Buddhist Geeks 336: How to HEAL the Brain’s Negativity Bias (w/ Rick Hanson)

A while ago I posted part one of this Buddhist Geeks Conference keynote address by Dr. Rick Hanson, and now the second part is available.

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and New York Times best-selling author of Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (2013), Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (2009), Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (2011), and Mother Nurture: A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships (2002). Hansom is also Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom.

BG 336: How to HEAL the Brain’s Negativity Bias

by Rick Hanson

Podcast: Download

Episode Description:

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. He’s been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide.

In the conclusion to his 2013 Buddhist Geeks Conference keynote address, Rick answers questions from the audience and leads them through the HEAL exercise, a process which trains the brain to reprogram its natural negativity bias towards the positive.

This is part two of a two part series.

Listen to part one BG 335: Practicing with the Brain in Mind.

Episode Links:

• RickHanson.net
• Buddhist Geeks Conference

Rick Hanson

 

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and New York Times best-selling author. His books include Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha's Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, and on the Advisory Board of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, he's been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. He has several audio programs and his free Just One Thing newsletter has over 100,000 subscribers.

Website: RickHanson.net

Rick Hanson - Embodied Happiness: The Practical Neuroscience of Positive Emotions

Rick Hanson is the author, most recently, of Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (2013). This talk is based on the book and focuses on how to switch our brains from the negativity bias they have evolved to favor to a more positive and healing orientation, one that supports resilience and well-being.

Embodied Happiness: The Practical Neuroscience of Positive Emotions

Location: Anat Baniel Method Center, San Rafael, CA
Date: September 28, 2013, 6:00-8:00pm
 
Studies show that positive emotions are the primary source of resilience, well-being, kindness toward others, and strong relationships, plus a major factor in physical health and longevity. Unfortunately, the brain evolved a negativity bias to help our ancestors survive; it's like Velcro for bad experiences but Teflon for good ones. This built-in bias creates a bottleneck in the brain that makes it hard to get the lasting value we need from our positive emotions. To solve this problem, this talk will present the four simple HEAL steps of taking in the good, which turn passing experiences into durable neural resources. With a very practical focus, we’ll explore how to use these methods to lower anxiety and frustration, and fundamentally, hardwire happiness into the body.

To learn more about the HEAL steps, this 10-minute audio walks listeners through the steps: Feeling Cared About.

Enjoy the talk.

Embodied Happiness: The Practical Neuroscience of Positive Emotions - Part I

Embodied Happiness: The Practical Neuroscience of Positive Emotions - Part II