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MindFull of GOOD |
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Dr. Rick Hanson's Occasional Collection of Good, Free Stuff |
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NEW ON THE BEING WELL PODCAST: |
How to Stop Overthinking: Rumination, OCD, and Breaking the Self-Awareness Trap |
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"I think a lot of therapists just stop at being with the mind and they rest in a nice, unconditional positive regard with the person, and they just leave it at that. They miss the benefits that would come from more actively helping people to let go of what's problematic and let in what's good."
— DR. RICK HANSON |
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Self-awareness is a good thing…right? In this episode, Forrest and Dr. Rick Hanson explore how we can stop overthinking and break the self-awareness trap: when knowing ourselves becomes an obstacle to change. They discuss the difference between reflection and rumination, the pitfalls of being “an expert on yourself,” and why overthinking is often an avoidance mechanism disguised as problem-solving. Dr. Rick shares practical strategies for managing attention, setting boundaries around decisions, and cultivating an experimental mindset. |
| Watch/Listen to the Full Episode |
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Want to know if you're ruminating or just processing? |
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It’s normal to turn something over in your mind. Sometimes we’re digesting a meaningful experience, but other times… we’re just stuck in the same loop. It can be tricky to know which you're doing, so here's a quiz to help you tell the difference.
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| Take the Quiz! |
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FROM THE WEDNESDAY TALK/MEDITATION: |
Finding an Authentic Core of Calm Strength |
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Today so many of us are dealing with an unprecedented amount of stress, uncertainty, and challenges. How can we cultivate an unshakable core of calm amidst all of the chaos?
In this talk from my weekly free series, I explore how to navigate difficult emotions without being overwhelmed. When we return to a grounded baseline of well-being, we can take meaningful action—without bypassing or suppressing our experience. |
| Check out the Talk & Meditation |
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HAVE YOU READ IT YET? |
Buddha's Brain: 15th Anniversary Edition |
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With more than 500,000 copies in print since it was first published, I'm proud to announce the 15th Anniversary edition of my book Buddha's Brain, which features this new preface.
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| Get Your Copy |
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ALSO NEW ON THE BEING WELL PODCAST: |
How to Find Your Path in Life with David Epstein |
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In one of my favorite conversations, bestselling author David Epstein joins the podcast to explore how to find your path in life, the problem with 10,000 hours, and why generalists triumph in a specialized world.
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| Watch/Listen to the Full Episode |
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ASK RICK: |
Can you comment on the idea that we have an inherent optimism bias, as I believe your work helps counter a tendency towards a negativity bias as a reason to focus on taking in the good? |
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Some people make predictions about the future - such as the odds of winning on a lottery ticket, or the chance of avoiding health problems while continuing to smoke cigarettes - that are illogically or unrealistically optimistic. It’s also true that much of that research involves constructed choices in university laboratory settings, about fairly narrow and often somewhat artificial options.
In real world settings, we can observe many people shying away from doing certain things - going to see the doctor, public speaking, being emotionally vulnerable etc., etc. - in which their fears of the likelihood of a bad event and the consequences of it occurring are overly pessimistic. Additionally, people routinely underestimate their capacities to cope with challenges. These are both a kind of pessimism or negativity bias related to future events. |
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"Further, in terms of social-emotional learning from previous experiences, there is much evidence that it is negatively biased for a typical person." |
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In other words, for most people in most real world situations, the negativity bias is much more influential than an optimism bias.
All this said, the key point is to be grounded in reality as it is, and mindful of biases of any kind operating in the mind and brain. And keep supporting yourself, and healing and growing and helping along the way! |
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RICK'S PICKS: |
Where I Stand: Bad Dreams Are a Wake-Up Call for America |
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UNLV professor Gard Jameson, who has deep roots in conservative politics, is a man I admire for his thoughtful and peaceful approach to life. I found his recent article in the Las Vegas Sun extraordinary and thought you might want to check it out. |
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MindFull of Good is a free newsletter that highlights new and free content from Dr. Rick Hanson and the Being Well Podcast as well as other free offerings to fill yourself up with good. |
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