful in their relationship. They want to be successful in their business. They want to be successful in their relationship. They want to be successful in their business. They want to be successful. You know they can just create these huge lists of what they would like in life and I always say break it down. Break it down into simple goals and ask yourself what would make me happier today. Make that your goal. Forget these huge lists. When you've got huge lists, you get too diverted. You're you're unfocused. You become very impractical in in your solutions, what you want to do. When you think about it, what we all want is to be happier. So what can we do today to make ourselves happier? 

12:12 - Stacey (Host)
this episode is brought to you by Mainline Studios and the Podcast Factory, where great content feels right at home. Located in beautiful Wayne, pennsylvania, our creative rental space offers high-end tech in a space that feels like your best friend's living room. Book your session or a free tour at mainlinevideostudiocom. And back to the show. I told my daughter this morning because I knew we were talking to you she was feeling like I'm not sure I want to go to work today, like I'm tired and you know. So I said. I said why don't you just smile and replace that with you know, I am so excited to go to work today because you can change that and I'm talking to someone today about that. So of course she's like what? 

12:55
And of course she didn't do that and she's like that's not going to. Basically, I know what she's thinking. 

13:00 - Mark (Host)
Right, that's stupid. 

13:01 - Stacey (Host)
How will that work if I just say to myself I'm excited and I'm happy to go to work and smile. So what is it? What is the science? What happens when you do that? And is that true? Can you just say to yourself I'm really excited that Mark's my co-host and really mean it, that's a valid point. 

13:18 - Mark (Host)
I fully support and understand that sentiment. 

13:21 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
It depends how deep the subconscious programming is. Sometimes you can't just talk yourself happy, but you can find techniques to make yourself happier. When you're happy, you smile, but if you put on a smile, your brain will produce happy brain chemicals. I will smile at myself and rather than saying you know, oh, I'm happy, everything is wonderful, I will say something encouraging you can do this, you've got this. It's okay To add to the happiness. If you step outside, if you feel the sun, your brain will produce those happy brain chemicals. There is a great deal of science about experiencing awe, because that brings you back into context in the world. Rather than being obsessed by all the things that you're afraid of, you see that you are just a small part in this beautiful creation, and that creates a sense of inner calmness. 

14:22 - Mark (Host)
Drop more science on us. Give me more research. 

14:26 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
In mind training. I discuss about 200 different independent scientific research studies and try to pull that information out. They did some research on general anxiety disorder. They had these kids come in that are dealing with anxiety and they were told to visualize a positive outcome, to verbalize a positive outcome or just picture something positive that was unrelated. They found that in all three conditions people would feel better. When we talked earlier about some of these the optimism journal or the gratitude journal what they find too is that when you do that today, they show that down the highway that there was some research. They did that. They looked six weeks down down the highway and they found that people were more positive then as well. It's not that life changes and stressful events don't occur. It it's the fact that you don't register them as being stressful. So people actually reported fewer stressful events. Their lives were the same, but it wasn't affecting them in the same way. 

15:46 - Mark (Host)
Perfect sense. 

15:47 - Stacey (Host)
That is so cool, and it's it's chemicals that are released in your brain. That's the science. 

15:52 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
It's chemicals that are released in your brain, it's the pairing, it's the neuroplasticity where you pair different experiences so you don't have to have these stressful things that get triggered automatically. You pair something positive with it. 

16:09 - Stacey (Host)
Why do you think is the number one reason that people self-sabotage? 

16:17 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
Conflicting desires. Perhaps we want to be successful, but we're petrified of public speaking. Well, when situations come along to be successful, you invariably reach a point where you have to speak to people. You have to speak to to people. You have to speak to other people, you have to speak to groups. You have to do public speaking that comes in conflict, so maybe you sabotage your ability to get the promotion for that. 

16:48
You have to get your inner goals in line with your outer goals in order to see success. And how do you do that? By paying attention to how your subconscious is programmed, by understanding how your subconscious mind works, by taking control of that programming, by getting into the driver's seat of your own life. It is all simple. There are so many techniques in mind training that are really really simple. You just have to start putting them into practice, and so, therefore, you have to have enough desire to start paying attention to my thoughts and understanding how important every thought we have actually is what I really love about this is there are times when you're in a crappy mood, right, and you're downstairs having your first tea of the day. 

17:43 - Stacey (Host)
I don't know if you get in crappy moods. I get in crappy moods sometimes and I'll try to tell myself, because I know this, like this is. This is something that's easy to understand but hard to do, right, because I'll be sitting there saying why are you in this mood? And obviously there's some reason. Whatever it is, let's switch the flip. Let's flip the switch. Let's flip the switch. 

18:06
Take your pick and I will say to my, I will say to myself you are happy today. This is a great day, it's sunny outside and I'll give myself sort of that positive self-talk. It doesn't always work 100%, I have to be honest, but at least I try. Is that one of the things that you think people should do? 

18:23 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
It's great, it helps. That is definitely one step Me when I'm in a bad mood. First of all, I acknowledge hey, I'm definitely cranky today. I need to do something about it. What can I do? And I will frequently step outside. Step outside, take a few deep breaths, remind myself I'm in control. I'm in control here, but you give the body the opportunity to produce some of the happy chemicals that can turn off the cranky stuff. You know, maybe you do get yourself a treat, maybe a hug. Hugs are one of the best things that you can do. You know, if you can get eight hugs a day, eight hugs a day, and that that will make a huge difference yes, eight. 

19:18 - Stacey (Host)
I tell my daughter that all the time because you tell her. 

19:21 - Mark (Host)
Well, I tell her. 

19:22 - Stacey (Host)
We should be having eight. Like I'll grab her and make her hug me and I'll be like this this should be. This is one of seven oh my gosh yeah she's 24, so she's like I gotta go. 

19:30 - Mark (Host)
I gotta go to work. Yeah, it's not gonna. It's not gonna work for. So she's like I got to go. 

19:33 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
I got to go to work. Yeah, it's not going to work for her if she's resistive to it. Right, that creates it. So the person that you're hugging has to want to be hugged. 

19:43 - Stacey (Host)
Right, then it's true. 

19:45 - Mark (Host)
Okay, fine. 

19:47 - Stacey (Host)
I'm like tackling her. 

19:48 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
But it translates to pets as well, though you don't necessarily have to hug a person, go hug your dog. I love that, if you're having a cranky morning, sit on the floor and hug your dog or your cat or whatever, but you also first have to kind of pay attention to the fact like we're not saying just disregard your cranky feelings, right? 

20:12 - Stacey (Host)
You know you might want to take a second to think about those feelings, right? 

20:15 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
Like why am I feeling that way? 

20:17 - Stacey (Host)
But then, once you've had a second right to let it filter through, then say, ok, how are we going to? What are we going? 

20:24 - Mark (Host)
to do now. That's great self-awareness, right yeah, were you cranky earlier today. 

20:28 - Stacey (Host)
Yes. 

20:29 - Mark (Host)
Yeah, it's a crazy day. She needed a hug. 

20:39 - Stacey (Host)
I did I didn't get a hug. She needed nine. No time for hugs today, I need 10. Stockpile them for next time. 

20:46 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
This has been awesome. What is next for you? What is next for me? I am teaching people. I think the most important thing is understanding how powerful your mind is and how much control you have over it. Understanding how powerful your mind is and how much control you have over it. I love talking to people who are trying to create a better world, and this has far-reaching consequences. When you look at the idea of free will, when you make changes in yourself, you become part of somebody else's experience, and when you're part of somebody else's experience, they see that it's possible, so maybe they try it too. I'm trying to be part of other people's experiences, to show them how much power they have and, you know, to demonstrate all the things that they can achieve when they, when they take control of it for themselves. 

21:33 - Mark (Host)
I like the way she put it so good. 

21:34 - Stacey (Host)
Is there anything else you think our audience needs to know about mind training? 

21:40 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
It's not difficult. You don't have to be a neuroscientist. I do bring in all the science, but that's only to give you the incentive to do the work. Most of the techniques are really simple In mind training. The longest technique I have in there takes 12 minutes. Wow, that is the longest one I have. Most things you can incorporate into your life, habituate, into your normal routines. It's about changing habits, about creating different habits, different habits, but doing that change your life. 

22:15 - Mark (Host)
Starts right up my alley. I'm going to check out the book Totally. 

22:18 - Stacey (Host)
This is something that you know yeah yeah, we love it, yeah, we really we were so excited to talk to you and I'm so glad we did. That reminds me of what you said. What you do is, when you have something that's in front of you, that's tough. 

22:30 - Mark (Host)
You think about the moments after and how great you're going to feel. 

22:33 - Stacey (Host)
I've actually tried to talk about that with both of my kids. Like when you're finished with this difficult thing, think about how you're going to feel, right it? 

22:42 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
is, and if you've, if you've done that difficult thing, that sense of achievement, you have done it, you have got, you have got through it. Now you're on the other side and you can relax and enjoy it. So, yeah, I will frequently think to the other side of a difficult situation. This is great, can't thank you enough for coming on the show. 

23:08 - Stacey (Host)
I love this. I could talk forever about this. 

23:12 - Mark (Host)
Thank you for being the voice of science in this world. That so many of the stuff is just a TikTok video and it's just people trying to sell you stuff You're pontificating. It's just great You're pontificating. 

23:26 - Stacey (Host)
But I really appreciate the fact that there's scientific research to back up stuff. 

23:29 - Mark (Host)
Yes, To back up the fluff, like I said at the fluff. 

23:31 - Stacey (Host)
I can't wait to read this book. 

23:33 - Mark (Host)
I am not pontificating. 

23:35 - Stacey (Host)
You kind of are. But I also used another big word again you did that's two. You know what? You get an extra hug just for that. 

23:42 - Mark (Host)
Thank you, Ravinda. Thank you so much for coming on the show. We really appreciate it. 

23:45 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
Thank you so much for having me on. I've enjoyed talking with you both. 

23:51 - Stacey (Host)
You're both delightful. Oh well, you are delightful. 

23:53 - Ravinder Taylor (Guest)
Thank you, we're all so positive here today. Thank you guys for watching. We will see you. 

24:03 - Stacey (Host)
You're still here. You're still listening. Thanks for listening to the Gurus and Game Changers podcast While you're here. If you enjoyed it, please take a minute to rate this episode and leave us a quick review. We want to know what you thought of the show and what you took from it and how it might have helped you. We read and appreciate every comment. Thanks, See you next week.