In their 2024 book, Better in Every Sense, longtime collaborators from the University of Toronto, Norman Farb and Zindel Segal, explain the neuroscience underlying how we can overcome the feeling of being trapped in unsatisfying lives. Based on decades of research, they point out that feeling stuck involves the dominance of the default mode network (DMN), a neural system that extends from the back of the brain to the front like a dorsal fin. It is responsible for habitual ways of thinking and self-consciousness.

They argue that the key to getting unstuck involves “sense foraging,” which involves tempering the DMN's dominance by intentionally being more receptive to sensory information and novel experiences.

I interviewed Farb to learn more about the book, its creation, and its lessons for a well-lived life.

Jamie Gruman: What is the theme of the book?

Norm Farb: Sometimes life shuts down our ability to sense and do things differently. When we feel “stuck,” this is what’s happening. We get trapped in our heads through the brain’s default mode network (DMN). The DMN maintains habits for the way we perceive, think, and act. It is very useful and, in fact, necessary, but when we are stressed, the DMN can become overactive. We end up focusing too much on thinking about our problems, which gets us stuck in our own minds, feeling locked into the roles we occupy.

The solution is to practice focusing on sensation, which diverts resources from the DMN to other parts of the brain. By weakening the DMN’s priority, you can feel free from obsessing over your stress and become “unstuck.” Essentially, you want to get into your body to get out of your........

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