On today’s episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I consider the human tendency to return to the same basic level of happiness regardless of recent positive or negative experiences–also known as hedonic adaptation–and how to contend with it so we can get off the hedonic treadmill.

On today’s episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I talk with mindfulness author and researcher Dr. Jud Brewer about what a “self” is, where we can find it in the brain, and the benefits of relaxing our attachment to it.

We spend this episode focusing on how to relate to the challenging emotions of fear, grief, anxiety, helplessness, and rage that come up around tragic events like the war in Ukraine, and explore some degree of how to stay engaged without becoming overwhelmed.

On this episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I discuss what it looks like to experience failure not as falling short, but as an opportunity for growth. We consider how to manage the pain of failure, adapt expectations, and develop systems of feedback to allow for a greater sense of ease and purpose.

On today’s episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I are joined by Dr. Todd Kashdan to discuss how to combine skillful positivity with principled insubordination, so we can speak up for what’s right even when it’s not popular.

On today’s episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I discuss the fundamental strategies that allow us to become aware of and integrate all parts of ourselves–those we want to celebrate and expand, and those we’d like to heal and change.

On today’s episode, Dr. Rick Hanson and I answer questions from listeners focusing on topics like how we can improve our family relationships and navigate difficult decisions. Also, Rick reveals what form of therapy he actually practices (well, kind of)!

Dr. Rick Hanson and I share a great conversation with Kaira Jewel Lingo about how to cultivate trust and equanimity in the face of uncertainty. We discuss the somatic experience of opening to the unknown, taking action as an antidote to anxiety, and how to have equanimity both when things work out, and when they don’t.

On this episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I talk about what a scarcity and an abundance mindset is, what some sources of scarcity are, and how we can move to an authentic experience of abundance.

Today on Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I discuss how to identify and pursue our purpose, why it’s so valuable to have one in the first place, and some questions and strategies that help provide clarity about how we’d like to spend a big chunk of our time.

Today we explore step four of James Baraz’s 10 steps to awakening joy: how to find joy in difficult times. We discuss how to balance a sense of equanimity with compassion for the suffering of the world, and how cultivating joy at an individual level can support healing at the collective level.

On today’s episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I are joined by Dr. Zindel Segal to talk about Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), an eight-week group therapy program designed to help those who suffer with chronic unhappiness and prevent relapse after episodes of severe clinical depression.

On this episode of Being Well, Rick and I reflect on 2021, and outline how to get the most out of 2022. We discuss how to rest in our aspirations, claim identity-based change, reframe personal narratives, and generally form habits that lead to a more grounded, meaningful life.

Today on Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I discuss family estrangement, particularly between parents and children, and how the questions we engage in this territory apply more broadly to how we balance our own boundaries with the responsibilities we have toward other people.

On our second of two episodes on dating, Dr. Rick Hanson and I explore what traits to look for in a potential partner and your dynamic with them. We discuss life growth curves, how to manage early conflict, healthy approaches for dealing with rejection, and how to support those still navigating a difficult search.

In part 1 of 2 episodes on dating, Dr. Rick Hanson and I talk about how to maximize your chances of finding a fulfilling long-term relationship. We explore how to develop a clear intention of what you want, necessary psychological skills, and how to market yourself authentically.

In this episode, Dr. Rick Hanson and I consider what makes for a meaningful life, and how to approach the basic questions of existence with acceptance and curiosity.

On today’s episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I reveal the key inner strengths and psychological skills we truly feel like we couldn’t live without. In the first of two episodes dedicated to this topic, we talk about benevolence, patience, curiosity, self-regulation, and grit.

On today’s episode of Being Well, we focus on two of our most important subjects, attachment wounds and traumatic experiences, with a longtime therapist, trainer of therapists, and world-class expert on attachment theory: Dr. Diane Poole Heller.

The most important relationship we have is with ourselves. You’re the only person you’ll be around every minute of every day for the rest of your life. And, unfortunately, that relationship is often our most difficult one. Today we’re exploring how we can become better friends to ourselves, and learn to like ourselves more.