Practical Wisdom with Dr. Rick Hanson Appreciating Your Own Generosity and Good Intentions
Nov 5, 2025
Dive into the exploration of our innate goodness, even when we react harshly. Discover how neurotic behaviors stem from good intentions wanting to protect us. Learn about the powerful faucet metaphor for mindfulness to clear mental clutter. Reflect on ordinary acts of generosity as the backbone of society. Balance anger with compassion in political engagement for effective action. Plus, find out how to nurture positive intentions and release reactivity in daily relationships. Join in for mindfulness and shared insights!
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Innate Purity Amid Mental Turmoil
- The nature of mind is inherently pure even while contaminated by thoughts and feelings.
- Letting awareness flow clears the settled 'flotsam and jetsam' rather than turning the faucet off.
See Reactivity As Well-Intended
- Reactive behaviors usually serve good intentions like protection or continuity.
- Seeing those intentions reframes 'bad' actions as attempts to survive or maintain identity.
Ming-Yu Rinpoche's Reframe
- Ming-Yu Rinpoche observed that even neurotic behaviors express innate goodness.
- Hanson found this remark striking and used it to reframe his own therapeutic attention.
