The Science Behind Guided Shifting
Guided Shifting is rooted in a rigorous scientific foundation, drawing from neuroscience, psychology, somatic therapy, and leadership development research. This method is not just theoretical—it is built upon decades of peer-reviewed studies, clinical research, and applied findings from the leading experts in human transformation.
This page outlines the scientific foundation of Guided Shifting, linking each research component to its direct practical applications in the Guided Shifting journey.
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Dr. Jeffery Martin has conducted the most extensive research to date on persistent inner peace, non-symbolic consciousness, and the neurophysiological markers of wellbeing. After studying thousands of individuals who had undergone lasting shifts in their awareness, Dr. Martin identified clear neurophysiological and psychological changes that occur predictably and progressively. His research highlights:
The systematic progression of shifts in consciousness
How each shift alters brain activity, cognitive function, and emotional resilience
The long-term stability of these changes
The discovery an underlying somatic mechanism that facilitate each shift, independent of the meditation method individuals used to achieve the shift
How This Applies to Guided Shifting
Our method mirrors Dr. Martin’s research findings, following the same structured progression of shifts. Clients experience these shifts through structured 1-on-1, asynchronous facilitation through guided meditation videos. With this updated approach, clients rapidly access and stabilize into these states, ensuring that changes persist in their everyday lives.
Dr. Martin’s research primarily focuses on what Guided Shifting terms Phase 1. Their research breaks down Phase 1 into four states of consciousness that he refers to as Locations 1-4. Guided Shifting clients’ first shift lands them anywhere from Locations 1-4, and it is not currently known how to predict which Location someone will shift into first. Each progressive shift moves one into the next Location. Below are Dr. Martin’s summarized findings on Locations 1-4 (source, n = 319):
Location 1
Location 1 was primarily marked by the sense that on a deep level, things were fundamentally okay. Often this sense was in the background of participants experience, though they reported that it still had significant effects on their levels of fear, anxiety, stress, worry, and depression. Participants reported that even when psychologically triggered, they could look for and find the sense that at the deepest level, everything was okay.
Location 1 participants reported that their minds seemed much quieter because of a reduction in the quantity and/or affective strength of self-related thoughts, but there were still some emotionally charged thoughts that could pull them back into more active thought streams. They experienced a range of positive and negative affect, but their negative affect was more transient than prior to PNSE and did not have the power over them that it once did. Psychological conditioning could still trigger thought streams and stronger affect, but even these passed in a matter of seconds.
The overall change in their thoughts and affect left them with a feeling of deep inner peace and a sense of being more firmly rooted in the present moment. This peace generally felt more real than anything previously experienced and made their former experience of life seem less real by comparison. It could be temporarily suppressed by external psychological triggers, but would typically recover quickly once the stimulus was removed. Deeper psychological triggers, such as the death of a close family member, could cause a longer suppression of inner peace that in some instances could last for several days. Location 1 participants also often reported that their sense of self seemed larger than, and to extend beyond, the physical body.
Location 2
Location 1 experiences deepened at Location 2. For example, Location 2 participants experienced an increased loss of self-related thoughts as well as a continued reduction in the ability of the thoughts that did remain to draw them in, when compared to Location 1. As they deepened in this location, the range of affect they experienced became increasingly positive, and the background sense that things were fundamentally okay increasingly came into the foreground.
The primary differentiating characteristic of Location 2 was the change in subject/object perception, and the resulting change in sense of self. Participants reported the absence of a central locus of perception, which they often referred to in terms of the self. They described it as feeling as though they had lost their individuated self, and having it replaced with a sense of perceptual oneness or unity. One way this was often phrased was as there being no seer only seeing, no hearer only hearing, and so on.
Participants in Location 2 were more likely to have a strong noetic sense that there was a correct decision or path to take when presented with choices. They expressed an inclination to make their decisions based on this sense, even when an option seemed to be less desirable, or even make no sense. Participants who progressed to this location from the previous one reported an increased sense of well-being.
Location 3
At Location 3, participants had shed their negative affect, and now experienced one dominant emotion that felt like a mixture of impersonal or divine compassion, joy, and love. The single remaining positive affect was a near constant experience and companion for Location 3 participants. The sense that things were fundamentally okay was now in the foreground of experience nearly all the time. Remaining traces of self-related thought had continued to fall away. Despite this, extremely strong psychological triggers, such as the death of a child, could produce temporary reductions in inner peace.
In Location 3, participants’ experience of inner peace continued to deepen. They reported a feeling of connectedness and union with either their interpretation of the divine or of an allpervasive consciousness. Participants at Location 3 described it as the pinnacle of human experience. It was common for them to state that they could not imagine the experience of being alive getting any better.
Participants at Location 3 often stated that the world was unable to be any other way than it currently was in the moment. While participants in other locations expressed this to some degree, it seemed to have grown very deep roots by this point. These participants generally did not place importance on choosing the correct decision or path like Location 2 participants. Participants who progressed to this point from the previous location reported an increased sense of well-being.
Location 4
Location 4 was quite different than the previous locations. Participants reported that all vestiges of self-related thought were reported were gone, as were experiences of emotion. The feeling of deep interconnectedness and union with the divine or an all-pervasive consciousness found at Location 3 were also not reported. Participants reported having no sense of agency or ability to make decisions. They reported that it felt as if life was simply unfolding and they were watching the process happen.
The change in subject/object perception found at Location 2 seemed to return in an even deeper and more comprehensive form at this location. Participants who had experienced both Location 2 and Location 4 described a marked difference. The sense of a lost individuated self, and sense of perceptual oneness or unity from Location 2 was now described as a shallower form of a similar but more complete version experienced at Location 4. Paradoxically, this was also often described as feeling like a return to a more bodily centered form of experience.
Memory deficits were commonly reported in these participants, including the inability to recall scheduled events that were not regular and ongoing. Psychological triggers that were reported in this location involved fragments of negative emotions that were sometimes still felt but did not fully form. Participants who progressed to this location from one or more previous ones reported it has having a higher level of well-being.
In addition, Dr. Martin and his colleagues Marissa Ericson (Department of Psychology, University of Southern California), Ariel Berwaldt (Transformative Technology Laboratory, Stanford, California, United States), Elizabeth D. Stephens (School of Consciousness and Transformation, California Institute of Integral Studies), and Lindsay Briner (School of Consciousness and Transformation, California Institute of Integral Studies) published a comprehensive study on the effects of two online programs designed to shift clients through the shifting journey, particularly into Locations 1-4. Combining positive psychology exercises and meditation methods, the study involved two programs:
Program 1 (4 months, n = 379) with daily sessions lasting 1.5 to 3 hours, which included a broad range of methods.
Program 2 (6 weeks, n = 246) with daily sessions lasting 1.5 to 2 hours, focused on a subset of the methods from Program 1.
Here is a brief overview of their findings on these two programs’ impact on six measures of wellbeing (source):
Authentic Happiness Inventory (AHI): This measure assesses overall happiness, focusing on experiences of pleasure, engagement, and meaning in life. The findings indicated significant improvements in happiness levels for participants, demonstrating the effectiveness of the programs in enhancing subjective well-being.
Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS): This scale measures global life satisfaction, evaluating how content participants feel with their life circumstances. The study reported increases in life satisfaction scores, suggesting that participants felt more positive about their lives after completing the programs.
PERMA Profiler: This tool evaluates well-being across five domains: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Results showed enhancements across all dimensions, reflecting a comprehensive improvement in participants’ personal and social well-being.
Fordyce Emotions Questionnaire: This questionnaire gauges the frequency of positive and negative emotions. Participants reported experiencing more frequent positive emotions and fewer negative emotions post-program, highlighting an improved emotional state.
Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6): This questionnaire assesses the frequency of grateful feelings. There was an increase in gratitude scores, indicating that participants felt a heightened sense of appreciation and thankfulness after the interventions.
Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ): This measure has two components: Presence of Meaning (how much meaning one feels in life) and Search for Meaning (the drive to find meaning). The study noted improvements in both aspects, suggesting that participants found more purpose and were more proactive in pursuing meaningful activities.
Additional Resources
Research Paper: Clusters of Individuals Experiences form a Continuum of Persistent Non-Symbolic Experiences in Adults
Research Paper: Effects of Two Online Positive Psychology and Meditation Programs on Persistent Self-Transcendence
Book: The Finders
More publications and media about his research can be found here.
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Rastal’s Deepening Process provides the most effective framework for accelerating fundamental shifts in consciousness and nervous system safety. Their research discovered that a structured, direct facilitation process can accelerate the shifting process, removing the need for extended meditation protocols.
How This Applies to Guided Shifting
We integrate Deepening Process techniques to:
Facilitate shifts directly, ensuring clients move into deep, embodied transformation faster.
Reinforce neurophysiological safety, making shifts effortless and permanent.
Support later-stage perceptual changes, in alignment with both Rastal’s findings and Dr. Martin’s research.
Additional Resources
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Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and applied therapeutically by Deb Dana, provides the neuroscientific foundation for understanding nervous system regulation and safety. Their work explains how shifting out of chronic fight-or-flight states into deep physiological safety transforms:
Emotional resilience
Cognitive function
Physical health
How This Applies to Guided Shifting
Our method directly engages the nervous system, helping clients transition from sympathetic (fight-or-flight) or dorsal vagal (shutdown) states into ventral vagal (safety and connection) dominance. We achieve this through:
Progressive exposure to deeper levels of safety in the body
Somatic exploration that signals to the nervous system that it's safe to let go
This scientifically-backed process explains why clients experience a sustained sense of calm, reduced reactivity, and increased intuitive clarity after sessions. A more persistent ventral vagal state—the state of safety, connection, and social engagement in the nervous system—shapes how people experience life in profound ways. Here are 20 examples of what life might feel like for clients who have undergone guided shifting into deeper, more stable ventral vagal activation:
Emotional and Psychological Well-being
Calm and Grounded as a Default – You feel naturally settled, with an inner sense of ease that persists throughout the day. Stressors arise but don’t shake your foundation.
Less Mental Chatter – Thoughts slow down, and there is no constant need to analyze, problem-solve, or anticipate threats. Your mind feels spacious and clear.
Effortless Self-Compassion – Your inner voice is naturally kind, supportive, and non-judgmental. Self-criticism feels unnecessary and fades into the background.
Emotions Arise and Flow Cleanly – Instead of getting stuck in emotions or repressing them, you fully experience and express them, then return to peace without effort.
Unshakable Confidence – Your sense of self-worth is intact, independent of external validation or others’ opinions.
Social and Relational Shifts
Deep, Effortless Connection – You feel naturally drawn to connect with others without fear, performance anxiety, or overthinking social dynamics.
No Need for Social Masks – You show up as your authentic self in every situation, without worrying about being judged or rejected.
Effortless Boundaries – You say no without guilt and yes without obligation. There is no fear of disappointing others or needing approval.
Safety in Eye Contact – You feel at ease making and maintaining eye contact, experiencing warmth and connection instead of discomfort.
Intuitive Presence in Conversations – You listen deeply, respond naturally, and don’t rehearse what to say. Social interactions flow effortlessly.
Physical and Somatic Changes
Breathing Feels Deep and Expansive – Your breath moves freely throughout your body, especially in your upper chest and diaphragm, without tightness or restriction.
A Soft, Open Chest – The habitual tension or guarding in your chest is gone, replaced by a lightness and openness that makes deep relaxation your norm.
Reduced Muscle Tension – Chronic tightness in your shoulders, jaw, or belly melts away, making movement feel fluid and effortless.
No More Startle Reflex – You don’t flinch or overreact to sudden noises, unexpected interactions, or minor surprises.
Restful, Restorative Sleep – Sleep feels deep and uninterrupted. You wake up feeling refreshed rather than groggy or depleted.
Cognitive and Perceptual Shifts
Less Need to Control Outcomes – You no longer micromanage or over-plan everything. Trusting life and others feels natural, and uncertainty isn’t threatening.
A Natural Sense of Playfulness – You experience joy and humor spontaneously, without needing external stimulation or permission to relax.
A Present-Moment Orientation – You are effortlessly aware of what’s happening right now, rather than being lost in past regrets or future anxieties.
Expanded Sensory Perception – Colors appear more vivid, sounds feel richer, and subtle details in your environment become more noticeable.
Time Feels More Spacious – You no longer feel rushed, even when busy. There's a sense that time expands to accommodate your actions with ease.
This ventral vagal state is the foundation of persistent safety and thriving, and shifting clients into this state transforms their experience of life at every level.
Additional Resources
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Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, has shown that trauma is stored in the body and nervous system, not just in the mind. His research highlights how top-down (cognitive) approaches are often insufficient, and bottom-up (somatic) interventions are required for true healing.
How This Applies to Guided Shifting
Our process works somatically, not just cognitively. Instead of talking through stress or trauma, we facilitate direct nervous system shifts that bypass mental resistance.
Clients often experience spontaneous emotional releases and tension dissolving, confirming van der Kolk’s findings that deep nervous system safety allows trauma to resolve naturally.
Long-term benefits: Our clients report sustained improvements in emotional regulation, reactivity, and overall wellbeing, reflecting the lasting neuroplastic changes van der Kolk’s work predicts.
Additional Resources
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Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing® is one of the most respected body-based trauma therapies. His research demonstrates that trauma is locked in the nervous system and must be released through felt bodily experiences rather than cognitive processing alone.
How This Applies to Guided Shifting
Guided Shifting supports natural somatic release by guiding clients into deeper states of safety where the nervous system can unwind stored trauma patterns.
Clients often report involuntary bodily movements during and after sessions such as, breath shifts, and releases of held tension, aligning with Levine’s findings on how the body instinctively completes trauma cycles when given the right conditions.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, we bypass mental defenses and allow the body to resolve what the mind cannot.
Additional Resources
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Dr. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s research on flow describes a highly focused mental state in which people become fully immersed in an activity, often leading to peak performance and deep satisfaction. His work, spanning several decades and involving thousands of interviews across cultures and professions, laid the foundation for understanding optimal experience in psychology.
Principles required to enter flow states includes:
Clear Goals – The activity must have clear objectives that provide a sense of direction.
Immediate Feedback – Continuous feedback helps adjust actions and maintain engagement.
Balance Between Challenge and Skill – The task must be neither too easy nor too difficult but perfectly matched to one’s ability.
Focused Attention – Complete concentration on the task, without distractions.
Sense of Control – Feeling in command of one’s actions within the task.
Intrinsic Motivation – The activity is rewarding in itself, not just for external rewards.
Experiential qualities of flow states:
A diminished sense of self and ego during the experience.
A distorted sense of time, where hours can feel like minutes.
A deep sense of absorption and effortless involvement.
The merging of action and awareness.
Reduced awareness of outside distractions.
The experience feels intrinsically rewarding.
A sense of automaticity in performance.
How This Applies to Guided Shifting
Guided Shifting trains clients to stabilize Flow-like states as their new default.
Csíkszentmihályi’s research demonstrated how to temporarily achieve Flow by engaging in a challenging task that meets the principles described above. Guided Shifting interprets this phenomenon as a particular way to overwhelm the brain’s cognitive demands, temporarily deactivating numerous automatic mental processes incorporated in one’s sense of time, self, control, etc. and redirecting neural activity to higher priority regions of the brain. Guided Shifting achieves similar experiential outcomes, but by relaxing away these cognitive processes by achieving safer states than one’s baseline, the experience of Flow becomes persistent, independent of one’s engagement with challenging tasks adhering to the principles outlined above.
Additional Resources
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MAPS has conducted groundbreaking research on the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy for trauma, anxiety, and human flourishing. Their studies demonstrate that:
Altered states of consciousness facilitate deep emotional and somatic healing.
MDMA and psilocybin therapy significantly reduce PTSD symptoms.
Deep nervous system safety allows suppressed emotions to surface and integrate.
Application in Guided Shifting
While Guided Shifting does not use psychedelics, our method mimics many of the neurophysiological benefits observed in psychedelic-assisted therapy:
Clients access deep safety and presence, enabling spontaneous emotional resolution.
The nervous system shifts into a more open, adaptive, and resilient state.
Clients report experiences similar to insights gained in psychedelic journeys—but accessed naturally, without substances.
Our approach provides a structured, accessible alternative to psychedelic-assisted therapy for those seeking profound shifts in consciousness and wellbeing.
Additional Resources
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Decades of research by The Leadership Circle have shown that inner healing directly impacts leadership effectiveness. Leaders with greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a sense of inner peace:
Make better decisions under pressure
Exhibit higher resilience
Inspire greater trust and engagement in their teams
How This Applies to Guided Shifting
Our clients, many of whom are executives and high-performing leaders, experience significant increases in their ability to lead effectively after Guided Shifting sessions.
The method removes subconscious fears and self-doubt, allowing leaders to operate from a centered and embodied state of confidence.
Our results mirror The Leadership Circle’s research: As inner safety increases, leaders naturally shift from reactive patterns to creative, high-impact leadership.
Additional Resources
