This experiential educational program is about how to turn fleeting positive experiences into lasting inner resources. This is what’s meant by "taking in the good." "Positive" means that which leads to the well-being and welfare of yourself, and often others as well ("negative" means the…

Prerequiste - Taking in the Good CourseThis focused, experiential workshop applies the methods from the Taking in the Good Course for particular situations, issues, and types of people - including children, coaching, psychotherapy, mindfulness training, and peak performance. Graduates of this Professional Training will receive…

Recent science is revealing that we can use the mind to change the brain to change the mind for the better. Through self-directed neuroplasticity, we can stimulate and thereby strengthen the neural substrates of positive states of mind. This lecture will explore: the basic mechanisms…

This talk will explore the mind/brain connection, how mental activity sculpts neural structure, and how to use targeted mental activity to change the brain for the better.

Bhavana” means “cultivation,” the development of wholesome qualities of mind and heart. New science is showing how mental activity sculpts neural structure. Unfortunately, the brain’s evolved negativity bias makes it good at learning from bad experiences but bad at learning from good ones. This is…

The mind shapes the brain: neurons that fire together, wire together. Positive experiences are the main source of the neural structures underlying resilience, positive mood, feeling loved, compassion, and other inner strengths. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because it evolved a negativity…

Based on the best-selling book, Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom, this workshop will cover: Experience-dependent neuroplasticity: how your mind shapes your brain . . . for better or worse How to strengthen neural factors of mindfulness and concentration Neural networks…

Based on the newly released Hardwiring Happiness, this seminar offers concrete, research-based strategies for internalizing everyday positive experiences to develop lasting inner strength. Applications to help both ourselves and our clients cope with stress, interpersonal conflicts, addictions, trauma, depression and child-rearing will be covered.Attendees will:…

Buddhist psychology teaches that the primary source of human discontent is craving. Craving is defined as fixating on what we don't have while overlooking what we do have, and being painfully caught in various addictive cycles as we search for a more enduring happiness. It…

Using the power of modern neuroscience, informed by ancient contemplative wisdom, you can use your mind alone to change your brain for the better. Mental activity changes neural structure in a process called neuroplasticity, which gives you a great opportunity to redirect the brain, and…

The mind shapes the brain: neurons that fire together, wire together. Positive experiences are the main source of the neural structures underlying positive mood, resilience, feeling loved, the executive functions, and other inner strengths. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because it…

The mind shapes the brain: neurons that fire together, wire together. Positive experiences are the main source of the neural structures underlying positive mood, resilience, feeling loved, the executive functions, and other inner strengths. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because it…

The mind shapes the brain: neurons that fire together, wire together. Positive experiences are the main source of the neural structures underlying positive mood, resilience, feeling loved, the executive functions, and other inner strengths. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because it…

We all need inner strengths such as resilience, positive emotions, feeling cared about, and confidence for the long and often hard road of life. These strengths largely depend on turning positive experiences into mental structure. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because…

Presentations on the practical applications of experience-dependent neuroplasticity. Closed to the public.

Resilience, positive emotions, compassion, gratitude, and other inner strengths lower stress, grow well-being and effectiveness, and heal anxiety and depression. Like any other mental capability, inner strengths are supported by structures in the brain and can be developed over time.Participants will learn methods and practices…

This program is designed specifically for professionals such as counsellors, therapists, psychologists, and coaches, among others who wish to start integrating PNT into their individual work contexts. We will engage with the material using experiential exercises, practice with each other, presentations, discussion, home practice, and readings.The Postive…

The Buddha explored the mental causes of suffering and happiness. Now, 2500 years later, we are learning about neural causes of these mental factors. In the Second Noble Truth, craving causes suffering – but what are the underlying neuropsychological causes of craving . . .…

The mind shapes the brain: neurons that fire together, wire together. Positive experiences are the main source of the neural structures underlying resilience, positive mood, feeling loved, compassion, and other inner strengths. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because it evolved a…

The mind shapes the brain: neurons that fire together, wire together. Positive experiences are the main source of the neural structures underlying resilience, positive mood, feeling loved, compassion, and other inner strengths. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because it evolved a…

Thursday February 26:Hardwiring Compassion, Part 1: Strengthening the Neural Substrates of Love Recent research on experience-dependent neuroplasticity is revealing how targeted mental activity can stimulate and thereby strengthen neural substrates - and this practical, experiential, clinically-focused workshop will teach effective ways to take in the…

As we turn our awareness to the shift from “me” to “we,” we are faced with the joys and sorrows of maintaining healthy relationships. Supported by both Buddhism and Western psychology, the keys to healthy relationships include not only empathy and compassion, but also the…

We all need inner strengths such as resilience, positive emotions, feeling cared about, and confidence for the long and often hard road of life. These strengths largely depend on turning positive experiences into mental structure. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because…

Rick Hanson will discuss The Neuroscience of Zen: Happiness, Love, and Wisdom as part of the "Conversations on Science” series at the California Academy of Sciences. He'll cover methods to foster greater emotional balance in turbulent times, as well as healthier relationships, more effective actions,…

Presentations on Positive Neuroplasticity in the Workplace. Closed to the public.

“Neurons that fire together, wire together.” We develop resilience, happiness, love, wisdom, and other psychological resources through internalizing experiences of these inner strengths into the brain. Unfortunately, most such experiences are wasted on the brain because it evolved a negativity bias that makes it like…

“Neurons that fire together, wire together.” We develop resilience, happiness, love, wisdom, and other psychological resources through internalizing experiences of these inner strengths into the brain. Unfortunately, most such experiences are wasted on the brain because it evolved a negativity bias that makes it like Velcro for…

This experiential program is about building a strong, healthy, and happy brain. A study on it found that participants learned how to turn everyday experiences into lasting inner strengths, such as resilience, self-worth, feeling loved, compassion, and happiness. This mindful internalization of psychological resources can…

For professionals (therapists, coaches, educators, mindfulness or self-compassion teachers, etc.), this practical, hands-on training applies the methods of Self-Directed Neuroplasticity to clinical, educational, human resources, and personal growth settings. Participants learn how to increase their effectiveness with others, teach Self-Directed neuroplasticity using Dr. Hanson’s four…

The mind shapes the brain: neurons that fire together, wire together. Positive experiences are the main source of the neural structures underlying resilience, positive mood, feeling loved, compassion, and other inner strengths. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because it evolved a…

On the whole, we experience our greatest joys and sorrows in our relationships. Supported by both Buddhism and Western psychology, the keys to healthy relationships include empathy, compassion, kindness, equanimity and appropriate assertiveness. These states of mind are based on underlying states of your brain.The…

Using the power of modern neuroscience, informed by ancient contemplative wisdom, you can use your mind alone to change your brain for the better. Mental activity changes neural structure in a process called neuroplasticity, which gives you a great opportunity to redirect the brain, and…

The mind shapes the brain: neurons that fire together, wire together. Positive experiences are the main source of the neural structures underlying resilience, positive mood, feeling loved, compassion, and other inner strengths. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because it evolved a…

We all need inner strengths such as resilience, positive emotions, feeling cared about, and confidence for the long and often hard road of life. These strengths largely depend on turning positive experiences into mental structure. Unfortunately, most positive experiences are wasted on the brain because…

We all need inner strengths such as resilience, confidence, and feeling cared about to bolster us through life—strengths largely derived from our positive experiences of them. Unfortunately, the brain’s evolved negativity bias, which makes it like Velcro for the bad and Teflon for the good,…

We grow happiness, compassion, resilience, and other inner strengths in ourselves and our children by turning passing experiences of them into lasting changes in the brain. Unfortunately, most beneficial experiences wash through us like water through a sieve, while stressful, painful experiences “stick" due to…

Maintaining Spirit, Hope and Inspiration While Working in the Public SectorWorkshop: Positive Neuroplasticity: Turning Passing Experiences into Lasting Inner StrengthsUCSF / SFGH Psychology Retreat

Vipassana and NeuroscienceIntegrate recent brain science with the ancient wisdom practice of Vipassana meditation. Discover practical methods for improving mindfulness and concentration, calming the heart, weaving positive experiences into your brain and your self, and then using these strengths for kindness and skillful assertiveness in…

People draw on psychological resources such as grit and compassion for coping, well-being and helping others. We develop these strengths by turning passing experiences of them and related factors into lasting changes of neural structure and function. But the brain’s evolved “negativity bias” acts as…

This workshop brings together a team of internationally recognized scientists, meditation teachers, and clinicians to deepen our understanding of how to live a meaningful, healthy, and joyful life. Weaving together ancient wisdom traditions with modern neuroscience, we explore the transformative effects of meditative practices. Participants…