This episode is with Dan Siegel who talks about his new book Aware – The Science and Practice of Presence and how quantum physics is helping us understand ourselves.
Our special guest is Dan Siegel, M.D., who many will know as one of the pioneers of interpersonal neurobiology. We discuss his new book, Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence (TarcherPerigee), that is out now, worldwide. The conversation covers a lot of ground from how the book got its title, his practice, the Wheel of Awareness, and an in-depth look at the science that underlies his work. We spend a little time discussing how we can engage an understanding of the science of quantum physics in something as human as our human experience of kindness and love.
Our conversation was so fascinating that it occupies most of the podcast, but we will get to some of the fascinating questions you are sending in. You can also open a conversation in the comments section below. For connection to occur we need to take an action – just like the action potential of a neuron.
Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence – The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice
This groundbreaking new book from New York Times bestselling author Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., introduces readers to his pioneering, science-based meditation practice.
Aware provides practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one’s day-to-day life.
An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation’s effectiveness, this book teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle “Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows.” Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life.
Whether you have no experience with a reflective practice or are an experienced practitioner, Aware is a hands-on guide that will enable you to become more focused and present, as well as more energized and emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges life throws your way.
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Resources:
www.drdansiegel.com
www.mindsightinstitute.com
Dan Siegel interview on The Neuropsychotherapist
Dan Siegel “Spotlight” interview on The Neuropsychotherapist
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As a mental health professional I could not agree MORE with Dr. Siegel’s closing remarks about the DIRECTION this research can take all of humanity and I, personally, continue to enthusiastically educate others on the far-reaching POWER of mindsight: [his words] “I think we’re at this incredible moment in our human journey to really expand awareness and I think the way we move forward is through something called ‘cultural evolution.’ People sometimes throw out the beautiful phrase which is the ‘evolution of consciousness’ and I think if you had to say, ‘What does that really mean from our consilient integrated science framework?’ It’s how do you start to integrate consciousness and allow people to realize how deeply interconnected we all are, how from this plane of possibility you release the capacity for love and this embracing of being aware and if we could SHIFT how people grow and develop in schools, in therapy, in families, in communities, and in organizations, toward this larger state of awareness, I think we could really turn around what our human family has been doing to each other and to the planet in a very very positive way. I think we’re at this fantastic moment in what mental health professionals can do to be a part of this ‘culture of evolution’and we have a science that backs this up and a methodology for doing it.”
Thank you for a fascinating podcast. Some of the material sounded very cutting edge, but also, it seemed to tap into an ancient wisdom about being. I am excited to think about the applications for this material going forward. As a psychotherapist, a citizen, and a human being, the wheel of awareness seems a path toward healing ourselves, our relationships, our communities, and our world. Maybe one day, we’ll have awareness centers in our schools, churches, communities, and governments helping us to build connection and ease separateness.
I’ve been following the teachings of Dr. Siegel for about three years. I have done 3 modules in IPNB, 3 in Mindsight and several separated courses, such as those in adolescence, etc. I met him in Berlin, I followed him to Manchester and in all these different places and educational moments, I have never felt him so lucid, and he was already, so profound, with such a simple and profound sense of psychotherapy, and sense of what’s living about, as in this Podcast SOP 4 with NPT. The fact of not being a believer in a religious way, usually leaves me with the empty feeling from which I find it very easy to contemplate the possibility of full, complete, calm state, from where I have the knowledge of an ability to become aware of who I am in reality and which are my peaks, my plateaus … Dr. Siegel was at first somebody whose knowledge I used to give myself a new direction in my task as a psychotherapist, now hes is someone that allows me to see more and better about our passage through this beautiful place called planet Earth. Thanks to NPT for this guest of such “an haut niveau.” I will soon have the honor and pleasure to register as a Premium Member.
O. Holm, MD. Madrid, Spain
I like your post Kristin; very lucid and full of hope.