Hardwiring happiness
Subtitle: the new brain science of contentment, calm, and confidence
By: Rick Hanson
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780385347310; 9780385347327
Subjects: Brain; Positive psychology; Neuropsychology; Happiness
Description: "SEE THROUGH THE LIES YOUR BRAIN TELLS YOU Why is it easier to ruminate over hurt feelings than it is to bask in the warmth of being appreciated? Your brain was wired this way when it evolved, primed to learn quickly from bad experiences, but not so much from the good ones. It's an ancient survival mechanism that turned the brain into Velcro for the negative, but Teflon for the positive. Life isn't easy, and having a brain wired to take in the bad and ignore the good makes us worried, irritated and stressed, instead of confident, secure and happy. Every day is filled with opportunities to build these strengths inside, but the brain is designed to ignore and waste them. This makes you come down harder on yourself than you do other people, feel inadequate even though you get a hundred things done, and lonely even when support is all around. Dr. Rick Hanson, an acclaimed neuropsychologist and internationally bestselling author, shows us what we can do to override the brain's default programming. Hardwiring Happiness lays out a simple method that uses the hidden power of everyday experiences to build new neural structures that stick to happiness, love, confidence, and peace. Dr. Hanson's four steps build a brain strong enough to withstand its ancient negativity bias, allowing contentment and a powerful sense of well-being to become the new normal. In mere minutes each day, we can transform our brains into oases of calm and happiness. We can hardwire in happiness"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-261) and index.
Table of contents: title: Why. Growing good ; Velcro for the bad ; Green brain, red brain; title: How. HEAL yourself ; Take notice ; Creating positive experiences ; Brain building ; Flowers pulling weeds ; Good uses ; 21 jewels.