Exploring Personality and Wholeness: A Conversation with Dr. Dan Siegel
In November 2024, Dr. Daniel Siegel joined the Garrison Institute’s managing director Steve Varley for an engaging discussion of Dr. Siegel’s new book, Personality and Wholeness in Psychotherapy. Together, they explored how personality patterns, often viewed as fixed traits, can be transformed into dynamic pathways for growth, integration, and self-discovery. Drawing on Dr. Siegel’s decades of work in interpersonal neurobiology, the discussion illuminated how our innate tendencies are shaped by relationships and life experiences and can serve as steppingstones to deeper wholeness.
Dr. Siegel introduced his Patterns of Developmental Pathways (PDP) model, which merges insights from neuroscience and the Enneagram. This framework reveals how motivational vectors—agency, bonding, and certainty—interact with our attention and behavior to shape our personality. By understanding these patterns, we can move beyond limiting habits and harness our potential for resilience, integration, and connection.
A highlight of the session was Dr. Siegel’s reflection on the “plane of possibility,” a concept he uses to describe the “formless source of awareness” that lies beneath our habitual filters of thought and behavior. Through contemplative practices like his renowned Wheel of Awareness, Dr. Siegel emphasized how we can access this expansive awareness to embrace uncertainty, reframe limiting beliefs, and cultivate a state of being that integrates the personal and relational self.
Steve Varley underscored the relevance of Dr. Siegel’s insights for addressing modern challenges, from personal growth to organizational leadership. Their dialogue inspired participants to consider how contemplative wisdom and scientific understanding can intersect to help individuals and communities thrive.
Dr. Siegel’s contributions to neuroscience, psychology, and mindfulness continue to reshape our understanding of the human mind and relationships. A celebrated educator and author of over 20 books—including five New York Times bestsellers—he brings a wealth of knowledge and practical tools to foster healing and transformation.
Explore the Conversation Further
To dive deeper into this thought-provoking discussion, watch the recording of the event here.
Join Dr. Siegel at Garrison Institute in March 2025
For an in-depth exploration of these ideas, join Dr. Daniel Siegel for a transformative 3-day retreat, Integration and Wholeness: Unlocking the Patterns of Personality for Growth and Connection, from March 4–6, 2025, at the Garrison Institute. This retreat will provide a deeper understanding of the PDP framework, along with experiential practices, guided meditations, and tools to apply these insights in your personal and professional life.