...not all encounters with the world affect the mind equally. Studies have demonstrated that if the brain appraises an event as "meaningful," it will be more likely to be recalled in the future.
Daniel J. SiegelRead
We must keep in mind that only a part of memory can be translated into the language-based packets of information people use to tell their life stories to others. Learning to be open to many layers of communication is a fundamental part of getting to know another person's life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding others requires more than just verbal communication; it involves recognizing deeper layers of connection.
In this quote, Daniel J. Siegel emphasizes the complexity of human communication and memory. He suggests that while people often share their life experiences through words, true understanding involves being receptive to the multiple layers of communication that exist beyond language, including emotions, non-verbal cues, and shared experiences. This deeper understanding enhances relationships and fosters genuine connections with others.
Themes
CommunicationUnderstandingRelationshipsMemoryConnection
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on effective communication, one could say, 'As Daniel J. Siegel reminds us, being open to multiple layers of communication is essential for understanding each other better.'
More from Daniel J. Siegel
All quotes →Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.
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Too often we forget that discipline really means to teach, not to punish. A disciple is a student, not a recipient of behavioural consequences.
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While the days of parenting may seem so long, the years are so short.
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For "full" emotional communication, one person needs to allow his state of mind to be influenced by that of the other.
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Grief allows you to let go of something you have lost only when you begin to accept what you now have in its place. As our mind clings to the familiar, to our established expectations, we can become trapped in feelings of disappointment, confusion, anger, that create our own internal worlds of suffering.
Daniel J. SiegelRead
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