From the Blog
Writings on Well-Being Dr. Rick Hanson
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.
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Meditation + Talk: 3 Ways to Deal With Hard Times
In this meditation, talk and discussion we start with a 45-minute meditation in Grounding in Openhearted Peacefulness. Then, with many concerned about the current Coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty, stress, and anxiety surrounding it, I share three ways for dealing with hard times.
Being Resilient During Coronavirus
During times like this – with a pandemic such as the Coronavirus – it’s natural to feel afraid, anxious, or threatened. But being consumed by fear causes wear and tear on the body, which actually undermines your safety. Here you’ll find suggestions and resources for how to stay calm and be effective during this challenging time.
A Meditation for Feeling As Safe As You Reasonably Can
During times like this, it’s natural to feel afraid, stressed, threatened, or anxious – but being consumed by fear causes wear and tear on the body, which actually undermines your safety. That’s why it’s very important to be able to find a place inside that feels calm and strong. And one of the best ways to do this is to notice that you’re alright, right now – which we’ll explore in this 5-minute meditation.
Welcome Joy
What’s the spark and what’s the fuel? Welcome joy. Positive emotions – such as feelings of gratitude, love, and confidence – strengthen the immune system, protect the heart against loss and trauma, build relationships, increase resilience
Twelve Good Things 2019
Each year I use an issue of the Just One Thing newsletter to offer Twelve Good Things that I think are really wonderful and worth your attention. May you and those you love and in fact the whole wide world be truly well, truly happy, and truly at peace UC Berkeley's...
Neurodharma 2019 – Quotes
Quotes to accompany the seven level practice of Neurodharma.
Perceptions of Reality
Just because we disagree about perceptions of reality does not mean that there is not an actual reality, nor does it mean that it is not knowable.
Understanding True Self-Compassion
There is a very useful distinction between two different meanings, or connotations, of the word “victim.”
Finding Agency in a Chaotic World
The art of engaged life is to tap into healthy outrage, fieriness, fierce compassion, moral disgust, etc. without getting sucked into the “poisons” (Buddhist reference) of ill will, hatred, contempt, us-against-them tribalism.
Stress: Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
Stress is a particular kind of body-mind reaction to challenges that is distinct from normal mobilization.
Twelve Good Things 2018
Each year I use an issue of the Just One Thing newsletter to offer Twelve Good Things. I think they’re really wonderful, and worth your attention.
Resilient Selected for Greater Good Favorite Books of 2018
We're excited to announce that Resilient has been selected by Greater Good as one of their favorite books of 2018. Rick Hanson, Ph.D. and Forrest Hanson have the honor of joining other great authors such as Brené Brown, Nadine Burke Harris, Soraya Chemaly, Dolly...
Being Well Podcast: Everyday Giving
At first glance, generosity may not seem like a mental resource, but it strengthens you with a sense of the fullness that’s already inside, while also connecting you with other people. Generosity to others can be a gift to you along the way, giving you even more to...
Being Well Podcast: Empathy
Today we’re focusing on Empathy, which allows us to tune into and understand other people. Empathy is a key social skill that helps us make sense of nuance, read intentions correctly, recognize the hurt under anger, and communicate and interact more skillfully.
Take in the Good
Taking in the good is a brain-science savvy and psychologically skillful way to improve how you feel, get things done, and treat others.
One Minute for Good
Practicing taking in a sense of protection, relaxation, pleasure, enthusiasm, self-compassion, feeling like a good person—and of course the hallmarks of the responsive brain: peace, contentment, and love, creates a foundational inner strength that I've seen change my...
Stay Well
To stay well, make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating correctly, doing exercise regularly, avoiding health hazards, and having regular checkups.
Being Well Podcast: Linking
On today’s episode of the Being Well podcast, Dr. Rick Hanson discusses “linking” – how we can use new, positive experiences to soften and eventually replace old, negative ones.
Being Well Podcast: Key Resource Experiences
On today’s episode of the Being Well podcast, Rick and Forrest Hanson talk about how we can find and use “key resource experiences” – experiences that we can match to our unique vulnerabilities in order to grow the strengths we need the most.
How Your Childhood Experiences Shape You
Your experiences as a child make a big impact on your own sense of autonomy, and how it affects your relationships. In the excerpt below, we’ll explore how your childhood has impacted your own sense of intimacy.
Being Well Podcast: Enriching and Absorbing
On today’s episode of the Being Well Podcast, Dr. Rick Hanson explores the “installation” stage of learning in detail, including how we can internalize the various positive aspects of any experience to grow the strengths we need the most. 0:50: What attracted you to...