Practical Wisdom with Dr. Rick Hanson How to Calm the Biological Machinery of Stress and Suffering
Jul 16, 2025
Feeling overwhelmed? Discover how your nervous system responds to stress and learn practical ways to regain calm. Explore the roles of emotional regulation and social connection in managing anxiety. Delve into perspectives that can enhance understanding and motivation in life. Uncover strategies for health improvement, focusing on mindful habits that foster resilience. Lastly, tap into visualization techniques to cultivate a constructive self-identity and reinforce positive behaviors.
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Autonomic Seesaw Needs Positive Emotion
- The autonomic nervous system has parasympathetic and sympathetic branches that act like brakes and gas pedals.
- Healthy activation of either branch depends on accompanying positive emotion to avoid harmful extremes.
Positive Emotions Reduce Stress Wear
- Positive emotions buffer the wear-and-tear called allostatic load when either branch revs up with negative emotion.
- Cultivating authentic positive emotion reduces physiological damage from stress over time.
Practice Builds Trait Positive Emotion
- Repeatedly practicing positive emotional states builds trait positive emotion via emotional memory.
- Traits like peacefulness and lovingness bias the mind toward calmer responses.
