Your Wise Brain

Mindfulness

A Practice to Remain Present

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on May 1, 2023

In life, there will be gain and loss, praise and blame, and pleasure and pain. If you let them flow, you can ride the waves of life with gratitude and grace and without drowning.

In life, there will be gain and loss, praise and blame, and pleasure and pain. If you let them flow, you can ride the waves of life with gratitude and grace and without drowning.

Stress

Let Go of What Is Weighing You Down

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on April 24, 2023

Carrying an unnecessary load can be stressful and harmful. Instead, dropping the load and letting go of repetitive preoccupations is OK.

Carrying an unnecessary load can be stressful and harmful. Instead, dropping the load and letting go of repetitive preoccupations is OK.

Bias

Do Not Get Mired in Minutiae

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on April 17, 2023

Alongside real problems and tragedies are many everyday events or conditions of beauty, cooperation, learning, creativity, and love.

Alongside real problems and tragedies are many everyday events or conditions of beauty, cooperation, learning, creativity, and love.

Bullying

Be a Force Against Bullying

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on April 10, 2023

Recognize bullying and its enablers. Protect yourself, strengthen alliances with others, and stand up and speak up as best you can.

Recognize bullying and its enablers. Protect yourself, strengthen alliances with others, and stand up and speak up as best you can.

Relationships

Love What Is Authentic

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on April 3, 2023

A healthy relationship, family, organization, or country is grounded in what is real. They seek the truth, tell the truth, and learn from the truth.

A healthy relationship, family, organization, or country is grounded in what is real. They seek the truth, tell the truth, and learn from the truth.

Self-Help

Accept the Good That Surrounds

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on March 27, 2023

Recognize the relative stability of good things. Enjoy it all. The more we recognize impermanence, the more we can take refuge in the good that lasts.

Recognize the relative stability of good things. Enjoy it all. The more we recognize impermanence, the more we can take refuge in the good that lasts.

Relationships

Be Kind to Your Neighbors

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on March 20, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Compassion and kindness express inner freedom.

A Personal Perspective: Compassion and kindness express inner freedom.

Anger

Be on Your Guard When You Feel Anger

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on March 13, 2023

In small and passing quantities, anger can be like medicine, but in large and lasting quantities, it poisons the mind and relationships.

In small and passing quantities, anger can be like medicine, but in large and lasting quantities, it poisons the mind and relationships.

Relationships

How to Embrace Joy

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on March 6, 2023

Positive feelings can be present alongside negative ones. Joy makes us stronger and fuels us to keep going for the sake of others.

Positive feelings can be present alongside negative ones. Joy makes us stronger and fuels us to keep going for the sake of others.

Anxiety

Know Your Common Ground

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on February 27, 2023

Know you are not alone, whatever you are dealing with, from personal health problems to a worry about a child or concern about global events. We stand together on common ground.

Know you are not alone, whatever you are dealing with, from personal health problems to a worry about a child or concern about global events. We stand together on common ground.

Relationships

Express Love in Simple and Subtle Ways

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on February 20, 2023

At a time when you may feel powerless about the wider world, here and now, you can make a real difference. Love is never defeated.

At a time when you may feel powerless about the wider world, here and now, you can make a real difference. Love is never defeated.

Relationships

Resting and Taking in Your Heart

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on February 13, 2023

Strong forces have always tried to confuse and frighten others. Whatever outward action is necessary, you can preserve inner freedom.

Strong forces have always tried to confuse and frighten others. Whatever outward action is necessary, you can preserve inner freedom.

Fear

The Most Important Trust Is in You

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on February 6, 2023

Be your whole self; it's your whole self that you can trust. See what happens when you let yourself fall backward into your own arms, trusting that they will catch you.

Be your whole self; it's your whole self that you can trust. See what happens when you let yourself fall backward into your own arms, trusting that they will catch you.

Depression

Recognize the Truth of Others’ Pain

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 30, 2023

When you recognize the truth of others’ pain, it is strangely calming. Seeing the pain and its causes are just a tiny part of a mostly impersonal whole.

When you recognize the truth of others’ pain, it is strangely calming. Seeing the pain and its causes are just a tiny part of a mostly impersonal whole.

Relationships

Keep Your Sense of Wonder

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 23, 2023

Try to see the world as if you are seeing it for the first time. If we are filled with wonder and surprise, we would treat ourselves, others, and our fragile world more gently.

Try to see the world as if you are seeing it for the first time. If we are filled with wonder and surprise, we would treat ourselves, others, and our fragile world more gently.

Education

Always Try to Carry Good in Your Thoughts and Actions

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 17, 2023

Believe in realistic thinking and seeing reality. Life is often hard, but try to focus on the good facts in life. Let them become good experiences, and let them really sink in.

Believe in realistic thinking and seeing reality. Life is often hard, but try to focus on the good facts in life. Let them become good experiences, and let them really sink in.

Relationships

Kindness to Others Has Its Own Reward for You

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 9, 2023

Personal Perspective: For better or worse, what you do to others ripples back to you, and vice versa. Recognizing this will change the lives of others for the better.

Personal Perspective: For better or worse, what you do to others ripples back to you, and vice versa. Recognizing this will change the lives of others for the better.

Career

Find and Build Your Inner Strength

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on January 2, 2023

Daily life is full of opportunities to notice or create experiences of inner strength, a psychological resource. Take it into yourself, making it a part of you.

Daily life is full of opportunities to notice or create experiences of inner strength, a psychological resource. Take it into yourself, making it a part of you.

Anger

Triumphant Over Anger to Find Peace

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on December 12, 2022

How to stop things from building up, understand what's making you angry, and turn anger into peace.

How to stop things from building up, understand what's making you angry, and turn anger into peace.

Career

Parents Should Work Together

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on December 5, 2022

Minor differences in parenting style are OK. But children get confused when there are major differences. Here are five ways to work together effectively and get the best possible results.

Minor differences in parenting style are OK. But children get confused when there are major differences. Here are five ways to work together effectively and get the best possible results.