Dr. Rick Hanson

And again, research shows that roughly about a third of the variation in our inner strengths is baked into our DNA for better or worse, right? I caught a lucky break in some regards and I'm still overcoming some tendencies in other regards. All right, the other two thirds, of who we become is up for grabs.

And again, research shows that roughly about a third of the variation in our inner strengths is baked into our DNA for better or worse, right? I caught a lucky break in some regards and I'm still overcoming some tendencies in other regards. All right, the other two thirds, of who we become is up for grabs.

And again, research shows that roughly about a third of the variation in our inner strengths is baked into our DNA for better or worse, right? I caught a lucky break in some regards and I'm still overcoming some tendencies in other regards. All right, the other two thirds, of who we become is up for grabs.

It's developed, it's acquired over time based on how life influences us and what we do with it. So we have a tremendous amount of influence over who we are becoming and influence over the strengths we are growing. And therefore we have moral responsibility for what it is that we develop inside. So that's for me a really important frame here. And it's a very hopeful one.

It's developed, it's acquired over time based on how life influences us and what we do with it. So we have a tremendous amount of influence over who we are becoming and influence over the strengths we are growing. And therefore we have moral responsibility for what it is that we develop inside. So that's for me a really important frame here. And it's a very hopeful one.

It's developed, it's acquired over time based on how life influences us and what we do with it. So we have a tremendous amount of influence over who we are becoming and influence over the strengths we are growing. And therefore we have moral responsibility for what it is that we develop inside. So that's for me a really important frame here. And it's a very hopeful one.

The more that society pushes us around with these large scale forces, we just cannot do anything about the results of an election. We get one vote. The election happens. Large macro systems, economic issues, cultural forces, weather plagues recently, all that we don't have much influence over, if at all. But we have tremendous influence gradually, bit by bit over who we are becoming.

The more that society pushes us around with these large scale forces, we just cannot do anything about the results of an election. We get one vote. The election happens. Large macro systems, economic issues, cultural forces, weather plagues recently, all that we don't have much influence over, if at all. But we have tremendous influence gradually, bit by bit over who we are becoming.

The more that society pushes us around with these large scale forces, we just cannot do anything about the results of an election. We get one vote. The election happens. Large macro systems, economic issues, cultural forces, weather plagues recently, all that we don't have much influence over, if at all. But we have tremendous influence gradually, bit by bit over who we are becoming.

And for me, very much in the center of my work is not some airy-fairy, loosey-goosey, soft, new-age thing. A hard-boiled clarity about the challenges of life and also our tendency, which we might get into, to have a negativity bias in the brain that tends to obstruct the cultivation of the strengths we need to grow.

And for me, very much in the center of my work is not some airy-fairy, loosey-goosey, soft, new-age thing. A hard-boiled clarity about the challenges of life and also our tendency, which we might get into, to have a negativity bias in the brain that tends to obstruct the cultivation of the strengths we need to grow.

And for me, very much in the center of my work is not some airy-fairy, loosey-goosey, soft, new-age thing. A hard-boiled clarity about the challenges of life and also our tendency, which we might get into, to have a negativity bias in the brain that tends to obstruct the cultivation of the strengths we need to grow.

So deliberately focusing on inner strength, psychological strengths, is a really important thing and it's very hopeful because we do have power there. So that's contextual.

So deliberately focusing on inner strength, psychological strengths, is a really important thing and it's very hopeful because we do have power there. So that's contextual.

So deliberately focusing on inner strength, psychological strengths, is a really important thing and it's very hopeful because we do have power there. So that's contextual.

And then in terms of, if I follow you right, the inner strengths, the process of developing inner strengths, and in particular, the inner strengths of mindfulness and compassion, which is where you started, brings us home to ourselves. And it's a remarkable fact, given all the arguments about what is human nature historically and religion and philosophy, things like, are we saints or sinners?

And then in terms of, if I follow you right, the inner strengths, the process of developing inner strengths, and in particular, the inner strengths of mindfulness and compassion, which is where you started, brings us home to ourselves. And it's a remarkable fact, given all the arguments about what is human nature historically and religion and philosophy, things like, are we saints or sinners?

And then in terms of, if I follow you right, the inner strengths, the process of developing inner strengths, and in particular, the inner strengths of mindfulness and compassion, which is where you started, brings us home to ourselves. And it's a remarkable fact, given all the arguments about what is human nature historically and religion and philosophy, things like, are we saints or sinners?

Well, we're both. And we have these two wolves in our heart, and as the proverb puts it, love and hate. And so we have these two qualities. But still, fundamentally, what are people like? when they're not running for their lives, when they're not stressed out, when they're not overwhelmed with grievances or in great physical or emotional pain, what are most people actually like?

Well, we're both. And we have these two wolves in our heart, and as the proverb puts it, love and hate. And so we have these two qualities. But still, fundamentally, what are people like? when they're not running for their lives, when they're not stressed out, when they're not overwhelmed with grievances or in great physical or emotional pain, what are most people actually like?