Yes is more than a word. It’s a state of being, of relating, and a gateway to curiosity, growth, and resilience, according to internationally recognized educator, neuropsychiatrist, and bestselling author Dr. Dan Siegel. He and co-author Tina Payne Bryson have written a new book that offers parents everywhere a roadmap for developing and growing their child’s inner spark and internal compass to guide them throughout their lives. It’s called, “YES Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child.”

Lu Hanessian: So, a “yes brain” is open, it’s flexible, it can pause before reacting, all that good stuff, looks at the glass half full, or maybe filled and overflowing and “no brain” is…

Dan Siegel: “No brain” is where you’re either getting ready to fight or you might get ready to flee and even, you don’t know whether to fight or flee, so you freeze up your muscles and hold on until you figure out whether you’re going to run or fight and those are the activating threat states of a no brain. 

The 4 elements of a yes brain

1) balance — the state of receptivity that allows us to embrace the whole range of our emotional experience

2) resilience — the capacity to shift from reactivity to receptivity and come back to balance

3) insight — awareness of our own internal state that cultivates understanding of ourselves and others

4) empathy —  the sensations and feelings we get in response to others’ emotions as well as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person

To read more of Lu Hanessian's article, please click here.