Are you living your life intentionally, or are you simply reacting to the world around you? Do you feel a sense of wholeness and contentment, or are you constantly striving for something more? In today's episode, I dive into these fundamental questions about the nature of human existence with Dr Dan Siegel.

Dan received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in Paediatrics and Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry. He has spent decades studying family interactions with an emphasis on how our attachment experiences influence our emotions, behaviour and autobiographical memory.

He is also an award-winning educator, who was previously Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the School of Medicine in UCLA, and he’s the author of five New York Times bestsellers and over fifteen other books, including his very latest, Personality and Wholeness in Therapy.

In this conversation, Dan shares insights from his ground-breaking 20-year project on personality development. We discuss the difference between temperament and personality and explore how our innate tendencies interact with our life experiences to shape who we become. 

Dan introduces his theory of ABC (Agency, Bonding, Certainty) as fundamental motivational networks influencing our personality and explains how understanding these can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

We discuss the impact our childhood experiences have on our adult lives. Dan shares his ‘4 S's’ of parenting - a brilliant framework which helps us build emotionally resilient children. We also go through Dan’s ‘Wheel of Awareness’ practice - a powerful tool that helps us move - from a reactive state to a more intentional, receptive way of living.

Dan's message is one of hope and it reminds us that it's never too late to work on ourselves and find that sense of wholeness within. This conversation is not just about understanding ourselves better - it's about finding a path to true contentment and inner peace. I hope you enjoy listening.

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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/489

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.