Rick Hanson, a psychologist and author of 'Neurodharma,' dives into the brain science behind enlightenment. He explains how everyday people can harness the benefits of meditation, regardless of their time commitment. Hanson emphasizes the importance of savoring positive experiences and cultivating presence to enhance emotional well-being. Through practical tips, he explores the intersection of neuroscience and spirituality, illustrating how small daily shifts can lead to significant personal growth and deeper connections with oneself and others.
Focusing on positive experiences and savoring them can strengthen neural pathways, promoting long-term happiness and emotional transformation.
Integrating personal feelings with neuroscience insights through 'neurodharma' can enhance stability, connection, and overall emotional health.
Deep dives
The Impact of Positive Experiences on the Brain
Positive experiences often fail to leave lasting impacts due to the brain's negativity bias, which tends to prioritize negative experiences. To counteract this, one can focus on 'taking in the good' by remaining present during positive moments, whether that's feeling relief, connection, or joy. By staying with such experiences for at least a breath or longer, individuals can strengthen the associated neural pathways, as the adage 'neurons that fire together wire together' suggests. This approach involves allowing the richness of the moment to permeate the body, reinforcing beneficial changes in the nervous system and contributing to long-term happiness.
Practices for Enhancing Emotional Well-Being
The podcast discusses practical techniques to operationalize emotions and experiences conducive to personal growth and well-being. It emphasizes the importance of identifying and savoring rewarding aspects of experiences, which can lead to increased dopamine and norepinephrine activity in the brain. Such activities not only help solidify positive feelings of self-worth and inner peace but also promote neural changes that are necessary for lasting emotional transformation. An example shared is the feeling of connection while spending time with loved ones, which, when deeply felt and focused upon, can create a more affectionate demeanor over time.
The Intersection of Subjective and Objective Understanding
The concept of 'neurodharma' combines the subjective experience of individuals with the objective understanding revealed through neuroscience. This perspective encourages exploration of both personal feelings and scientific findings related to well-being. By understanding how the brain functions during positive moments, individuals can develop practices that facilitate a deeper sense of stability and connection in their lives. The discussion suggests that integrating these two viewpoints can lead to a more fulfilling approach to personal awakening and overall emotional health.
Seven Key Qualities for Personal Growth
The podcast outlines seven essential qualities that contribute to spiritual and emotional development, which include steadiness of mind, warmth of heart, and presence in the moment. These qualities can be cultivated through specific practices designed to strengthen one’s emotional resilience and awareness. The aim is to shift from an egocentric perspective to a sense of interconnectedness with the world, reducing feelings of isolation. By engaging in daily practices that reinforce these qualities, individuals can gradually enhance their capacity for happiness and fulfillment in everyday life.
Today we’re going to nerd out about what enlightenment (or, if that word is triggering, let’s just call it “high doses of meditation”) can do to your brain — and, more practically, how we can derive these benefits even if we don’t plan to spend decades living in a cave. My guest is Rick Hanson, Ph.D., psychologist and author of the new book Neurodharma. We go into the deep end, yes, but we also get very down-to-earth, talking about how anyone, including you, can “reverse engineer enlightenment,” and have “Nirvana operationalized in your nervous system.” Quick note that this was recorded right before the pandemic, but enlightenment is evergreen. Where to find Rick Hanson online: Website: https://www.rickhanson.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/drrhanson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rickhansonphd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickhansonphd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RickHanson Book Mentioned: Neurodharma by Rick Hanson: https://www.rickhanson.net/books/neurodharma You can find meditations from our world-class teachers and more wisdom from Rick Hanson on our app. Visit tenpercent.com to download the Ten Percent Happier app and kickstart your meditation practice. Visit tenpercent.com to sign up today. Other Resources Mentioned: Hippocampus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocampus U Pandita: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_Pandita Enlightenment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism Nirvana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_(Buddhism) Robert Thurman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Thurman Mark Epstein: http://markepsteinmd.com/ Joseph Goldstein: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goldstein_(writer) Jhanas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism Stephen Batchelor: https://www.stephenbatchelor.org/index.php/en/ Neurodharma Online Program: https://www.rickhanson.net/teaching/neurodharma-online-program/ More Books: https://www.rickhanson.net/books/ Being Well Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-well-with-dr-rick-hanson/id1120885936 Additional Resources: Ten Percent Happier Live: https://tenpercent.com/live Coronavirus Sanity Guide: https://www.tenpercent.com/coronavirussanityguide Free App access for Frontline Workers: https://tenpercent.com/care Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/rick-hanson-264
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