Resilient

Resilient
​Our nervous system is one of the most powerful resources available to us to improve our well-being. On the other hand, the nervous system can trap us in difficult mindsets, and be one of our biggest barriers to wellness. Rick Hanson, Ph.D. believes that we can access “durable inner strengths” that are “hardwired into our nervous system”. His book Resilient walks us through how 

to make our mind and nervous system our greatest ally. He presents 12 concepts within the book to help us “grow an unshakable core of calm, strength, and happiness”.  

As part of my plan to thrive in 2025 I have decided to review and practice one chapter a month. And I will summarize it here to offer support to others. In preparation for 2025, the year of Resilience, I will summarize the Introduction.

Summary of Resilient: Introduction
​To change the brain we must practice building new brain pathways. The work takes effort, but if we practice multiple times a day (for one minute) we can gain lasting changes to the nervous system. Rick Hanson, Ph.D. names 3 basic human needs (safety, satisfaction, and connection) and four ways we look to meet our needs (recognizing, resourcing, regulating, and relating). He presents the 12 skills to build broken down by the 3 needs and each of the 4 ways of meeting our needs, as follows:  
Safety: Compassion, Grit, Calm, Courage
Satisfaction: Mindfulness, Gratitude, Motivation, Aspiration
Connection: Learning, Confidence, Intimacy, Generosity

Rick Hanson, Ph.D. will walk us through how to grow these strengths. His expectation is that we will "feel less anxiety and irritation, less disappointment and frustration, and less loneliness, hurt, and resentment." And he believes when we face life challenges we will do so with "more peace, contentment, and love."

Resilient: How to grow an unshakable core of calm, strength, and happiness
by Rick Hanson, Ph.D. with Forrest Hanson, copyright 2018
Introduction, pages 1-6