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The primary source of inner resources is positive experiences – but unfortunately, the brain is very inefficient at converting these into neural structures: it learns quickly from pain but slowly from pleasure, like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.
Consequently, a high percentage of positive experiences slip through the brain like water through a sieve. In terms of lasting effects on the brain, they may as well not have happened. This undermines personal well-being, effectiveness, and relationships in everyday life as well as the results of formal programs such as psychotherapy, drug and alcohol treatments, and mindfulness-based interventions.
To compensate for the brain’s negativity bias, this workshop is about the core skills of turning good moments into good resources: why and how to activate positive experiences and install them in the brain. In effect, it’s about how to turn mental states into neural traits.
Through presentation, discussion, and experiential practices, this workshop will review the evolution of the brain, teach the three basic steps of “taking in the good,” (TG) and identify key positive experiences for issues of anxiety and anger, disappointment and loss, and loneliness, rejection, and shame. We will also cover the fourth, optional, step of TG – holding both positive and negative material in awareness – to soothe and heal painful experiences, as well as special considerations for using TG with children or with trauma.
Event Name
Taking in the Good with Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
Course/Workshop
For: Professionals
Provided by: Jack Hirose & Associates
Date and Time
Thu Apr 11, 2013
(This event is over)
9 am - 4 pm
Event Description
Psychological resources such as emotional intelligence, resilience, empathy, compassion, and determination are the foundation of mental health. While some negative experiences help develop certain resources (e.g., stress hardiness), most of them just trigger the brain’s stress machinery and wear down long-term physical and mental health.The primary source of inner resources is positive experiences – but unfortunately, the brain is very inefficient at converting these into neural structures: it learns quickly from pain but slowly from pleasure, like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones.
Consequently, a high percentage of positive experiences slip through the brain like water through a sieve. In terms of lasting effects on the brain, they may as well not have happened. This undermines personal well-being, effectiveness, and relationships in everyday life as well as the results of formal programs such as psychotherapy, drug and alcohol treatments, and mindfulness-based interventions.
To compensate for the brain’s negativity bias, this workshop is about the core skills of turning good moments into good resources: why and how to activate positive experiences and install them in the brain. In effect, it’s about how to turn mental states into neural traits.
Through presentation, discussion, and experiential practices, this workshop will review the evolution of the brain, teach the three basic steps of “taking in the good,” (TG) and identify key positive experiences for issues of anxiety and anger, disappointment and loss, and loneliness, rejection, and shame. We will also cover the fourth, optional, step of TG – holding both positive and negative material in awareness – to soothe and heal painful experiences, as well as special considerations for using TG with children or with trauma.
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Last modified Jan 3, 2013 11:43am
