Loneliness is not a weakness, but a reflection of our times. I will illuminate the necessary insights and fundamental practices for overcoming loneliness and isolation. You'll learn how to develop realistic expectations for social encounters and which exercises you can use to bring more courage, empathy, and authenticity into your interactions.Free introduction call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minHomepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/
Why are other people so fundamental to our consciousness?Even in the womb, our consciousness begins to engage with the "Other"—through the body, through sensations and perceptions. Later, young children project mental qualities onto inanimate objects and enter into quasi-social relationships with them. Overall, our long phase of dependency on parents makes us particularly sensitive to recognition and social connection... These are key components I explore to show why social perception and recognition are the foundation of our sense of self—and why they can never be fully resolved.
Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min
Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com
This episode explores how modern digital life contributes to social isolation. Social media fosters constant social comparisons, depleting our social energy and raising unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others. As a result, real-life interactions become increasingly exhausting and unsatisfying. Herd psychology plays a crucial role: people align with the opinions and behaviors of their digital surroundings, reinforcing echo chambers and distorting social validation. At the same time, suppressed aggression finds an outlet in social media, creating the illusion of a like-minded community – an illusion that ultimately leads to disappointment in real-life relationships. This dynamic further fuels loneliness and social withdrawal.
Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min
Youtube: https://youtu.be/02jwT8w39IcHomepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapye-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
Social isolation is increasing significantly in our modern society. But why? In this episode, I introduce the causes and context of this growing problem. Technological developments, urbanization, individualism, and the decline of social gathering places have led to more and more people experiencing loneliness. At the same time, anxiety, depression, and economic pressure further reinforce this trend.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/american-loneliness-personality-politics/681091/
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/29/1227543269/antisocial-century-derek-thompson
Youtube: https://youtu.be/5Hnvf07X5nYFree discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30minHomepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapye-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
There are places in the mind that go beyond immediate sensory perception - both positive (contentment and peace) and negative (despair and sadness). But what does it mean in ancient Buddhism to find a true home in the depths of the Dhamma? I describe similarities with the Greek Logos and how truth and inner stability belong together.
Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Gu-evzKY9rw
Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy
e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
After giving a first introduction to the "home of the ego" from a Buddhist perspective, in this episode I bring examples of other mystical traditions. It seems that whenever people are inspired by wisdom or devotion they develop similar techniques for transcending normal consciousness. Examples are from from Plotinus, Christian, Islamic and Jewish mystics. The next episode will return to Buddhism and to how the shift in consciousness is carried out technically.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/C35HmEYG2Ns
Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min
Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy
e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
This episode dives into the Buddhist concept of Āyatana, the “home base” of our ego that shapes how we experience the world. While we usually operate within the sensual realm, Buddhism teaches that through spiritual practice, we can transcend this and access higher levels of awareness, such as meditative concentration and liberation. Short Ayatana article: https://www.academia.edu/45655783/%C4%80yatana_the_Buddhas_forgotten_teaching Longer article: https://www.academia.edu/43117230/%C4%80yatana_in_Early_Buddhism Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/FY9VPKLIXBw Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this episode I explore why psychology risks being superficial without a philosophical foundation. I argue with historical patterns, the Dunning-Kruger effect, and modern psychological trends like self-optimization and self-love. Philosophical ideas reveal how we can understand psychological phenomena more deeply and realistically. An invitation to view psychology not only as a science but as a profound reflection on humanity. Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/_5tlmMHa9J0 Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In psychology, self-development, and spiritual circles, we’re often told to stop judging and simply accept things as they are. But is that truly possible? This episode explores why the mind is inherently bound to judge and how healthy development can still happen. I draw on Hegel’s philosophy, Buddhist concepts, and existentialist perspectives to uncover the deeper mechanisms of judgment and value creation. Discover why judgment is inevitable, how it shapes us, and how we can consciously refine it – in daily life, meditation, or therapy. Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/ev9cThylNLc Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
Fears and anxiety accompany us all, from everyday worries to deep existential questions: the fear of loneliness, of an insignificant life or of death. But how do you deal with it? In this episode I talk about the role of responsibility in dealing with fear. You will learn why superficial fears can often be overcome through therapy and practical tools, while more existential fears require more inner work and courage. Free discovery call: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/P9jhJzRdSd8 Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
How can we free ourselves from the unconscious patterns and trances of everyday life? In this episode, I delve deep into the tool box and show you numerous methods to get out of unhealthy thought and behavior patterns. To do this, I combine ancient and contemporary wisdom with practical exercises that help you take responsibility, find freedom and make your mind clear and free. In this way, I hope to support you in establishing more space, curiosity and self-determined action in your life.
Literature references:
- Maha Boowa, e.g. the lectures entitled "The Path to Arahantship" (https://www.luangta.eu/site/books.php)
- Jiddu Krishnamurti: e.g. https://jkrishnamurti.org/content/breaking-pattern-conditioning-0/conditioning
Free 30 minute consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min
Youtube: https://youtu.be/VF3-BFTTu50
Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy
e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this episode, I examine the deeper mechanisms of everyday trance and how unconscious emotions influence our perception and decisions. Based on my therapeutic experiences and inspired by Jean-Paul Sartre's concepts of emotion and reality as well as Buddhist teachings, I describe how identifying with unconscious emotions narrows our consciousness and makes it difficult for us to take responsibility for our lives. Find out why the simple concept of "self-hypnosis" and "positive thinking" is often not enough and how we can develop a differentiated view of our inner processes. Sources: - Talk by Katie Griggs aka "Guru Jagat" (from 16:00): https://wanderlust.com/journal/guru-jagat-take-back-our-sovereignty/ - Sartre, J. P. (2002). Sketch for a theory of the emotions. Routledge Classics. London, New York. - Sermon of the Buddha on the two arrows (SN36.6): https://suttacentral.net/sn36.6/en/sujato Free 30 minute consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/Zu4VEb5tIOo Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this episode I explore the nature of consciousness and how it structures our experience. I first distinguish between consciousness itself and the content within it, following concepts from Kant and Buddhist philosophy. Then, I delve into the "smeared present," showing how we perceive moments as stretched over time rather than as single points. Drawing on insights from philosophers like Husserl, I then discuss how our perception of the present is actually the immediate past. Finally, I introduce the necessity of emotional processing in order to create a robust simulation of reality, and explain how we rely on a blend of past experience and instinct to navigate the future. Philosophies mentioned: - Immanuel Kant: Critique of Pure Reason - Edmund Husserl: On the Phenomenology of the Consciousness of Internal Time (1893–1917) - Detailed article about current research on time consciousness: https://plato.stanford.edu/ENTRIES/consciousness-temporal/ - Mahasi Sayadaw, The Progress of Insight: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mahasi/progress.html - Visuddhimagga, The Path of Purification: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/PathofPurification2011.pdf Free 30 minute consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/EJ2E1jlALnc Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this podcast episode, consciousness researcher and therapist Gabriel Ellis further explores the concept of "everyday trance": We often live in a state in which our perception of the outside world is overshadowed by our inner world, consisting of beliefs, feelings and moods. This trance can lead to psychological problems such as anxiety and depression and influences the way we experience reality. Gabriel sheds light on the connection between subjective perception and objective reality and explains why we often cling to false interpretations. https://www.amazon.com/Trances-People-Live-Stephen-Wolinsky/dp/096261842X Free 30 minute consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/DxjjuABj2ZU Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this episode I describe the trance states that influence our behavior and identity. Based on the work of Stephen Wolinsky in "Trances People Live" I examine the invisible patterns that permeate our everyday lives and put our lives on auto-pilot. Wolinsky shows us not only how to recognize these trances, but also how to free ourselves from their negative hypnotic suggestions in order to live a freer life. I build on his insights and will integrate them into a deeper understanding of our mind in the next episode. I am very grateful to Wolinsky for his inspiration. https://stephenhwolinskyphdlibrary.com/index.html https://www.amazon.com/Trances-People-Live-Stephen-Wolinsky/dp/096261842X Free 30 minute consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/tcLV8cPJ0gs Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this video, I critically question the traditional self-help culture that often prescribes simple and rigid solutions to complex, dynamic problems. My central argument is that this approach presents personal development as linear and straightforward, which doesn't do justice to the complex realities of life. Instead, I present Hegel's dialectical process as an alternative approach. It recognizes the limitations of simple solutions, emphasizes the need to grapple with contradictions, and leads to deeper growth through repeated adaptation. By understanding that no method works universally in the long term, we can discover new, more nuanced paths to personal development. Free 30 minute consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/p3pxBRC-Uzk Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this video, I reflect on the concept of "setting boundaries" and the pros and cons associated with it. Boundaries can provide clarity, but are not naturally given; they require active maintenance and adaptation. I explore how to set personal boundaries and strategies that help maintain those boundaries. It is important to communicate boundaries openly and respectfully, while considering the needs of others. Finally, I weigh the benefits of clear boundaries against a more flexible approach. A balanced understanding and sensible application of boundaries can help us have healthy and fulfilling relationships without losing the joy of life. Free 30 minute consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/oYOmsBCGTM4 Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
Delve deeper into the world of psychoanalysis! In this video I shed more light on the central concepts of the It, the I, and the Über-Ich as described by Sigmund Freud. I also describe how Freud analyzed the human psyche and the mechanisms behind our dreams and neuroses. I explain how Freud developed psychoanalysis as a powerful tool for self-knowledge and healing and the role that transference and dream work play in therapy.
Free 30-minute preliminary consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/Z_yQf-MRkME Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this episode of "The Curious Mind Podcast", Gabriel Ellis, a doctor of Buddhism and psychotherapist, describes the core of the original Buddhist practice from a historical and scientific perspective: the meditation of bliss. In contrast to his historical contemporaries, who rejected any form of well-being as dangerous, the Buddha saw this meditative bliss as a path to liberation of the mind. If you apply the Buddhist teachings on dependent origination to this meditative bliss, you get a gradual refinement of well-being up to complete liberation. Free 30-minute preliminary consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/kcw-PdWjb38 Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com
In this episode of the Curious Mind Podcast, Gabriel Ellis, psychologist and psychotherapist, delves into the teachings of Sigmund Freud, focusing on his psychoanalytic theory. Freud's model of the mind, developed in the 1920s, includes three key regions: the Es (It), the Ich (I), and the Über-Ich (Above-I). Freud believed that the It houses our primal drives and desires, while the I mediates between these urges and reality, and the "Above-I" represents our moral conscience. The podcast also touches on Freud's concepts of the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind, highlighting how these elements interact and influence behavior. Gabriel discusses the importance of understanding these concepts for modern psychotherapy and hints at further exploration and critique in the upcoming episode.
Free 30-minute preliminary consultation: https://calendly.com/gabriel-ellis/30min Youtube: https://youtu.be/b89Un5kmy1w Homepage: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com/therapy e-Mail: therapy@gabriel-ellis.com Photo by Edurne Tx on Unsplash