Making Great Romantic Relationships with Dr. Rick Hanson

According to Rick Hanson, there are things we can do every day to make our romantic relationships better. Whether you are looking for a new relationship or have been in one for decades, relationships take wise effort. In this episode, Dr. Rick Hanson shares about the early days with his wife, what worked to get them started and what keeps them going. There are things you can do that are authentic, practical and evidence-based to improve your romantic relationships. Listen in to learn strategies you can use today!

Listen and Learn:

• Why relationships require active effort

• The early days of Rick and his wife Jan

• The power of honest and open communication in relationships from the start

• Three things that contribute to successful relationships

• How to pick the right person

• The early days of Diana and her spouse

• Why you should admit fault and move on

• The Difference Between Steadiness And Patience

• Relationship Tasks and Perspective Taking

• Why you should see the good in your partner and give them what they want

About Rick Hanson

Rick Hanson, PhD is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His six books have been published in 29 languages and include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture - with over one million copies in English alone. His free newsletters have 215,000 subscribers, and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. He and his wife live in northern California and have two adult children. He loves wilderness and taking a break from emails.

Related Resources

• Become a MORE Life in Process member to support the show.

• Find out what kind of Striver you are and get your free Skillful Striving Toolkit

• Want to learn more about ACT? Take Diana's on-demand course Foundations of ACT

• Read Rick Hanon’s book Making Relationships Great

• Learn more about Rick Hanson’s new project The Global Compassion Coalition

• Meta analysis on Psychological Flexibility and relationships 

• Research study on 10 minutes of mindfulness or relaxation relationship satisfaction

• Research study on Instagram use and relationship satisfaction 

Diana’s Events

• There is still space for you at Diana's Reset and Restore Retreat in Costa Rica in 2023!

• Meditate with Diana at Yoga Soup

• Register for Diana’s ACT workshop at Yoga Soup!

• Sign up for Diana’s From Striving to Thriving Summit!

• See Diana at an upcoming event

Connect With Diana

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Thank you to the team Craig and Ashley Hiatt. Thank you to Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Remember when you become psychologically flexible, you become free.