Ryan A. Bush, author of Designing the Mind, discusses his approach to self-improvement and the influence of Stoicism. They explore breaking the cycle of rumination and worry, recognizing core values and virtues for self-worth, and the role of metacognition in repairing the mind. They also introduce his new book, Become Who You Are, focusing on a new theory of well-being and the interconnection of self-worth, depression, and virtues.
Psychitecture applies an engineering-oriented approach to reprogram the mind by integrating Stoicism, Buddhism, and modern psychology.
Breaking cyclical patterns of rumination and worry is crucial for mental health; methods like embracing worry thoughts and scheduling appointments with worries can help develop healthier thought patterns.
Understanding the foundational aspects and focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and meaningful activities can drive behavior change and promote well-being.
Deep dives
The Practice of Psychitecture and Designing the Mind
The guest, Ryan Abush, discusses his book 'Designing the Mind' and his organization centered around the practice of Psychitecture. Psychitecture involves studying various sources such as Stoicism, Buddhism, and modern psychology to create a modern systems framework for understanding and reprogramming the mind. It applies an analytical and engineering-oriented approach to finding creative solutions for mental challenges and negative emotions. Abush emphasizes the importance of understanding how our thoughts influence our emotions and offers methods for reprogramming the mind.
Identifying and Breaking Negative Thought Patterns
Abush highlights the detrimental impact of rumination and worry on mental health. He explains that rumination involves repetitive negative self-criticism, while worry is the useless repetition of the same thoughts. Abush emphasizes the need to break these cyclical patterns and provides methods such as embracing worry thoughts, allowing worst-case scenarios, and scheduling appointments with worries to develop healthier thought patterns. He aligns with cognitive behavioral therapy and cognitive restructuring techniques to challenge and restructure distorted thoughts.
Influences of Philosophy and Metacognition in Self-Improvement
Abush discusses his background in philosophy and psychology, highlighting Stoicism as his greatest philosophical influence. He explores the use of philosophy from different traditions, including Epicureanism, Buddhism, and Taoism, to integrate their ideas into a common set of self-improvement principles. He also recognizes the importance of metacognition, emphasizing how awareness and acceptance of one's own thoughts are prerequisite steps. Abush appreciates cognitive behavioral therapy's role in promoting metacognitive awareness and employing techniques such as thought logging and cognitive restructuring for personal growth.
The power of foundational aspects in expertise
In various fields, including martial arts, experts often emphasize the importance of seemingly basic and foundational aspects. For example, in karate, the correct stance is considered the foundation for effective practice. This wisdom from experienced practitioners is sometimes overlooked by others who are searching for more complex and esoteric secrets. However, getting these foundational aspects right is crucial as they form the basis upon which everything else is built.
The significance of understanding in therapy and self-improvement
In the context of therapy and self-improvement, the process of assessment and diagnosis plays a vital role. Understanding how a problem functions can change one's relationship with it and potentially lead to problem-solving. In some cases, simply gaining insight can be enough for individuals to feel as though they have solved their problem. This understanding becomes a catalyst for behavior change. Additionally, behavioral activation, focusing on meaningful activities that align with one's values, has been found to be extremely effective in promoting well-being and positive behavioral changes.
In this episode, I talk to Ryan A. Bush, author of Designing the Mind: The Principles of Psychitecture and the forthcoming Become Who You Are: A New Theory of Self-Esteem, Human Greatness, and the Opposite of Depression.Bonus: Ryan is generously offering listeners two free ebooks from his website, called the Psychitect’s Toolkit and The Book of Self Mastery.
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Highlights
* What is Designing the Mind and Psychitecture?
* How Ryan’s background in design influenced his approach to self-improvement
* The main thing Ryan thinks people should learn to stop doing
* The philosophical influences on Ryan’s work
* How Ryan became interested in Stoicism
* How Ryan’s work draws on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
* The role of metacognition and meditation
* Ryan’s views about anger
* How his new book, Become Who You Are, differs from his previous book
