Background:
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. His books have been published in 29 languages and include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture – with 900,000 copies in English alone. His free weekly newsletter has 150,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. For more about Rick, his teachings, books, and events please visit rickhanson.net.
In this episode Rick and I explore:
How he thinks about the heights of human potential
What he has learned from exemplars, neuroscience, and decades of meditation experience about realizing one’s potential
7 practices for achieving the highest happiness
HEAL - a practice for turning positive states into lasting traits
How Rick thinks about being driven, and achieve-oriented while simultaneously having a sense of ease
What Rick learned from the Dalai Lama’s body guard about being tough and loving
Some of my experiences with Rick as a participant on two of his 10-day meditation retreats
And more!
People, references, and resources mentioned: