What is a Good Life? #19 - Is It All A Dream? with Dan Lawrence

May 23, 2023

Dan Lawrence, Head of Consultancy at Dallington Associates and a Jungian psychoanalyst, shares his intriguing journey from childhood questions about thoughts to deep explorations of dreams. He emphasizes the transformative power of social dreaming and how it connects us through shared experiences. Dan reflects on his Zen practices, highlighting the significance of stillness and mindfulness. He also discusses his life-altering ICU experience, advocating for embracing uncertainty to foster personal growth. Prepare for some profound insights on what contributes to a fulfilling life!

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Dreams As Proto-Thinking

Dreams are a proto-thinking layer that precedes and enriches conscious thought.
Dan Lawrence says dreams open inexhaustible possibilities rather than fixed answers.

INSIGHT

Dreams Are Field Phenomena

Social dreaming treats dreams as shared field phenomena rather than private property.
Gordon Lawrence: 'dreams in search of a dreamer' frames collective emergence.

ADVICE

Host A Matrix, Not A Reading

Facilitate social dreaming by prioritizing the dreams, not interpreting individuals.
Host a matrix: invite dreams, resist personal interpretation, then allow group associations.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

On the 19th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast I am joined by Dan Lawrence, who is Head of Consultancy at Dallington Associates, a Jungian Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, and a Social Dreaming Consultant.

In this episode Dan takes us on a journey from questioning where thoughts come from as a child, to his investigations and work around dreams and social dreaming. While he also shares what he has learnt from his Zen practice, silent meditation retreats, mat surfing, and his recent intensive care unit experience in Malaysia.

Dan’s life path to date includes being a Derivatives Trader for a decade, studying Theology, briefly considering priesthood, becoming a Jungian psychotherapist, offering Psychedelic integration therapy, all while practicing Zen for 25 years.

His unique life experiences and perspectives make him one of the most insightful people I know. Through listening to this episode I am sure you’ll widen the scope of your investigation, and awareness, in contemplating what contributes to your own good life.

Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for daily clips and reflections.

Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free 30 minute consultation for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.

Running Order:

01:40 Podcast begins

02:00 where do thoughts come from?

04:15 The nature of dreams

09:10 Social Dreaming

12:50 Waking and sleeping dreams

16:37 Infant Observation

21:40 A Social Unconscious

25:20 Another language

31:15 Facilitating mobility and spaciousness

35:26 Importance of dreaming in understanding

40:47 The trouble with dismissing dreams

43:55 The compensatory nature of dream

46:48 Not knowing is most intimate

50:07 An intensive care unit experience

56:32 Connection with aliveness

1:01:25 Can you handle joy and awe

1:06:15 What is a good life for Dan?

For further content and information check out the following:

- For the podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos

- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/

- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/

- Dan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-lawrence-1537271b/

- Dan's company website: https://www.theunthoughtknown.com/