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Just One Thing |
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Simple Practices for Resilience and Happiness from |
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DR. RICK HANSON |
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Today is the last day to register for my Grief and Loss 2025 cohort (and we've extended the half-off price until midnight tonight). If you've been grappling with a loss of some kind — whether it's the passing of a loved one or a pet, the end of an important relationship, a child leaving for college, big life changes, or simply the natural loss of abilities as we age... I hope you'll join me for this 4-week journey of coping, healing, and growing. |
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What matters most to you? |
THE PRACTICE: |
Remember the Big Things. |
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— Why? — |
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In every life, reminders arrive about what's really important.
I’ve received some myself, as I’m sure you have, too. Perhaps it was news of a potentially serious health problem, the death of a loved one, or an accident that could have turned fatal. These are an uncomfortably concrete message that sooner or later, something will catch up with each one of us.
When I’m pierced with one of these reminders, it’s like there are three layers in my mind. The top layer is focused on problem-solving. Beneath that is what seems like a furry little animal that is upset and wants to curl up and be hugged. The bottom layer feels accepting, peaceful, and grateful.
When you get a reminder, you naturally reflect on your life, both past and to come. You consider what you care about most. And you appreciate the things you’ve honored so far, and you see where you could center yourself more on what’s truly important to you.
While it’s good advice not to sweat the small stuff, we also need to nurture the large stuff.
There are many good reasons to do so, from simply enjoying yourself to recognizing the truth that one day you’ll have just A Year to Live, the title of Stephen Levine’s haunting book. You’ll never know when you step over the invisible line, and the countdown begins: 365 days left, then 364, and then . . . But you can know that you’ve remembered the big things before and after you cross that line. |
— How? — |
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A Few Questions
In this life, what do you really care about?
Looking back, what has mattered to you? Looking ahead, what do you want to keep on the front burner?
Imagine resting comfortably in your last few days and reflecting on your life. What do you want to be glad that you felt and did?
Some Potentially Big Things
I'll offer here some things I've been thinking about lately. See what fits for you and add your own. Here we go.
You. The sweet soft, vulnerable innerness upon which both the chocolate kisses and sharp darts of life land. Your own well-being. What you make of what the poet Mary Oliver has called “your one wild and precious life.”
Love in its many forms, from compassion and small acts of kindness to passionate romance and profound cherishing. The people who matter to you.
Tasting – with all your senses – whatever is delicious at this moment: a ripe banana, birdsong, the curve of a highway railing, the lips of a lover, being alive . . .
Practice. Helping yourself routinely to deepen in awareness and to pull weeds and plant flowers in the garden of your mind.
Karma yoga – a Hindu term that means skillful action toward wholesome ends, engaged as practice, imbued with a sense of union with whatever is sacred to you, this includes taking care of details that matter and appreciating the power of little things to add up over time, for better or worse.
Letting go. Exhaling, relaxing, changing your mind, moving on, disengaging from upsets (while also standing up for things that matter).
The thing(s) you keep putting off – perhaps speaking your mind to someone, writing that book, returning to the piano, making time for exercise, or seeing the Grand Canyon.
Being, making time for hanging out with no agenda. Rather than doing, the addiction of modern life. Doing crowds out being like cancer cells crowd out healthy ones.
Remembering to remember the big things. And to act upon them. Before it’s too late. |
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Know someone who could focus more on the big things? |
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NEW ON THE BEING WELL PODCAST |
Anxious-Avoidant Relationships, Narcissism, and Insight to Action: Mailbag |
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Dr. Rick and Forrest open up the mailbag to answer questions about complex situations where good process really matters, including anxious-avoidant relationships. They discuss whether to get back with an ex who has seemingly changed, relationships with someone with addictive tendencies, the difference between Narcissistic Personality Disorder and narcissistic tendencies, and why genuine change requires more than insight alone. |
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NEW FROM THE WEDNESDAY MEDITATIONS + TALKS |
Getting Better At Pleasure! A Taxonomy of the Many Buddhist Joys |
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Last week, guest teacher Ajahn Kovilo offered a live meditation on Breathing Body in Three Smiles, followed by a talk on Getting Better At Pleasure! A Taxonomy of the Many Buddhist Joys, and I hope you'll check it out.
If you haven't yet, sign up to join me every week for this free, live offering.
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MORE GOOD STUFF |
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SCIENCE NEWS (VIEW ARCHIVE HERE)
This new rectangular telescope design could make spotting Earth-like planets around nearby stars much easier and faster than before.
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FOR PARENTS
Disagreements and grievances are normal in any relationship, whether it’s between two parents, or between two nations or peoples. All too often, though, they get out of hand, leading to hurt feelings, anger, and lashing out. Your best chance of resolving a quarrel is to do these four things.
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HAVE YOU READ IT YET? |
Resilient |
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Learn how to develop key inner strengths – like grit, gratitude, and compassion – to stay calm, confident, and happy no matter what life throws at you. Available in Hardcover, Paperback eBook, and Audiobook, wherever books are sold.
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WORDS OF WISDOM |
"While it’s good advice not to sweat the small stuff, we also need to nurture the large stuff." |
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— RICK HANSON, PHD |
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JUST ONE THING (JOT) is the free newsletter that suggests a simple practice each week for more joy, more fulfilling relationships, and more peace of mind. A small thing repeated routinely adds up over time to produce big results.
Just one thing that could change your life.
(© Rick Hanson, 2024) |
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