Doctor in molecular biology Estanislao Bachrach shook the environment with a revelation that turns the idea of success upside down: “Well-being or decision-making does not depend on what I have, but on what I am and what I want to be.” In an interview that is already a sensation, the scientist debunked the myth that happiness can be bought with money or material achievements.
Bachrach, known for his research on the brain and emotions, stated that anyone can access self-knowledge, although it is not a bed of roses. “Many of us cannot access it alone; we need a coach, a therapist, a best friend. Sometimes one gets enlightened by reading a book or listening to a podcast. It requires discipline, time, effort, attention – what adults say we don’t have – but I believe anyone can access it,” he shot.
The specialist focused on meditation as a key tool to transform the brain. “You begin to modify the structure and, sometimes, the function of certain areas of the brain, of neurons. Especially attention, because meditating is bringing attention to a single place,” he explained. And he was emphatic: “Here you cannot see the brain differently, but in the MRI you do see it. It can be seen through technology and you feel it.”
However, Bachrach issued a warning that leaves no room for excuses: “The great challenge is to sustain it over time, because if you go to the gym to do biceps for two months and then stop going, the muscle returns to its place. The same happens with the brain. If you train with meditation for several months and then stop meditating, it goes back.”
Science, according to the biologist, already supports these changes. “For many years, thanks to non-technology, there was not much scientific evidence of the impact this had on the body, the brain, and especially on well-being. Today there is already a lot of scientific evidence of the impact it has on feeling better. Who doesn’t want to feel better in life? So, I always say that you don’t have to use these tools, but they are there available. They are free, easy to learn, but they require patience, effort, discipline, perseverance… things that adults don’t have,” he concluded.
One of the most striking points of his presentation was when he spoke about pain and suffering. Bachrach, who suffers from chronic migraines, told how he managed to separate both concepts thanks to cognitive-behavioral therapy. “I began to realize that, besides hurting a lot, I suffered a lot. There I began to distinguish the difference between suffering (which has more to do with the mind) and pain, which is something natural that happens to the body and always goes away. Pain appears and always goes away. Now it still hurts, but I no longer suffer,” he confessed.
For moments of crisis, the expert recommended seeking help, though not necessarily medical. “I believe that each person has to find their own tool or tools so that suffering becomes just pain. And seeking help, sometimes, is not about a doctor, nor does it have to be a therapist. It can be a person, a family member you love or who loves you, a best friend,” he concluded.
para mi estanislao es un vendido che el bienestar no es solo mente es luchar por un mundo justo basta de individualismo burgues mientras haya pobres no hay plenitud que valga despierta gato esto huele a cuento de ricos para mantenernos dormidos
Para mí este Bachrach es otro zurdo resentido que quiere vender humo. El bienestar no se entrena, se gana laburando duro y siendo útil a la patria. Los meditadores son vagos que esquivan sus responsabilidades. Dejate de yerbas y ponete a laburar, hippie!