Altered states Quote by Steven Kotler
““So, when we do experience a non-ordinary state that gives us access to something more, we feel it first as something less—and that something missing is us. Or, more specifically, the inner critic we all come with: our inner Woody Allen, that nagging, defeatist, always-on voice in our heads. You’re too fat. Too skinny. Too smart to be working this job. Too scared to do anything about it. A relentless drumbeat that rings in our ears. This was Silva’s monologue too, but he stumbled onto a curious fact—altered states can silence the nag. They act as an off switch. In these states, we’re no longer trapped by our neurotic selves because the prefrontal cortex, the very part of the brain generating that self, is no longer open for business.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of Superman, 2014
Altered states can quiet the inner critic, allowing the brain’s executive center to rest and creativity to flow.
In simple terms: Special states silence self‑doubt.
Key Takeaway
Seek flow to quiet inner negativity.
Themes
psychology
creativity
neuroscience
self‑talk
Mood
focused
inspired
curious
Type
practical
motivational
When to use this quote
- Creative work
- athletic performance
- stress management
- personal growth
Key Concepts
Flow state
neuroplasticity
inner critic
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you reliably enter flow?
- What practices reduce the inner critic without altered states?
A Different Perspective
Such states may be temporary and not universally accessible.
![“[T]he self “is not an unmitigated blessing,”6 writes Duke University psychologist Mark Leary in his aptly titled book, The Curse of the Self. “It is single-handedly responsible for many, if not most of the problems that human beings face as individuals and as a species . . . [and] conjures up a…” quote by Steven Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1d/steven-kotler-7422_altered-states_t-he-self-is-not-an-unmitigated-blessing_2045970.jpg)
