Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

Explore the keys to lasting relationships with insights from 35+ years of couples counseling. Discover how to navigate common issues, make vulnerable communications, and embrace change together. Understand the balance between liking and loving, and learn practical skills that enhance connection. Dive into the importance of emotional intelligence, accountability, and trust in fostering healthy interactions. With tips on addressing relationship red flags, you’ll find ways to deepen your bond and enjoy a fulfilling partnership.

Dr. Jud Brewer, a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author focused on mindfulness for addiction and anxiety, dives into the fascinating link between habits and anxiety. He explains how anxiety can become a reinforced habit, presents innovative mindfulness techniques for healing, and discusses the neurobiological basis of cravings. Listeners will learn about the cycle of worry, the impact of anxiety on performance, and practical practices to alleviate anxiety—all while drawing insights from the brains of seasoned meditators.

This discussion dives into the myths surrounding self-help, challenging the notion that personal change isn't possible and debunking the idea of 'no pain, no gain.' It highlights hedonic adaptation's role in happiness and urges a broader view of meditation beyond just sitting still. The hosts emphasize the importance of considering diverse therapeutic methods and the power of community support in personal growth. They advocate for questioning popular self-help narratives and recognizing the value of professional guidance in the healing process.

Explore the intriguing misconceptions surrounding therapy and personal growth. Discover why individual well-being is crucial for community health, and how self-care isn't selfish but essential for resilience. Unpack the transformative power of therapy as a collaborative journey, addressing fears while promoting self-awareness. Delve into the complexities of trauma, emphasizing the importance of context and empathy in understanding stress. Challenge societal perceptions of personal growth and learn how it intersects with social responsibility.

In this engaging conversation, Elizabeth Ferreira, a graduate student in somatic psychology, shares her journey with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). She sheds light on the severity of PMDD, differentiating it from typical PMS, and emphasizes the often invisible struggles faced by many women. The discussion highlights effective coping mechanisms, including mindfulness and community support, while exploring the importance of self-awareness and validation in managing emotional challenges. Elizabeth also reflects on transforming PMDD's limitations into opportunities for personal growth.

Delve into the world of avoidant behavior and discover its many forms, from procrastination to emotional avoidance. Learn how these behaviors impact our lives and the costs they impose on our well-being. Emphasizing the importance of confronting challenges, the discussion highlights practical strategies for personal growth and resilience. Explore the dual nature of avoidance, alongside tools for emotional coping, and embrace a proactive mindset to combat worry. This enlightening dialogue encourages self-awareness and the pursuit of meaningful change.

What goes into making "a self," and how can we bring together the many aspects of who we are? Today Dr. Rick and Forrest Hanson talk with meditation teacher, bestselling author, and podcaster (and their good friend) Michael Taft about moving from the spiritual to the secular and back again, ego dissolution, and how we can deconstruct ourselves.About Our Guest: Michael is a meditation teacher, bestselling author and neuroscience junkie. He’s been practicing meditation for over 35 years, and is the author of several books, including The Mindful Geek.Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You  can watch this episode on YouTube.Key Topics:0:00: Introduction1:30: Michael’s journey from the spiritual to the secular to back again.5:00: LSD, yoga, and Shinzen Young8:30: Reconciling the spiritual and the secular.15:45: What is “deconstructing yourself?”20:45: Ego dissolution and panic. 25:00: “Spiritual emergencies” and cautions around mindfulness. 29:20: Psychedelics and seeing the ego as an object. 31:00: Practices that help people see the empty nature of the self.34:00: Key teachings for life’s long road. 45:00: A message to your younger self.47:00: RecapSupport the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Sponsors:From Dr. Hanson: The Foundations of Well-Being brings together the lessons of a lifetime of practice into one year-long online program. Podcast listeners can use the code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for an additional 25% off! Please don't hesitate to apply for a scholarship if you're in need. Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month! Want to sleep better? Try the legendary Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.Connect with the show: Subscribe on iTunes Follow Forrest on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Follow Forrest on Instagram Follow Rick on Facebook Follow Forrest on Facebook Visit Forrest's website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all have limiting beliefs: patterns of think about ourselves and the world that tend to hold us back. On this episode Dr. Rick and Forrest Hanson explore how we can push back on these problematic beliefs and build more supportive ones.Change Your Mind Workshop: Learn how to step out of old assumptions and attitudes, free yourself from limiting beliefs, and cultivate more useful, hopeful thoughts about yourself and others during this new workshop from Dr. Rick Hanson. Attend this online event live on August 28-29, or watch the recordings after. Enter code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for 25% off the purchase price.Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You  can watch this episode on YouTube.Key Topics:0:00: Introduction3:25: The PASS Process8:35: Limiting beliefs about our nature.14:10: Limiting beliefs about our ability to learn.19:00: Limiting beliefs about our worthiness.21:45: Limiting beliefs about vulnerability.25:50: Limiting beliefs related to gender socialization.31:10: Perfectionism: Limiting beliefs that “keep us safe.”35:30: Social Scripts: Limiting beliefs about relationships41:45: The beliefs that un-limit us. 50:55: RecapSupport the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Sponsors:From Dr. Hanson: The Foundations of Well-Being brings together the lessons of a lifetime of practice into one year-long online program. Podcast listeners can use the code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for an additional 25% off! Please don't hesitate to apply for a scholarship if you're in need. Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month! Want to sleep better? Try the legendary Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.Connect with the show: Follow Forrest on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Follow Rick on Facebook Follow Forrest on Facebook Subscribe on iTunes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all have times in life where it feels like we’re stagnating. We’re unfulfilled, bored, or trapped in cycles of behavior that don’t serve us. We’re stuck in a rut. Today Dr. Rick and Forrest Hanson explore how we can break old patterns, and get un-stuck.Change Your Mind Workshop: Learn how to step out of old assumptions and attitudes, free yourself from limiting beliefs, and cultivate more useful, hopeful thoughts about yourself and others during this new workshop from Dr. Rick Hanson. Attend this online event live on August 28-29, or watch the recordings after. Enter code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for 25% off the purchase price.Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You  can watch this episode on YouTube.Key Topics0:00: Introduction2:00: What tends to keep us stuck in a rut?5:15: Limiting beliefs.7:45: Appraisals and attributions.9:30: The invisible cage.11:15: Challenging our assumptions.15:20: A 3-step process for challenging assumptions. 18:30: Rick applies the process to his own material.22:15: Core skills that support the creation of new beliefs.25:45: Social scripts. 31:30: Key skills for building new beliefs. 34:00: Avoiding “must.” 38:00: Groups don’t like to change. 41:30: Finding those who grow alongside you.43:20: Have the courage to change.48:10: RecapSupport the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Sponsors:From Dr. Hanson: The Foundations of Well-Being brings together the lessons of a lifetime of practice into one year-long online program. Podcast listeners can use the code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for an additional 25% off! Please don't hesitate to apply for a scholarship if you're in need. Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month! Want to sleep better? Try the legendary Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.Connect with the show: Subscribe on iTunes Follow Forrest on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Follow Forrest on Instagram Follow Rick on Facebook Follow Forrest on Facebook Visit Forrest's website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pursuit of fulfillment is explored through the lens of personal experiences and societal expectations. Emphasizing that fulfillment should be seen as a climate rather than a passing mood, the conversation dives into the challenges posed by curated social media narratives. Topics include authentic self-expression, the pitfalls of low expectations, and the crucial balance of accepting both joy and pain. There’s a rich discussion on recognizing low moments, personal growth, and the importance of finding meaning amidst life’s uncertainties.