pixel
Balancing Compassion and Assertiveness
March 26, 2013

The Compassionate Brain
A FREE eight-part video series, hosted by Dr. Rick Hanson, that explores effective ways to change your brain and heart and life.
(Watch or listen to the entire series by registering at http://live.soundstrue.com/compassionatebrain/.)

Session 5: Balancing Compassion and Assertiveness

Session Highlights:

  • An in-depth conversation with Dr. Kelly McGonigal, senior teacher and consultant for the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education and author of The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
  • Compassion for oneself and others in pain
  • Bringing willpower to compassion
  • Balancing compassion and assertiveness

Get Rick’s Free Weekly Newsletter

Get a weekly practice and the latest Being Well Podcast delivered right to your inbox.

Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The Strong Heart Relationship Course

4-Week Series on Improving All Your Relationships

Join Rick to learn Practical Skills for More Fulfilling, Peaceful, and Effective Relationships.

Recent Posts

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

Try to understand what causes you to feel fault, resolve it and move on. Inner criticism tears you down. Commit to skillful corrections. Take a big breath and very deliberately name to yourself three strengths or virtues you have and let them sink in.

Be Benevolent

Be Benevolent

Liking feels good, it encourages us to approach and engage the world. Know what benevolence feels like in your body, heart, and mind, and realize that it is natural and normal. Appreciate some of the benevolence that buoys you along. Most people are fair-minded, empathic, cooperative, compassionate, and kind: in a word, benevolent.