From the Blog
Writings on Well-Being Dr. Rick Hanson
Feed the Mouse
When you feel fed – physically, emotionally, conceptually – you naturally let go of longing, disappointment, frustration, and craving. The hungry heart gets a full meal; goals are attained and the striving for them relaxes; one feels lifted by life as it is. What a relief!
Feeling fed also helps you enjoy positive emotions such as pleasure, contentment, accomplishment, ease, and worth. As researchers have shown, these good feelings reduce stress, help people bounce back from illness and loss, strengthen resilience, draw attention to the big picture, and build inner resources. And when your own cup runneth over, studies have found that you’re more inclined to give to others; feeling good helps you do good.
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Being Well Podcast: Workaholism: Anxiety, Addiction, and Finding Balance in a Busy World
Forrest and Dr. Rick explore what workaholism is really, the psychological functions it serves, and how it relates to other addictive behaviors.
Meditation + Talk: Buddhist Myth #2: “Just Be Mindful”
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a meditation, talk, and a discussion about Buddhist Myth #2: “Just Be Mindful.”
Being Well Podcast: Becoming Emotionally Agile with Dr. Susan David
Forrest and Rick sit down with Dr. Susan David, the creator of the concept of Emotional Agility, or what allows us to navigate our complex emotions, make choices aligned with our values, and ultimately lead more authentic and fulfilling lives.
Meditation + Talk: Buddhist Myth #1: “Life Is Suffering”
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a meditation, talk, and a discussion about Buddhist Myth #1: “Life Is Suffering.”
Meditation + Talk: Opening to the Unconditioned Love of the Absolute
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a meditation, talk, and a discussion about Opening to the Unconditioned Love of the Absolute with Guest Teacher Stephen Snyder.
Being Well Podcast: Impermanence Anxiety – How to Live While Letting Go
Forrest and Dr. Rick explore impermanence anxiety: the fears we have related to change, including how we can become more resilient in the face of change.
Being Well Podcast: Metabolism, Brain Energy, and Mental Health with Dr. Chris Palmer
Dr. Chris Palmer, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, joins Forrest to discuss the relationship between metabolic function and mental illness.
Meditation + Talk: Cultivating Belonging
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a meditation, talk, and a discussion about Cultivating Belonging.
Being Well Podcast: Emotional Intelligence: Improving Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, and Empathy
Dr. Rick and Forrest explore emotional intelligence, including what’s “in” it, balancing emotional closeness and distance, and how we can become more self-aware, self-regulated, and empathic.
Meditation + Talk: You Are Whole and Complete, and There Is Nothing to Add
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a meditation, talk, and a discussion about You Are Whole and Complete, and There Is Nothing to Add.
Being Well Podcast: Neuroplasticity Tools to Change Your (and your kid’s) Brain with Dr. Caroline Leaf
Dr. Caroline Leaf joins Rick and Forrest to explore how we can harness the power of neuroplasticity to clean up our mental mess…and teach our children to do the same.
Meditation + Talk: The Good News in the Four Ennobling Truths
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a 34-minute meditation, a 48-minute talk, and a discussion about The Good News in the Four Ennobling Truths.
Being Well Podcast: So You Want to Be a Therapist?
On today’s episode of the Being Well Podcast, Forrest speaks to five therapists and therapists-in-training to learn the lessons they wish they’d known when they started.
Meditation + Talk: Struggles, Lessons, and Hope
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a meditation and talk with Dr. Rick Hanson and Mamphela Ramphele on Struggles, Lessons, and Hope.
Being Well Podcast: Dan Harris: Mindfulness, Fear, and Love Without the Cringe
Dan Harris, author of 10% Happier, joins Dr. Rick and Forrest on the Being Well Podcast for a wide-ranging, open, and personal conversation. They explore dealing with anxiety and fear, sustaining a mindfulness practice, and accepting our nature while leaning into a new version of ourselves.
Meditation + Talk: Wisdom in the Wounds
This Wednesday Night Meditation included an 18-minute meditation, a 45-minute talk, and a discussion about Wisdom in the Wounds with Lakiba Pittman.
Being Well Podcast: Dealing with Criticism, Anxiety, and Dysfunctional Family Systems: July Mailbag
Forrest and Dr. Rick open up the mailbag and answer questions from listeners. They explore how we can thoughtfully take the input of other people, identify and meet our needs, deal with anxiety and the fear of failure, and approach a conversation about drug use with teenagers.
Meditation + Talk: Practicing with Sorrow
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a 35-minute meditation, a 48-minute talk, and a discussion with Rick Hanson about Practicing with Sorrow.
Being Well Podcast: Simplifying Self-Help: 7 Lessons for a Lifetime of Well-Being
There is a lot of complicated advice out there (including on this podcast) for how to improve our well-being. In this episode of the Being Well Podcast, Forrest and Dr. Rick simplify the lessons they’ve learned from over 100 experts and 300 episodes.
Meditation + Talk: The Power of Giving and Receiving
This Wednesday Night Meditation included a 33-minute meditation, a 50-minute talk, and a discussion on The Power of Giving and Receiving by Daniel Ellenberg, Ph.D.
Being Well Podcast: How to Become Securely Attached
Forrest and Dr. Rick focus on one of the most common, and most important, questions they get about attachment theory: can we heal our attachment wounds, and become more securely attached?