Rick Hanson: Positive Neuroplasticity 101

The brain is biased, for survival purposes, to be changed especially by negative experiences of stress, irritation, defeat, sorrow or anger. That’s what kept our ancestors alive, but nowadays, even if it’s well-intended by evolution, it tends to make us more vulnerable to getting hurt or affected by our difficult experiences and it draws our attention away from the beneficial ones. No matter what has happened in the past, today we have the chance to learn something new, and we can grow a bit every day. That’s why, in this episode, I have a special guest for you, that will bring optimism into your life and will help you understand a little bit more about how your brain works when it is exposed to different emotions and what can you do to change your negative thoughts into some positive ones. Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times bestselling author. His books have been published in 29 languages, and he writes and teaches about the essential inner skills of personal well-being, psychological growth, and contemplative practice - as well as about relationships, family life, and raising children. His free weekly newsletter has 150,000 subscribers and his online programs – which are tremendously worth it – have scholarships available for those with financial needs. Rick has lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. He’s an expert on positive neuroplasticity and his work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. So, listen to Episode 32, of Rejuvenaging, to learn about neuroplasticity, resilience, agency, and how to stay calm and positive in this crisis that we’re all experiencing. Questions I ask:Can we consciously overcome some of either the negative history or negative thinking? (11:11)How do you stay positive and how do you deal with something you don’t have a lot of control over? (17:24)Can you tell us a little bit about how should we prepare to be resilient? (26:49)Maybe you could tell us a little bit about what agency is? (31:20)How does meditation fit in this whole neuroplasticity and positive psychology area? (40:29) In this episode, you will learn:The meaning of positive neuroplasticity. (03:49)The two-step process for personal growth. (05:50)How every experience matters because it leaves a lasting physical trace behind. (08:49)What social-emotional learning is. (12:23)How to overcome the helplessness feeling, especially in old age. (34:51)How to ease your way into meditation. (47:05)About Rick’s new book, “Neurodharma” and you can expect from it. (49:20) Connect with Rick:WebsiteWellspring InstituteLinkedInTwitterFacebook PageInstagramRick Hanson’s books Useful Rejuvenaging Resources:Website: https://www.thementalhealthgym.com/Book: Dr. Ron Kaiser - Rejuvenaging: The Art and Science of Growing Older with EnthusiasmEmail: ron.kaiser@thementalhealthgym.com TEDx Talk: Aging Enthusiastically to Make the World a Better Place Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.