In 'Hardwiring Happiness,' Dr. Rick Hanson explains how the brain's ancient survival mechanism makes it more adept at learning from negative experiences than positive ones. He introduces a simple method using everyday experiences to build new neural structures filled with happiness, love, confidence, and peace. Dr. Hanson's four-step HEAL method (Have, Enrich, Absorb, Link) helps readers to counterbalance the brain's negativity bias, making contentment and resilience the new normal. This approach involves focusing on positive experiences, absorbing their good feelings, and linking them to other positive experiences to override negative ones, thereby transforming the brain into a refuge of calm and happiness[1][3][5].
This book, written by Dr. Rick Hanson and his son Forrest Hanson, focuses on developing inner strengths such as grit, gratitude, and compassion to enhance resilience. It draws on neuroscience, mindfulness, and positive psychology to provide concrete suggestions, experiential practices, and personal examples. The book helps readers overcome the brain's negativity bias, release painful thoughts and feelings, and replace them with self-compassion, self-worth, joy, and inner peace. It also includes effective ways to interact with others and repair and deepen important relationships, all grounded in the science of positive neuroplasticity[2][5][6].
This book provides 52 bite-size practices that aim to improve mental well-being by leveraging modern neuroscience, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions. Each practice is designed to be simple and easy to incorporate into daily life, focusing on areas such as gratitude, self-compassion, and mindfulness. The book emphasizes the power of small, consistent actions in transforming the brain and enhancing overall happiness and resilience.
This book synthesizes insights from thousands of years of Buddhist contemplative practice with the latest discoveries in neuroscience. It provides practical tools and skills to help readers rewire their brains for greater emotional balance, healthier relationships, more effective actions, and a deeper spiritual life. The authors explain how mental practices can increase the capacity for experiencing happiness and peace, and offer guided meditations and mindfulness exercises to activate positive brain states such as calm, joy, and compassion[2][4][5].
We interview Dr. Rick Hanson, a prolific writer and practitioner of all things psychology, neuroscience, resilience and well-being.
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone.
Rick is the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well Podcast – which has been downloaded over 15 million times. His free newsletters have over 260,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial needs.
Rick has lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, Rick’s work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media.
Rick began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.
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