Dan Siegel in his TED talk speaks about Mindsight, the use of interpersonal neurobiology, or the relationships we have with others, and how we, as individuals, take in our experience of others (reflection), as the basis of resilience.
Although Dr. Siegel talks about Mindsight with regard to education, it really applies to caregiver/parent relationships (really, all essential attachment relationships including friendships), and also central to the type of therapeutic work I use with clients of all ages as a Clinical Social Worker.
Why? Because we are not separate. Each human being is a part of the organism. Relationships and our biology are intertwined. Our nervous systems (biology) are formed by our experiences (relationships with others, relationship to ourselves).
Watch this 20-minute TED talk while you’re eating breakfast tomorrow. You won’t regret it. Make sure you stick around for the very end, where he asks you to experience yourself as he says “No” repeatedly, and “Yes” repeatedly. This moment of mindfulness, or Mindsight, will give you a glimpse of how your words/actions impact all around you, and how you have a sense of yourself, based on how others speak/act towards you.
“Yes” experiences make us feel competent, connected, resilient. I am always looking for opportunities for my clients to feel this “Yes” experience in treatment, and more importantly, throughout their daily lives.