Dan Siegel, clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA, discusses expanding the notion of the self and its implications for humanity. Topics include consciousness, neuroscience, quantum physics, and the flow state. The chapter also explores the integration of withinness and betweenness in forming our sense of self and belonging.
The expanded view of the self includes relationships with other living beings and the natural world, going beyond individual identity and personal experiences.
The mind is an emergent self-organizing embodied and relational process that regulates energy and information flow, encompassing sensations, perceptions, mental models, and priming.
Accessing a state of open awareness, embracing uncertainty, and relinquishing self-criticism are crucial for creativity and the flow state.
Deep dives
The Expanded View of the Self and Its Implications
Dr. Dan Siegel discusses the expanded view of the self, which goes beyond individual identity and personal experiences. He emphasizes that the self is not limited to the brain or body, but is composed of relationships with other living beings and the natural world. This expanded view has important implications for understanding the trajectory of humanity. The concept of self expansion is introduced as a way to describe the integration of individual identity with a sense of connection and belonging to the larger whole.
The Relationship Between Mind and Self
Dr. Siegel explores the relationship between mind and self, indicating that the mind is an emergent self-organizing embodied and relational process that regulates energy and information flow. This definition of the mind goes beyond mere brain activity, instead encompassing the interplay of sensations, perceptions, mental models, and priming. He highlights the importance of disengaging top-down filters and accessing a state of open awareness, which enhances integration and allows for creativity to flourish.
Understanding Consciousness and Uncertainty
The conversation delves into the distinction between consciousness and mind, as well as the experience of uncertainty and the concepts of possibility and actuality. Dr. Siegel proposes that creativity arises from a relaxation of top-down filters, allowing for the integration of diverse perspectives and ideas. This state of openness is associated with the default mode network, and the relinquishing of self-criticism enables a flow state conducive to creativity. The importance of accessing the plane of possibility and embracing uncertainty is emphasized as a key aspect of mindfulness and creative expression.
Optimal Self-Organization and Integration
Optimal self-organization occurs through differentiation and linkage, creating a harmony of flexible, adaptive, coherent, energized, and stable features. This balance leads to a maximizing complexity known as integration. By identifying instances of blocked integration, therapists can help clients become integrated, promoting well-being and combating chaos or rigidity. This scientific reasoning and approach have yielded positive results.
Expanding the Lens of Identity and Perception Box
Expanding our perception box and widening our lens of identity can have profound implications for personal growth and understanding. By including others in our sense of self and being open and vulnerable, we can experience the joy of authenticity and discover our interconnectedness. This expanded perception box allows us to respond to internal thoughts and emotions with agency and to question our own narratives. It also reveals the common humanity we share with others, promoting a sense of interrelatedness and interconnectedness.
Today we welcome Dan Siegel to the podcast. Dr. Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Dr. Siegel is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute. He’s authored numerous articles, chapters, and books including the New York Times bestsellers Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human and Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence. His latest book is called IntraConnected: MWe (Me + We) as the Integration of Self, Identity, and Belonging.
In this episode, I talk to Dr. Dan Siegel about expanding the notion of the self. Modern culture has taught us that the self is all about individual identity and personal experiences. But Dr. Siegel posits that who we are is not limited to the brain or body. He argues that the self is not isolated, it’s composed of our relationships to other living beings and to the natural world. This expanded view of the self has important implications for the trajectory of humanity. We also touch on the topics of consciousness, neuroscience, quantum physics, and the flow state.
