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Your Wise Brain

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

Positive Psychology
Your Brain Development

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on February 27, 2024

Each brain function is served by a brain region that first evolved to handle it. This fact has significant implications.

Each brain function is served by a brain region that first evolved to handle it. This fact has significant implications.

Positive Psychology
Use Good as Your Guide

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on February 20, 2024

We are constructed each moment by currents. We have no choice but to live by these currents. But we can choose to give ourselves over to the good ones.

We are constructed each moment by currents. We have no choice but to live by these currents. But we can choose to give ourselves over to the good ones.

Positive Psychology
Why We Should Encourage Our Minds to Rest

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 30, 2024

Tell the truth to yourself about how much time you truly come to rest — the time when you don't do anything at all, with a sense of relaxation and ease.

Tell the truth to yourself about how much time you truly come to rest — the time when you don't do anything at all, with a sense of relaxation and ease.

Self-Help
Don't Focus on What Others Have Done

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 15, 2024

Acknowledging one's own part in a difficult situation is one of the hardest—and I think most honorable—things a person can do.

Acknowledging one's own part in a difficult situation is one of the hardest—and I think most honorable—things a person can do.

Positive Psychology
What to Do When You Feel Mistreated

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 8, 2024

Many of us have a "case," or a grievance against another person who has mistreated us. Dropping our case could bring more benefits than we realize.

Many of us have a "case," or a grievance against another person who has mistreated us. Dropping our case could bring more benefits than we realize.

Self-Help
Life Is Full of Tradeoffs Between Benefits and Costs

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 2, 2024

Sometimes the rewards of going for a run, getting fresh air, and improving health may be worth the cost of losing half an hour of work time while gaining a pair of achy legs.

Sometimes the rewards of going for a run, getting fresh air, and improving health may be worth the cost of losing half an hour of work time while gaining a pair of achy legs.

Positive Psychology
Do You Feel You Have Too Much On Your Daily To-Do List?

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on November 28, 2023

Open to the voice of wisdom in you that’s telling you what you can afford to drop. Open to a sense of freedom and autonomy where you get to decide what you could stop doing.

Open to the voice of wisdom in you that’s telling you what you can afford to drop. Open to a sense of freedom and autonomy where you get to decide what you could stop doing.

Self-Help
Recognize What Is Improving in Your Life

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on November 20, 2023

It is not that you are supposed to look through rose-colored glasses. The point is to see life as it is—including the ways it is improving.

It is not that you are supposed to look through rose-colored glasses. The point is to see life as it is—including the ways it is improving.

Relationships
Find Trust in Love

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on November 14, 2023

Recognize and have confidence in the love in your own heart, which will energize and protect you, even when you must also be assertive with others.

Recognize and have confidence in the love in your own heart, which will energize and protect you, even when you must also be assertive with others.

Self-Help
Keep Your Hopes and Dreams and Help Others Do the Same

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on November 6, 2023

A Personal Perspective: If you pour cold water over your hopes and dreams, you’ll never know the warmth and light that might spread if you had let them catch fire.

A Personal Perspective: If you pour cold water over your hopes and dreams, you’ll never know the warmth and light that might spread if you had let them catch fire.

Positive Psychology
Give Thought to Your Words

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on October 30, 2023

If you simply speak from your heart, have good intentions, and keep returning to the truth as you know it, it is hard not to speak wisely.

If you simply speak from your heart, have good intentions, and keep returning to the truth as you know it, it is hard not to speak wisely.

Altruism
How Does Generosity Make You Feel?

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on October 23, 2023

Focus on what others communicate, and try to receive that as a valuable offering. Open your mind to the good that is implicit in the other person.

Focus on what others communicate, and try to receive that as a valuable offering. Open your mind to the good that is implicit in the other person.

Bias
What Can You Do About Painful Experiences?

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on October 10, 2023

Tilt toward the positive, which is not looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Given the negativity bias in the brain, you're only leveling the playing field.

Tilt toward the positive, which is not looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Given the negativity bias in the brain, you're only leveling the playing field.

Mindfulness
How Your Brain Reacts to Threats

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on October 2, 2023

Be mindful of the degree to which your brain is wired to make you afraid so that you walk around with an ongoing trickle of anxiety keeping you on alert.

Be mindful of the degree to which your brain is wired to make you afraid so that you walk around with an ongoing trickle of anxiety keeping you on alert.