3 Habits That Invite Dementia, According to Venerable Beopjeong

‌3 Habits That Invite Dementia, According to Venerable Beopjeong
As we age, we find ourselves forgetting things more frequently. We lose track of where we put our keys or what we were just about to do. While we worry that worsening forgetfulness might lead to dementia, we often fail to change our daily habits, relying instead on supplements or simply letting our anxiety grow.
In his book "Non-Possession," Venerable Beopjeong said, "The act of discarding and emptying is not a passive way of life, but a wise choice." This is not merely about owning fewer physical objects. The same applies to habits. Recognizing and discarding lifestyle patterns that threaten brain health is a form of active prevention. Reflecting on his teachings, many of the habits that invite dementia are things we have unconsciously accumulated.
3rd Place – Walking the same path every day
The commute to work, the route to the grocery store, even the walking trails—it is always the same path. Familiar routes are comfortable. There is no need to think and no reason to be alert. However, the brain does not respond to repetitive stimuli. It is only when we find new routes and encounter unfamiliar scenery that our neurons truly awaken.
The "emptying" spoken of by Venerable Beopjeong also means discarding the attitude of settling for familiarity. Walking the same path every day fills us with comfort while simultaneously emptying the brain of the "nutrients" provided by stimulation. Dementia specialists say that simply walking an unfamiliar path activates the hippocampus in the brain. The process of remembering, judging, and deciding to find one's way becomes a form of training.
Try taking a different route just one block away on your way home today. That alone will awaken your brain.
2nd Place – Eating alone and living in silence
The number of middle-aged and elderly people living alone is increasing. They eat alone and watch TV alone. Since there is nothing to say, there are days when they do not open their mouths at all. However, conversation is not merely an act of sharing emotions. While speaking, the brain selects words, constructs sentences, and reads the other person's reactions. This entire process is complex cognitive training.
Venerable Beopjeong's concept of non-possession did not advocate for isolation. Rather, it meant letting go of unnecessary attachments to focus on genuine relationships. The habit of eating alone and living a silent daily life is not about emptying relationships, but about severing the connections in the brain. According to research, social isolation increases the risk of dementia by more than 50%.
Even if it is just two or three times a week, eating with someone, having a phone conversation, or attending a local gathering—the time spent exchanging words keeps the brain alive.
1st Place – Avoiding mental tasks
Out of laziness, we pull out a calculator, rely on navigation, and save everything in memo apps. Convenience is good, but the brain gradually discards functions it no longer uses. If you stop doing mental math, your calculation skills decline; if you stop memorizing routes, your spatial perception weakens. The brain, like a muscle, atrophies if not used.
The "discarding" mentioned by Venerable Beopjeong is not an excuse to justify laziness. Rather, it means discarding the habit of relying on unnecessary conveniences and choosing a life of thinking and judging for oneself. The key to preventing dementia is to keep using the brain. The process of learning new things, solving problems, and striving to remember protects the neurons.
Instead of writing a grocery list on your smartphone, try memorizing it in your head. That short time spent recalling necessary items at the mart trains your brain. When deciding on tonight's dinner menu, start by trying to remember what is in your refrigerator. A life of emptying is not about emptying your mind, but about emptying unnecessary dependencies and filling yourself with the habit of thinking for yourself.