One Breath at a Time

Last updated on: November 16, 2012 at 10:42 am By Rick Hanson

Are you breathing? The Practice: One breath at a time. Why? [If for you the breath is associated with trauma and discomfort, you probably shouldn't try this practice in its form below. But you might adapt it to something that is more nurturing for you, such as a saying or image.] Breathing brings you home. [...] Read more

Lean Into Good On First Waking

Last updated on: November 5, 2012 at 9:08 am By Rick Hanson

What do you think about whn you first wake up? The Practice: Lean into good on first waking. Why? Waking up is like the sun rising. At first it’s mostly dark, as glimmers of consciousness begin to light the shadows. Emerging into full wakefulness... Read more

See Deep Wants

Last updated on: October 27, 2012 at 9:23 am By Rick Hanson

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what’re the deepest wants of all? The Practice: See deep wants. Why? I did my Ph.D. dissertation by videotaping 20 mother-toddler pairs and analyzing what happened when the mom offered an alternative to a problematic ... Read more

See Good Intentions

Last updated on: October 12, 2012 at 10:59 am By Rick Hanson

What do others want? The Practice: See good intentions. Why? Hustling through an airport, I stopped to buy some water. At the shop’s refrigerator, a man was bent over, loading bottles into it. I reached past him and pulled out one he’d put ... Read more

See Progress

Last updated on: October 4, 2012 at 6:27 pm By Rick Hanson

Are some things getting better? The Practice: See progress. Why? There are always things that are getting worse. For example, over the past year, you probably know someone who has become unemployed or ill or both, and there’s more carbon in the a... Read more

See Your Part

Last updated on: September 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm By Rick Hanson

What’s your own role? The Practice: See your part. Why? In situations or relationships with any kind of difficulty – tension, feeling hurt, conflicts, mismatches of wants . . . the usual crud – it’s natural to focus on what othe... Read more

Embrace Fragility

Last updated on: April 12, 2017 at 5:00 am By Rick Hanson

Could it crack? The Practice: Embrace fragility. Why? The truth of anything is like a mosaic with many tiles, many parts. One part of the truth of things is that they are robust and enduring, whether it’s El Capitan in Yosemite or the love of... The post Embrace Fragility appeared first on Dr. Rick Hanson. Read more

Speak Wisely

Last updated on: September 13, 2012 at 4:44 pm By Rick Hanson

What are you saying? The Practice: Speak wisely. Why? “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Ah, not really. Often it’s words – and the tone that comes with them – that actually do the most damage. Just think back on some of the things that have been said [...] Read more

Drop The “Shoulds”

Last updated on: September 11, 2012 at 5:45 pm By Rick Hanson

Is it really true? The Practice: “Drop the “shoulds.” Why? One time I watched a three-year-old at her birthday party. Her friends were there from preschool, and she received lots of presents. The cake came out, she admired the pink frosting rose at its center, and everyone sang. One of the moms cut pieces and [...] Read more

Let It R.A.I.N.

Last updated on: September 1, 2012 at 11:13 am By Rick Hanson

Can you be with the whole of your psyche? The Practice: Let it R.A.I.N. Why? When you’re young, the territory of the psyche is like a vast estate, with rolling hills, forests and plains, swamps and meadows. So many things can be experienced, expressed, wanted, and loved. But as life goes along, most people pull [...] Read more