Throughout history people have sought the heights of human potential – to become as wise, strong, happy, and loving as any person can ever be. Science is now revealing how these remarkable ways of being seem to be based on equally remarkable changes in our own nervous system.
Rick Hanson
Author / Psychologist
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Biography
Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages, and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone. He's the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well Podcast – which has been downloaded over 15 million times. His free newsletters have over 260,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those i need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in Northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.
Articles
Meditation + Talk: The Essence of Mindfulness
Dr. Rick Hanson leads a meditation and talk on the essence of mindfulness he will share with you his ideas of the fundamentals taught by the Buddha 2,500 years ago.
Remember the Big Things
In every life, reminders arrive about what’s really important. While it’s good advice not to sweat the small stuff, we also need to nurture the large stuff.
Being Well Podcast: Compassion Fatigue and Finding Purpose
We explore both the direct stress and trauma that people in helping roles might naturally be feeling these days, as well as compassion fatigue.
Meditation + Talk: What Can’t Be Lost and Can Always Be Found
In this Meditation and Talk, Dr. Rick Hanson offers an meditation on being the space in which experiences flow, and he shares insights about what inside us can’t be lost and can always be found.
Being Well Podcast: Coping with Quarantine
In this episode Forrest and I explore how individuals and families can deal with the interpersonal stress that comes from being stuck together, and the sadness and loss that comes from being separated from things we love.
Working with Self-Criticism
What’s the difference between useful self-critique, and harmful self-criticism? How can we implement positive changes that further our growth without beating ourself up about it?
Meditation + Talk: Dealing with Worries and Releasing Anxiety
In this meditation, talk, and discussion from the Wednesday Night Meditation series, we start with a 45-minute meditation in Releasing Anxiety, Finding Peace. Then, as this is a time of much concern, Rick offers a talk on Dealing with Worries.
How to Calm Anxiety
These days many people are experiencing more anxiety than ever. Here are a few of Rick Hanson’s best practices for calming and soothing fear and anxiety.
Lower the Pressure
The pressure activates motivational circuits but has inherent collateral damage. Pressure activates ancient motivational circuits that were very effective in keeping our ancestors alive but even at best, there is an inherent collateral damage.
Being Well Podcast: Being a Better Friend to Yourself
Explore how to balance constructive and harmful self-criticism, move away from our “act,” embrace change, manage feelings of worthlessness, and ultimately be a good friend to ourselves.
Meditation + Talk: Love and Anger in the Time of Corona
Learn how to deal with anger during challenging times and rest at peace in a radiant heart. This is a talk and meditation from Dr. Rick Hanson’s Wednesday Meditation series.