In this column, we will apply effective ways a mother and father can communicate to the sometimes thorny issues of of childrearing practices, who does what, sharing the load fairly, and money.
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 in 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
What Do You Mean, “Self?”
Psychology, neuroscience, and spiritual practice all have an interest in what in the world the self is – if it’s anything at all – and so it’s helpful to know what we mean when we use that word, since it actually can mean quite a few different things.
Foundations of Mindfulness
When your attention is steady, so is your mind: not rattled or hijacked by whatever pops into awareness, but stably present, grounded, and unshakable. You can train and strengthen your attention just like any other mental ability.
Sharing the Load
Here, we will discuss the (often heated) issue of who does what and how to share the load fairly.
Rick discusses several topics regarding mindfulness applied to relationships.
How to Stick with Your Virtues and Good Purposes
Tips for how to stay on course, strong and motivated, as you reclaim your right to good health and self-esteem.
Compassion and Assertion
Compassion and assertion work together as the two wings that get any relationship off the ground and keep it flying. They support each other, and they both nourish the wolf of love.
Two Wolves in the Heart
In our hearts, there are two wolves: a wolf of love and a wolf of hate. Our happiness and well-being all depends on which one we feed each day.
The Self-Transforming Brain
When your mind changes, your brain changes, too. As a result, even fleeting thoughts and feelings can leave lasting marks on your brain, much like a spring shower can leave little trails on a hillside.
Taking in the Good
Your mind is built from the experiences you have. The flow of experience gradually sculpts your brain, thus shaping your mind.
Resolving Quarrels
Disagreements and grievances are normal in any relationship, whether it’s between a mom and dad, or between two nations or peoples. Here are four things that will lead to your best chance of resolving a quarrel.
Good Intentions: Neurological, Contemplative, and Practical Perspectives
The first question regarding intention is, for what? All the great wisdom traditions of the world, and all the great moral philosophers, have grappled with this question.