From the Blog
Writings on Well-Being Dr. Rick Hanson
Being Well Podcast: How to Create a Year You’ll Love
Dr. Rick and Forrest explore how we can put our key values into action in 2026.
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Talk + Meditation: Good Intentions
When the world feels morally confusing—or you’re hard on yourself for not being perfect—this talk explores how to reconnect with your good intentions, clarify your values, and live from the deeper goodness already moving through you.
Find Your Own Way
In the body or the mind, there is no life without goals. Trying to “transcend” goals is itself a goal. The only question is: Are your goals good ones?
Being Well Podcast: Who You’ll Be This Year: Values, Goals, and a Different Kind of Resolution
Dr. Rick and Forrest make the case that most resolutions fail because they focus on the wrong things: outcomes and behaviors rather than key values.
See Deep Wants
When deeper wants are recognized one feels seen and less likely to be reactive. See deep wants is understanding what someone may want and giving them an alternative offering which may reduce negative emotion and increased cooperation.
Being Well Podcast: Against Nonchalance: Why Caring is Cool in 2026
Forrest and Dr. Rick close 2025 by making the case for healthy caring: choosing objects of care wisely, prioritizing process over outcome, and cultivating equanimity without slipping into nonchalance.
Make Good Bargains
Life is full of tradeoffs between benefits and costs. Sometimes the rewards of going for a run, getting fresh air, and improving health may be worth the cost of losing half an hour of work time while gaining a pair of achy legs.
Talk + Meditation: Finding a Way Forward through Grief
Grief is normal — but we can get stuck in it. Learn how to release rumination, hold loss in love, and give yourself permission to move forward.
Being Well Podcast: Resentment, Situationships, and Highly Sensitive People: December Mailbag
Dr. Rick and Forrest open up the mailbag to answer listener questions about resentment, highly sensitive people, situationships, and expanding the window of tolerance.
Being Well Podcast: The Therapy Wars: Science, Self-Help, and that IFS Article
Dr. Rick and Forrest explore one of the major topics in psychology today: how to understand evidence-based care, “that IFS article,” and the tension between mainstream and alternative approaches.
Talk + Meditation: Wisdom for Aging, Illness, and Mortality
Aging, illness, and loss are inevitable. Learn how compassion and wisdom help you rest in what doesn’t change.
Let It Go
Are you holding onto at least one thing that’s way past its expiration date? Self-critical thoughts, obsessions, defensive about your issues, or drinking too much. These things are relatively straightforward to deal with, even though it could be difficult.
Being Well Podcast: Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder with Dr. Blaise Aguirre
Forrest is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Blaise Aguirre to discuss Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
Talk + Meditation: Science Says You Need Social Support
Science shows feeling supported makes you healthier and happier. Learn how to recognize, receive, and grow the support already around you.
Lean Into Good On First Waking
Try to influence your mind with positive and loving thoughts, when you wake.
Talk + Meditation: Thankfulness for What Protects and Nurtures You
Explore how to feel grounded and supported by the refuges in your life—people, places, practices, and inner strengths that steady you.
Being Well Podcast: Why Good People Get Stuck in Bad Relationships
Dr. Rick and Forrest explore how to exit bad relationships, and why it can be so hard to do just that.
Say Thanks
Say Thanks – it’s a small moment with big ripples. What do you feel when someone thanks you for something? For a comment in a meeting, a task done at home, an extra step taken, an encouraging word.
Being Well Podcast: Dr. Becky on Becoming the Person (and Parent) You Needed
Dr. Becky Kennedy joins Forrest for a conversation about building better relationships, with ourselves, our partners, and our children.
Talk + Meditation: Releasing Anxiety with Three Kinds of Insights
Find out why anxiety shows up and three small insights that can help you relax, feel safer inside, and handle life with more ease.
Find What’s Sacred
Sacred, has two meanings. One means spirituality, the other something precious. Try to identify what is sacred to you. Maybe you already know.
Being Well Podcast: Guilt Trips, Boundaries, and Non-Monogamy: November Mailbag
Dr. Rick and Forrest open up the mailbag to answer listener questions about effective communication, guilt trips, and contentment.