Changeable Podcast EP358: Abstractions and Reality with Chris Niebauer
21 snips
Jun 16, 2025 
In this enlightening conversation, Chris Niebauer, an expert in cognitive science and author of 'No Self, No Problem', challenges the concepts of ownership and success as mere illusions. He emphasizes the difference between abstract thoughts and genuine experiences, highlighting how societal constructs shape our identities. Niebauer encourages mindfulness and grounding in reality, warning against the dangers of attaching too much meaning to thoughts. With a touch of humor, he also shares insights from his journey in writing a new book while engaging with the community.
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Abstractions Create Suffering
- Words like ownership and success are abstract concepts that don't exist in direct experience.
- Identifying with these abstractions causes suffering and complications.
Two Worlds: Real and Abstract
- We live in two worlds: direct conscious experience and the abstract world of concepts.
- The abstract world is shallow and creates illusions like self, ownership, and success.
Use Grounding to Counter Anxiety
- Use grounding techniques like focusing on sensory experiences to escape anxiety and shame.
- Bringing attention to direct conscious experience reduces stress and reconnects you to reality.
