|
|
MindFull of GOOD |
 |
|
Dr. Rick Hanson's Occasional Collection of Good, Free Stuff |
|
|
|
NEW ON THE BEING WELL PODCAST: |
People Pleasing, AI Therapy, and Sexual Transference: May Mailbag |
 |
|
"Being typically in the listener and cheerleader position, being in the giver position rather than the taker position, it's especially important to try to break that script and look for people who are prepared for a truly reciprocal, mutual adult kind of relationship where that ought to be roughly even."
— DR. RICK HANSON |
|
In this very fun episode, Dr. Rick and Forrest open the mailbag and answer questions from listeners about people pleasing, the potential (and pitfalls) of using AI as a therapist, and what to do when you develop strong feelings for your therapist. They discuss existential themes like aloneness and agency, whether Gandalf would have made a good therapist, and close with some heartfelt thoughts about what supports a long and loving relationship. |
| Watch/Listen to the Full Episode |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW FROM THE WEDNESDAY TALK/MEDITATION: |
How to Calm the Biological Machinery of Stress and Suffering |
 |
|
Let’s be honest—these days, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, reactive, and worn down. Whether it’s the relentless news cycle, a difficult interaction, or just your own mind revving up again, it can feel like calm and happiness are out of reach.
So this week I unpacked some of the biological machinery underneath our stress and reactivity—and offered practical ways to work with it. I talked about how your nervous system gets rattled (it’s not your fault!), and how small shifts in awareness, social connection, and even the way you look at the world can help you settle down, open up, and feel more content and effective in daily life. |
| Check out the Talk & Meditation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
HAVE YOU READ IT YET? |
Buddha's Brain: 15th Anniversary Edition |
 |
|
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.
|
| Get Your Copy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALSO NEW ON THE BEING WELL PODCAST: |
OCD and Anxiety Disorders with Kimberley Quinlan |
 |
|
Forrest is joined by Kimberley Quinlan to explore one of the most misunderstood anxiety disorders: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Drawing from her clinical and personal experience, Kimberley breaks down what OCD is, how it differs from general anxiety, and the ways it’s often mischaracterized.
|
| Watch/Listen to the Full Episode |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FREE SUMMIT: |
EXPANDED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS MEGA-SUMMIT |
 |
|
I’m very inspired to be among the presenters for the upcoming Expanded States of Consciousness Mega-Summit and would like to invite you to join me for this extraordinary journey! This 10-day FREE online event is for EVERYONE interested in the expanded states of consciousness and their potential for our individual and collective healing, spiritual evolution, and awakening, including practitioners, clinicians, researchers, guides, coaches, other helping professionals, and the general public.
|
| Register for FREE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASK RICK: |
You say that the brain has evolved to keep us alert and therefore there is an undercurrent of unease at all/most times. You also say that without pain or fear, the brain defaults to a setting of calm and contentment. How do I mesh these two different things? |
 |
|
Basically, I think the evidence is that both are true: there is an ongoing trickle of background anxiety to keep us vigilant, and there is also a strong inclination to default to the “responsive mode” of being peaceful, happy, and loving when we are not disturbed. |
|
"Putting these two apparent facts together, I think the trickle of anxiety prompts us to scan for threat, but if we find that all is well for now, then we default to the responsive mode . . . and then this cycle repeats itself a moment later." |
|
For me the pragmatic point is to discern real threats and address them, while also recognizing the strong bias from evolution to look for threats behind every bush and thus appreciating the importance of exerting compensatory influences in a variety of ways, from inner practices such as I focus on to social support and (hopefully) decent health insurance. |
|
|
|
|
FROM LION'S ROAR: |
The Liberating Light of Insight
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo by Evgeni Tcherkasski |
|
|
I recently wrote a piece for Lion’s Roar about how insight can help us feel freer, more at peace, and less caught up in the struggles of everyday life. It touches on six key realizations from Buddhist wisdom and modern psychology that have personally helped me—and I hope they’ll offer something meaningful for you, too. |
|
|
|
|
RICK'S PICK: |
SONGS: "When You Call" & "Deep Down" by Andre Henry |
|
|
|
My friend Andre Henry recently wrote two beautifully uplifting songs titled "When You Call" and "Deep Down," which are based on the inner strengths from my Foundations of Well-Being program. I really hope you enjoy the songs as much as I did! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
