From the Blog
Writings on Well-Being Dr. Rick Hanson
Being Well Podcast: Trauma in Relationships: What Actually Helps with Elizabeth Ferreira
Forrest is joined by associate therapist and his fiancée Elizabeth Ferreira for an honest, personal conversation about what it’s actually like to be in a relationship when one partner is living with trauma, complex PTSD, or another ongoing mental health challenge.
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Meditation + Talk: Ways of Cultivating Insight
Cultivating Insight can offer real relief from suffering and frustration, and get us out of patterns that no longer serve us. Learn how with Oren Jay Sofer.
Feed the Wolf of Love
There are two wolves in ones heart, a wolf of hate and a wolf of love. The wolf of hate breeds alienation and conflict with others. The wolf of love is fed with our hearts, hope and by our sense of what’s good.
Stand up to Bullies
Bullying at all scales causes much suffering. What can we do? Recognize bullying and its enablers. Protect yourself, strengthen alliances with others, and stand up and speak up as best you can.Â
Being Well Podcast: Social Anxiety, Self-Advocacy, and Too Much Self-Help: September Mailbag
Dr. Rick and Forrest dive into the mailbag, and answer questions from listeners focused on working with anxiety in ourselves, including social anxiety.
Meditation + Talk: Already Free of Fear, Already at Peace
Balance out stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction by embracing a sense of already being enough, already being safe, and already being at peace.
Vote
Sometimes it’s natural to feel stunned, shocked, powerless. And natural to be flooded with rage or fear or an overwhelming sorrow. Still, even in the midst of all this, you can be mindful: aware and present, and not entirely swept away. Then at some point, you take a breath and look around and try to figure out what to do. One thing to do is to vote.
Being Well Podcast: Cognitive Bypassing, Traumatic Experiences, and Feeling Your Feelings with Simone Saunders
Forrest dives into cognitive bypassing – a common strategy many of us use to avoid feeling difficult emotions – with trauma therapist Simone Saunders.
Meditation + Talk: How to Feel Already OK
It’s easy to get caught up in chasing goals and fixating on what’s wrong. By noticing what we already have, we can feel a sense of peace, contentment, and love.
Cling Less, Love More
Clinging is never relaxed and has a sense of strain. As you cling less, it becomes natural for one to lighten up, have more compassion and forgive.
Being Well Podcast: Navigating Parenthood — What Every Parent Needs to Know
Forrest explores parenthood and becoming a good dad with his father, clinical psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson.
Meditation + Talk: Steadying Your Mind through Finding Wholeness and Stillness
Feeling Anxious? Learn two powerful practices that anchor you more firmly in the present moment and help with steadying your mind, with Dr. Rick Hanson.
Being Well Podcast: How to Live in an Anxious World: Uncertainty, Agency, and Resilience
Dr. Rick and Forrest tackle the anxiety and uncertainty so many are feeling about the state of the world.
Meditation + Talk: Three Ways to Steady Your Mind
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the chaos of modern life. Learn 3 practical ways to bring calm, clarity, and presence into your daily routine.
Ask Questions
Ask questions – it’s one of the best ways to listen well. It shows you’re paying attention, it gets things out in the open and it slows emotional conversations.
Being Well Podcast: Embracing Perfectionism with Katherine Morgan Schafler
Forrest explores how we can harness perfectionism’s strengths without getting captured by its vulnerabilities with therapist and author Katherine Morgan Schafler.
Meditation + Talk: Bottom-Up Healing and Growing
A “bottom-up” approach to challenges allows us to observe and engage with our emotions for deeper understanding and personal growth.
Hold Wants Lightly
Be aware of wanting inside your own mind. List wholesome wants that you would like to pursue more. Your wholesome wants will help crowd out the unwholesome ones.
Being Well Podcast: The Shadow: Individuation, Wholeness, and Becoming Your True Self
Dr. Rick and Forrest explore one of the most interesting concepts in psychology: Carl Jung’s concept of the shadow and becoming our true self.
Meditation + Talk: Cultivating Patience with Loving Strength
Patience brings peace and allows us to pause and respond mindfully rather than react unskillfully—learn to apply it to your own inner and outer experiences.
Find Stillness
Wherever you find stillness enjoy it and let it feed you. Stillness is a source of clarity and peace. In stillness, you can find a refuge and some quiet amidst the noise. Give yourself the space, the permission, to be still in your mind.
Being Well Podcast: How to Deal with Other People’s Defenses
Rick and Forrest explore the psychological and communication skills that will guide you in dealing with other people’s defenses.