This module will focus on the idea of automaticity – doing things in autopilot mode, and without careful thinking. By building on ideas borrowed from evolutionary psychology and neuroscience, the module will introduce you to the impact evolution has had on our development – especially of brains. Next, we will discuss the ‘default mode network’ – an aspect of our brains that has been identified as the central contributor to automaticity and unhappiness. Finally, the module will conclude and provide us with the first principle of HEAL that should be remembered as well as practiced in our life.

In this module, you will learn about the idea of ‘oneness’ mindset. The module will introduce you to the idea of our two ways of thinking and also the two selves: the ego-self and the natural-self. Building evidence from neuroscience, psychology and philosophy, you will learn about the interconnection of the ego-self with the survival tendency that is ingrained in humans. On the other hand, the natural-self is connected to the lofty ideal of practicing ‘oneness’ thinking in daily life. Last, the module showcases how oneness has been conceptualized and presented in the Indian wisdom traditions.

In this module, you will learn about the characteristics of the first element of HEAL – harmony. The module introduces you to the characteristics of compassion and loving-kindness, their relationships with oneness mindset and the ways in which both of these qualities can be developed. By providing evidence from neuroscience as well as psychology research about the impact of consciously developing harmonious thoughts on mental health, stress-coping and happiness. Overall, the module presents the third HEAL principle of practicing oneness thinking and building harmony.

This module will focus on providing you with a deep understanding of emotions, the brain parts and your physiology that gets involved/activated due to emotions. The module will provide you an understanding of how emotions are a consequence of the default mode network that we learnt in module two. Next, by building on insights from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness based cognitive therapy, neuroscience as well as psychology research, the module provides insight into emotion regulation techniques such as open monitoring, decentering, reappraisal, checking rumination and cognitive reactivity.

This module introduces you to the core values that are in alignment with the oneness mindset discussed in module four of the course. The module provides insights into different aspects of authentic living and showcases evidence from research that links authentic living to happiness, better mental health and reduced stress. The module then introduces you to the idea of character strengths and through the VIA survey provides you a detailed understanding of your strengths. The module then provides you tips into how you can plan/recreate your life in order to be more aligned with your character strengths.

This module introduces you to the second aspect of authentic living – giving voice to your values. The module focuses on the aspect of modern-day living: meaningfulness at work and developing sustainable relationships. The module first provides inputs on meaningfulness of work and presents the idea of loving what you do and of loving what you do. Next, the module discusses the aspect of building sustainable relationships through ‘making time’. The module then provides examples of moral living from the lives of famous Indian heroes, Patanjali, Krishna and Buddha. Last, the module summarizes the HEAL principles presented in the course.