Articles

Some of my favorite writing on psychology, personal growth, and how we can become the person we want to be.

Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Rumination: Disrupting Obsessive Thoughts

On this episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I spell out what rumination is, where it comes from, and how it functions in the brain. We then explore what practices and strategies we can use to move through it compassionately and effectively.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Hedonic Adaptation: How to STAY Happy

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Supporting Yourself During Difficult Times

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Coping with Failure, and Dealing with Disappointment

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Embracing Uncertainty with Kaira Jewel Lingo

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Creating an Abundance Mindset

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Finding Your Passion and Purpose

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Finding Joy in Difficult Times with James Baraz

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Mindfulness for Depression with Dr. Zindel Segal

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

How to Make the Most out of 2022

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.

Read More
Being Well Forrest Hanson Being Well Forrest Hanson

Navigating Familial Estrangement

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.

Read More