Practical Wisdom with Dr. Rick Hanson

Life's challenges often lead us to unnecessary suffering. The podcast dives into the Buddhist concepts of dukkha (suffering), sukha (well-being), and tanha (craving). Discover how to navigate pain and pleasure without adding distress. Learn methods to reduce craving and foster genuine happiness that doesn’t rely on attachment. It emphasizes balance and presence, guiding listeners to cultivate resilience and inner peace amidst life's ups and downs.

We can’t stop life from bringing pain—loss, disappointment, aging—but we can stop piling extra suffering on top of it. In this talk, I explore timeless Buddhist wisdom and practical psychology for meeting life’s “golden winds” without being blown away by them. Learn how to recognize the difference between pain and the suffering we create, work with craving and clinging, and rest in the natural state of peaceful, openhearted happiness that’s already within you.You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up here. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it here.And you'd like to check out any of my online programs, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.

Feeling isolated, burdened, or unseen? In a world that often feels fragmented and exhausting—with anxiety, stress, and a subtle sense that you’re not quite enough—you may long to feel more supported, connected, and grounded.So this week I invite you to shift from striving to be loved to being carried by love—not imaginary, but foundational. This kind of living transforms ordinary experiences: the events of your day might stay the same, but how you feel through them—and how they affect you—can change dramatically. In this talk, I share:How to identify the felt sense of being carried, not left to push forward alonePractices that encourage love to open through youHow to shift from a top‑down, “must act on it” stance to a more receptive, grounded belongingHow life’s persistent gifts—evolutionary forces, the natural world, kindness from others, and consciousness itself—are ever-present supportsWhen enough individuals begin to be lived by love, personal lives transform—and collective change becomes possible. In a world teetering between justice and strife, being lived by love isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up here. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it here.And you'd like to check out any of my online programs, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.

So often, we feel torn between striving for change and surrendering to what is. We can get stuck trying too hard, or give up entirely. So this week, I explore how to find a wise balance between deliberate intention and choiceless awareness, and how to grow lasting inner strengths like compassion, kindness, joy, and equanimity. These are qualities we can practice—not just admire.You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up here. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it here.And you'd like to check out any of my online programs, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.

Life can feel like it’s coming at us from all sides—relationships change, plans fall through, our bodies age, and the world keeps shifting under our feet. It’s totally normal to feel uneasy or anxious in the face of all this unpredictability. But what if we could relate to change in a different way—not as something to fear, but as something we can move with, and even find peace within?This week, I explored one of the Buddha’s most fundamental insights: that everything is in a state of constant change. And not in a dry or philosophical way, but in a deeply practical sense—how seeing this clearly can actually help us suffer less. We look at how habitual anxiety takes hold, how to recognize when we’re actually okay in the moment, and how to find stability inside ourselves even when life feels chaotic. There’s also a reflection on how impermanence doesn’t mean everything is meaningless—far from it. In fact, it can help us loosen our grip on what’s hurting us, open more fully to what’s good, and even discover what is unchanging at the core of our being.You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up here. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it here.And you'd like to check out any of my online programs, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.

When life feels uncertain, chaotic, or painful, our minds scramble for answers. We try to make sense of things we may never fully understand. We cling to being right, to figuring it out, to knowing for sure… but what if real freedom comes from loosening that grip?There is a deep value in not knowing—not as a failure, but as a profound refuge. Certainty can become a trap, but if we can rest in openness and curiosity, and embrace “beginner’s mind”, we can bring relief, humility, and insight to our relationships with others and ourselves.Give yourself the permission to not always know. There’s grace and wisdom in that.You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up here. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it here.And you'd like to check out any of my online programs, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.

This discussion tackles the importance of respecting suffering, both ours and that of others. It highlights the necessity of confronting pain with compassion to foster healing. Listeners explore Buddhist insights on accepting life's inevitable suffering and the psychological resilience it can bring. The conversation stresses the significance of emotional awareness, cultural influences on suffering, and the balance of judgment in mindfulness. Techniques for developing inner strength and empathy in relationships are also shared, creating a well-rounded guide to navigating pain.

We all want to feel seen, respected, and appreciated—but so often, we’re overlooked. Feeling unappreciated can be quietly painful—and surprisingly common. Our efforts go unnoticed, our sincerity unacknowledged, and over time it can really wear us down and even cause resentment toward those we care about.So this week I explored the deep human need for appreciation—not as ego-stroking, but as a vital nutrient in relationships, work, and personal growth. Appreciation is more than just “being nice”—it’s a powerful practice that supports lasting inner strength. There's also a lot of science, psychology, and Buddhist teachings behind generosity and appreciation: how they help us grow, feel connected, and internalize positive experiences.So get comfy and listen in to find out how to offer these gifts skillfully and what to do when your efforts aren't recognized or returned.You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up here. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it here.And you'd like to check out any of my online programs, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.

This week I'd like to focus on something both personal and practical: What is a core practice that you return to when things go sideways? When you're overwhelmed, irritated, frustrated, or just worn out? What’s the thing that centers you and brings you back to who you really are?In this episode, I explore how even our healthiest desires—those driven by love, purpose, or care—can quietly pull us away from that inner home base. We often get caught up in doing good, striving for goals, or helping others… and still find ourselves exhausted, contracted, or discontent. Why? Because even wholesome desires can seduce us into over-efforting and losing touch with the deeper peace that’s always available.Here are the timecodes for some of the highlights:00:00 - How to recognize your own core practice in daily life10:35 - The difference between healthy desire (chanda) and craving (tanha)17:15 - How “doing the right thing” can still lead to stress and burnout27:13 - What it means to relinquish effort for the sake of a greater happiness34:51 - How to return again and again to contentment, presence, and easeThis is a reflection on how to stay connected to what really matters—without getting caught in the endless push to do more. The goal isn’t to suppress your good intentions, but to hold them with wisdom, and rest more often in that quiet place of being already full.This is also an invitation to come back home to yourself—to the deeper kind of happiness that’s available not when everything goes your way, but when you let go in wise and loving ways.You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up here. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it here.And you'd like to check out any of my online programs, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.

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.