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Your Wise Brain

Practical insights into happiness, love, and wisdom from psychology, neuroscience, and Buddhism

Relationships
How Does Quarreling Make You Feel?

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on September 25, 2023

Quarrels happen, and they are stressful. A bit of this won't harm you, but a regular diet of quarreling is not good for your long-term physical and mental health.

Quarrels happen, and they are stressful. A bit of this won't harm you, but a regular diet of quarreling is not good for your long-term physical and mental health.

Forgiveness
Stop Feeling Anger

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on September 19, 2023

Appreciate the value of forgiveness. Ask yourself: What does my grievance, my resentment, cost me? Cost others I care about?

Appreciate the value of forgiveness. Ask yourself: What does my grievance, my resentment, cost me? Cost others I care about?

Positive Psychology
Saying Thank You Has Its Own Rewards

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on September 11, 2023

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, or an encouraging word?

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, or an encouraging word?

Positive Psychology
When You Speak—Speak the Truth

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on September 5, 2023

If you say what's true, and say it clearly and kindly, you get one kind of result. But if you speak falsely, you get different results: unnecessary conflicts, lost opportunities.

If you say what's true, and say it clearly and kindly, you get one kind of result. But if you speak falsely, you get different results: unnecessary conflicts, lost opportunities.

Positive Psychology
Keep Your Focus on What Is Important

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on August 28, 2023

Keep your purpose close to your heart. And then, as soon as you remember, recommit to your life's purpose every day: rename it to yourself and give yourself over to it again.

Keep your purpose close to your heart. And then, as soon as you remember, recommit to your life's purpose every day: rename it to yourself and give yourself over to it again.

Fear
Don't Let Others Fear You

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on August 21, 2023

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.

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.

Positive Psychology
Commit to an Open Heart

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on August 15, 2023

It may feel necessary to distance yourself from another person for a while or forever, but in general, you never have to put anyone out of your heart.

It may feel necessary to distance yourself from another person for a while or forever, but in general, you never have to put anyone out of your heart.

Anger
The Benefits of Speaking in Soft Tones

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on August 7, 2023

Keep these points in mind: Be mindful of tone, consider true purpose, lay a good foundation, gentle your body, don't use inflammatory language, and say what needs to be said.

Keep these points in mind: Be mindful of tone, consider true purpose, lay a good foundation, gentle your body, don't use inflammatory language, and say what needs to be said.

Positive Psychology
Seeing the Good in Others

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on July 24, 2023

It's a simple but very powerful way to feel happier and more confident and to become more loving and more productive in the world.

It's a simple but very powerful way to feel happier and more confident and to become more loving and more productive in the world.

Relationships
The Warm Feeling You Get When You Feel Cared About

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on July 10, 2023

Wanting to be cared about is part of evolution. Love, broadly defined, has been the primary driver of the development of the brain over the last 80 million years.

Wanting to be cared about is part of evolution. Love, broadly defined, has been the primary driver of the development of the brain over the last 80 million years.

Self-Help
Do You Speak From Your Heart?

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on July 3, 2023

Naming the truth—in particular, the facts of one's experience, which no one can disprove—with simplicity and sincerity, and without contentiousness or blame, has moral force.

Naming the truth—in particular, the facts of one's experience, which no one can disprove—with simplicity and sincerity, and without contentiousness or blame, has moral force.

Self-Help
Why Is Understanding Others Important?

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on June 26, 2023

Imagine being aware of the surface behavior of the people around you but oblivious to their inner life while they remain unmoved by your own. That's a world without empathy.

Imagine being aware of the surface behavior of the people around you but oblivious to their inner life while they remain unmoved by your own. That's a world without empathy.

Positive Psychology
How Important Is It to Be Friendly?

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on June 19, 2023

Being friendly feels confident and happy, with a positive take on other people, moving toward the world instead of backing away from it.

Being friendly feels confident and happy, with a positive take on other people, moving toward the world instead of backing away from it.

Self-Help
Opening Up to the Suffering in Others

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on June 5, 2023

Watch and listen to those closest to you. What's hurting over there? Even if you admit that you are one of its causes, open to suffering.

Watch and listen to those closest to you. What's hurting over there? Even if you admit that you are one of its causes, open to suffering.

Positive Psychology
Do You See What Is Behind the Persona?

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on May 29, 2023

Much of the time, we interact mask-to-mask with other people. That has its place. Remember times when someone saw through your mask to the real you? How did you feel?

Much of the time, we interact mask-to-mask with other people. That has its place. Remember times when someone saw through your mask to the real you? How did you feel?

Self-Help
The Importance of Truth, Honesty, and Fair Play

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on May 22, 2023

Honorable people can have intense disagreements about how to run a family, school, or nation. But we have common ground in basic principles: tell the truth and play fair.

Honorable people can have intense disagreements about how to run a family, school, or nation. But we have common ground in basic principles: tell the truth and play fair.

Fear
Recognizing Our Common Humanity

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on May 15, 2023

Recognizing our common humanity allows us to see others more clearly, be more effective with them, and feel less threatened.

Recognizing our common humanity allows us to see others more clearly, be more effective with them, and feel less threatened.

Education
Find an Opportunity to Learn

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on May 8, 2023

Each day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and take in the good. Use this two-step process to heal from the past and grow strengths for the future.

Each day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and take in the good. Use this two-step process to heal from the past and grow strengths for the future.