Just One Thing
Simple Practices from Dr. Rick Hanson
Foundations of Relationships
Be at Peace with the Pain of Others
Being at peace with others’ pain helps us be supportive of their pain.
Recognize Suffering in Others
Where does it hurt? The practice: Recognize suffering in others. We’re usually aware of our own suffering, but seeing the suffering in others: that’s not so common. All the news and pictures of disaster, murder, and grief that bombard us each day
Receive Faces
Understanding facial expression gives us a chance to feel connected to others. Try to open to and receive the faces of others.
Have Compassion
To have compassion is to have the wish that beings not suffer combined with feelings of sympathetic concern.
Give No One Cause to Fear You
Much of the time the fear we trigger in others is mild but people can feel threatened by stimuli they’re not actually aware of.
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.
Trust In Love
Love is like air. It may be hard to see – but it’s in you and all around you.
Accept Them as They Are
In what ways do you wish that people were different? See what it feels like to stop resisting what another person is like while also taking care of your own needs in the relationship. Acceptance is a gift that gives back.
Choose To Love
Choose to love. Love is more about us being loving than about other people being lovable. In fact, choosing to love is twice loving: it’s a loving act to call up the intention to love, plus there is the love that follows.
Bless
To blissful is to see what is tender and beautiful, and wish well. Look for good things in others. Know what the act and attitude of blessing feel like, and take in the experience to call upon it in the future.