Mindset Neuroscience Podcast Stefanie Faye

“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it [...] has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present. Trauma results in a fundamental reorganization of the way mind and brain manage perceptions. It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think.”

― Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma





 

Trauma informed perspectives are about understanding the plasticity of the human brain to help us move from primitive reflexes to using our most intelligent, flexible and creative brain architecture.

Trauma-informed perspectives are based on research and practices that connect us much more deeply and intimately with each other, and encourages us to tune in to the intelligence of our body and senses, update narratives that defeat or deplete us, and seek connection and trusting relationships:  all of which are biological imperatives for creative, flexible brain architecture and the keys to post-traumatic healing.

We all need to become more ‘trauma-informed’ in order to solve humanity’s greatest challenges – challenges that  REQUIRE human connection, intimacy and trust – three things that are dangerously lacking in many people’s lives.

 

Trauma-informed perspectives are for EVERYONE.  

Whether you are an educator, community leader, even business innovator – understanding trauma will help you understand human behavior in general.  

In this episode, I interview Tim Lewis, who is a clinical psychologist, also known as the Complex Trauma Doc. We discuss his book - his memoir - as well as his path to becoming a clinical psychologist through the lens of his own trauma, some deeply tragic and horrific circumstances that occurred in his life.  His journey led him to reflect on what causes people to do things that can create trauma for others, as well as the systems and forces that are at play in people's lives and throughout history that lead to a passing on of intergenerational trauma. 

 

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We go through a lot of different aspects of trauma, including different modalities that we can use for healing through trauma.  We also look at it through a neurological lens, and how different types of social dynamics can lead to severe dysregulation and a lack of psychological safety, inability to connect with others, and lack of self-acceptance, all of which can feed into different cycles of trauma and mental health challenges.

 



 

This episode reveals the power of systems thinking.

We look at how context matters and how one person's actions has many threads that are influenced by that person's history, the history of their caregivers, their ancestors, and all the other threads that are being fed into each of us through the various systems occurring within society. 

 

Our bodies store memory, whether we know it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not.

These are stored on cellular, kinesthetic visceral sensory levels. And if we don't at least have some acknowledgement of systems in play, it can make it hard for us to: 



recognize our own patterns, and 

have some ideas of what might help us shift out of a repetitive pattern that we don't want to re...

What is it about those things we know are good for us that we somehow just can’t get ourselves to do?



Maybe we have intentions to do something healthy but then we don’t.

… or maybe we do start making healthy choices, but they don’t last, and we revert back to our unhealthy patterns..

Whether we’re talking about ‘doom-scrolling’ on the Internet, binge-watching Netflix, procrastinating on making a move that could boost our life in some way..

Why is it that we so often choose things that don’t serve us*?



 

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Blubrry:



 

 

Did you know that there are mechanics behind why we don’t do the things we know are good for us?

All this is tied to a very specific mechanism and system in our brain called the habenula.  This little-known structure flags us when it picks up that we are failing at something and then shuts down our systems to prevent us from feeling motivated to keep doing it.  It’s a primal structure that also exists in other species and is one of the most powerful drivers of our behavior.

 



In this eye-opening interview with Dr. Kyra Bobinet, we discuss this brain structure and the importance of a very particular mindset that can help us bridge the gap between what we know is good for us and actually doing those things.

 

This is a powerful episode for anyone who is feeling challenged with procrastination, feelings of self-doubt, self-defeat, self-criticism. 



There is circuitry inside of us that may be defeating us on levels we didn’t even know existed.

When this structure is activated, it physiologically shuts us down from trying to keep going. It affects dopamine, serotonin and other systems needed to take action.

According to Ables et al., the habenula "plays a crucial role in regulating emotional, motivational, and cognitive behaviors and has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and addiction" (Ables et al., 2023)

 



An empowering take-away of this interview is that once again, we see that mindset matters. 

Our mindset, the way we perceive different aspects of life - including failure-  is an all-encompassing influencer of our reactions and thought-action repertoires.

We also go into how technology and social media trigger a toxic activation of this structure and how this plays a role in mental health. As Dr Bobinet says in this interview,

“Parents would never let their child take a pill at night that makes them feel like a failure and de-motivated for the next day, and yet this is what’s happening. We are not appreciating the toxicity of Failure Events and all the different flavors of failure that are coming at our kids and at ourselves …”



I hope you enjoy this episode and share it far and wide with anyone you know who is hoping to make positive changes in their life and possibly feeling challenged with what it takes to make those changes.

 

I will continue to explore this topic and brain system in upcoming articles.

 

 

About Dr. Kyra Bobinet

Kyra earned her MD from UCSF School of Medicine and an MPH from Harvard University. As the former Medical Director of Health and Wellness Innovation at Aetna, she played a pivotal role in designing evidence-based clinical interventions and algorithms for over 30 million members. Kyra pioneered Aetna’s Mindfulness product, backed by a clinical study, demonstrating significant outcomes and cost reductions. An active contributor to the field, Kyra is associated with the Stanford Medical S...

“too often people typically spring into action based on what first comes to mind, and thus too often mind… And thus too often, wind up seeing the world through the lens of what they already know.”

 

- Maggie Jackson, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure























































In this episode, I interview Maggie Jackson, who is an award-winning author and journalist, known for her writings on social trends, technology's impact on humanity, distraction. She won the 2020 Dorothy Lee Book Award for Outstanding Scholarship in the Ecology of Culture for her book, Distracted. She's also a former contributing columnist for the Boston Globe and has written for the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. My conversation with Maggie offers a lot of us to reflect on the role that uncertainty plays in our life. 

 

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Much of our talk centers on the science and research that reveals why uncertainty can have such positive and profound effects on our perception, learning, and growth.

 

One reason uncertainty can be good for us has to do with predictive processing.

Predictive processing suggests that our brains constantly generate predictions about the world based on our past experiences and knowledge. These predictions shape our perception, filtering out information that doesn't fit with our expectations.  On another level, we are often trying to use the idea of knowing as a form of control. This attempt to control may keep us from opening up to that space of potential.





































When we embrace uncertainty, we challenge our brain's reliance on predictions and open ourselves up to new and diverse perspectives.

This allows us to expand our perception and see the world in a more present and attuned way. By actively seeking out the potential within uncertainty, we tap into the power of curiosity and create opportunities for learning and growth.







Uncertainty as a Zone of Potential: re-framing discomfort

Seeking out the potential that lies within uncertainty also makes it easier to open up to what Maggie calls “ the vitality of a curiosity-driven approach”.  This happens when we reframe what uncertainty means:  that it is in fact a zone of potential.  A space of possibility. Reframing arousal is a key part of harnessing the power of uncertainty and navigating the unfamiliar feelings that come from not knowing the answers.

We can reframe feelings of arousal or stress into an understanding that our body is actually becoming primed to learn, and to engage in "Wakeful Learning". (Stanislas Dehaene*) 

 

*Stanislas Dehaene is one of my favorite researchers,

In this episode, I cover 5 concrete, embodied, neuroscience-supported pillars you can use to get better at honing the incredible power of the human mind-brain-body system.  We look at several biomarkers and physiological pillars of how to combine the extraordinary, beautiful and magnificent power of the human brain with the mechanics of our body to help us achieve a state of deep fulfillment and sense of agency and alignment with our highest potential.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

― Albert Einstein

 



 

In a world that often values certainty and consistency, it can be hard to admit when we need to change our minds.

The concept of changing one's mind is often seen as a sign of weakness or indecisiveness.

But the fact of the matter is, because we are complex adaptive systems, flexibility is our greatest strength. It’s what allows us to adjust and take in live data that is occurring now, is constantly changing and emerging.

In my interview with Michael McQueen, we talk about his book, Mindstuck: Mastering the Art of Changing Minds,‘the ‘science of stubbornness’ and key strategies we can use for facilitating mindset shifts.  We dive into the neuroscience of unconscious biases, polarization and prejudice.

We also discuss:



the neuroscience of unconscious biases, polarization and stereotypes.

specific types of words we use that can trigger fixed or growth mindsets,

nervous system mechanisms that control muscle movements and keep us resistant to change and perpetuate self-fulfilling prophecies.



 

Michael also shares helpful ideas about what can make us all feel more empowered to change our minds and inspire others to challenge their own theories and opinions. Among these, he lists agency and safety as key mechanisms for increasing the chance of inspiring a mindset shift.





Agency and control create psychological safety



One key aspect of how to change your mind and help others to do the same, Michael suggests, is to maintain a sense of agency and control in the process. People are more likely to embrace change when they feel that they have a choice and are not being forced into it.



The more intelligent a being is, the more it knows of its own autonomy and degrees of freedom.  When a person feels that they still have autonomy within a situation or interaction, they are more able and willing to trust.

This sense of agency also fosters psychological safety, which allows people to explore new ideas and perspectives without fear of judgment or retribution.









Values vs. Viewpoints

When we talk about changing minds, it's not about flip-flopping on every issue or abandoning our core values.

It's about being open to new information, different perspectives, and evolving as individuals. It's about being willing to explore complex and nuanced viewpoints, even if they challenge our existing beliefs.

Michael asserts that standing up for our VALUES allows us to feel aligned and still hold what is important to us on deeper levels. VIEWPOINTS, on the other hand, are things we can be more flexible about.

 

The brain-body system will always prefer to stick with what it knows.

It prefers predictability because this allows it to use what it already has (in terms of circuitry, flow of resources and architecture) to react.

This makes it hard for many of us to stay open to changing our minds.. about people, ourselves, and long-held beliefs.

When we become more curious and willing to allow for complexity, we loosen the grip of rigid thinking patterns that are a part of our brain’s energy-conserving mechanisms.





Mental Flexibility is a sign of strength 

The ability to update our opinion based on new information is not a sign of weakness, but a reflection of maturity, complexity and confidence. It is also a gateway to personal evolution and deeper connections with others.

The more we all embrace this ability and honor those who are willing to be vulnerable enough to update and expand their mind,

You were born with a growth mindset.

When you were first learning to speak and walk, you fell and fumbled over and over again. But there was a part of you - an algorithm - that understood that this was part of the process and that you would develop those skills over time and with effort.





We can get back in touch with that empowered aspect of our mind. Doing so can change our life in profound ways.





 





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Mindsets have the power to transform behaviors, trajectories and entire systems. 🧠







 

A mindset is a way of seeing.  It is directed by electrochemical firing patterns in the brain that we've used repeatedly. Those patterns direct what we pay attention to, what we notice, how we believe the world operates.  





 



These patterns develop in large part based on the mindsets of people around us - how they talk about whether change is possible, whether people are the way they are and there's nothing that can be done.. or whether they see things as changeable and upgrade-able.





 



We can update those electrochemical firing patterns by noticing our own growth and by paying attention to others who are modeling what it looks like to persevere, adapt, build, create - despite anything that has happened in the past.



















 

Mistakes, failure and awkwardness are not a sign of weakness or inferiority.

They are the very ingredient of something NEW.



 

When something feels awkward or unfamiliar, that’s a sign that you are activating new electrochemical activity in your brain... venturing into ‘new neural territory’.



 

Every firing of new connections increases the chance that those connections will fire again. Those first electro-chemical firings don’t feel familiar or masterful. But they are necessary for launching new networks that eventually (with consistent effort) become a place of mastery and earned skill.



That is the essence of growth mindset. It's a pillar of everything I have taught and embodied when it comes to learning about how our brains function.



Here are two other essential videos on this topic:



The Neuroscience of Growth Mindset: how your past affects the present



3 Little Known Ways Growth Mindset Changes Your Brain and Improves Your life



Dive even deeper into how powerful mindset is when we use it to help others in Season 4 Episode 1 of the Mindset Neuroscience Podcast.









[00:01:06]: Focus on Healing, Resilience, and Purpose[00:02:22]: Mindset and Paradigm Overview

[00:03:55]: Purpose as a Leverage Point for Change

[00:05:36]: Transcending Paradigms for Change

[00:08:25]: Growth Mindset and Resilience



[00:09:35]: Lay Theory Interventions and Wise Interventions

[00:11:37]: Persuasive Techniques in Mindset Interventions[00:16:07]: Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset[00:26:09]: Regulatory Flexibility for Resilience