Rewire Your Brain For Love

Relationships

Healthcare Reform: It’s "We," People

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on June 26, 2012

To get a more equitable healthcare system, we need to have brains that are more capable of evolved relationships -- the ability to cooperate rather than annihilate.

To get a more equitable healthcare system, we need to have brains that are more capable of evolved relationships -- the ability to cooperate rather than annihilate.

Relationships

Valentine's Day Resolution: Install Love 2.0

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on February 12, 2012

Single or in a relationship, Valentine's Day often flings daggers of loneliness, not the gentle arrows of Cupid. It can feel a little like an episode of "Survivor" — are you (or your relationship) surviving? Thriving? Or getting voted off the island?

Single or in a relationship, Valentine's Day often flings daggers of loneliness, not the gentle arrows of Cupid. It can feel a little like an episode of "Survivor" — are you (or your relationship) surviving? Thriving? Or getting voted off the island?

Empathy

Rewiring Your Brain for Healthy Empathy: Getting a Voltmeter

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on February 1, 2012

In the scheme of "rewiring your brain for love," one of the benefits of mindfulness practice for relationships could be like acquiring a voltmeter -- that quality of empathy that allows you the ability to accurately read the voltage between you and your partner.

Unfortunately, many of us don't "do" empathy in a way that supports a healthy relationship.

In the scheme of "rewiring your brain for love," one of the benefits of mindfulness practice for relationships could be like acquiring a voltmeter -- that quality of empathy that allows you the ability to accurately read the voltage between you and your partner.

Unfortunately, many of us don't "do" empathy in a way that supports a healthy relationship.

Neuroscience

Four Ways to Respond During An Argument

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on August 1, 2010

From your nervous system's point of view, there're a limited number of ways to respond to an argument. You can do one of the “knee-jerk” reactions like fight, flight, or freeze. Roar and bite, run like hell, freeze like a deer in the headlights...Or, you can take a breath, and get your nervous system to make good use of its more highly evolved parts.

From your nervous system's point of view, there're a limited number of ways to respond to an argument. You can do one of the “knee-jerk” reactions like fight, flight, or freeze. Roar and bite, run like hell, freeze like a deer in the headlights...Or, you can take a breath, and get your nervous system to make good use of its more highly evolved parts.

Neuroscience

Why Independence Isn't Worth The Fireworks

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on June 30, 2010

If being independent is the pinnacle of accomplishment - for our country, for our kids - then how do we live well with one another - globally, or individually?Maybe even more to the point, what goes on in the brains of those who are stoically independent, and does it serve their well-being?

If being independent is the pinnacle of accomplishment - for our country, for our kids - then how do we live well with one another - globally, or individually?Maybe even more to the point, what goes on in the brains of those who are stoically independent, and does it serve their well-being?

As a psychologist, I see people in my practice all the time who complain that the thrill of sex dies down after awhile. It gets, well, routine. Same-old, same-old. Going through the motions. Sometimes, they get around to asking what they can do to spice things up. "Yes, there is," I say.

Mindfulness

"Empathy Leads You to Very Bad Decisions" What?

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on March 26, 2010

We seem to have some misconceptions about empathy floating around. Clearing them up may clear the way for more empathy, and better relationships at all levels.

We seem to have some misconceptions about empathy floating around. Clearing them up may clear the way for more empathy, and better relationships at all levels.

In my work as a psychologist, I see a lot of very bright, insightful people who still struggle with relationships, and when I suggest that they start practicing mindfulness meditation, they want to know how meditating can help their love lives. How is it going to make things better between them and their [fill in the blank: Wife/Husband/Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Partner...]?

Meditation

Meditation and the False Lure of Zoning Out

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on January 21, 2010

There are an awful lot of misconceptions about mindfulness meditation. Like, "people who meditate are just using it as a place to 'hide out' by escaping into some blissed-out, checked-out place". It's why a lot of people mistakenly decide that meditation is useless, or worse. What if it turned out they were actually re-wiring their brains in vital, important ways?

There are an awful lot of misconceptions about mindfulness meditation. Like, "people who meditate are just using it as a place to 'hide out' by escaping into some blissed-out, checked-out place". It's why a lot of people mistakenly decide that meditation is useless, or worse. What if it turned out they were actually re-wiring their brains in vital, important ways?

Mindfulness

12 Tips for Mindful Resolutions, Healthier Relationships, an

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on December 31, 2009

Create better relationships in the New Year by rewiring your brain, using mindfulness meditation.

Create better relationships in the New Year by rewiring your brain, using mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Sanity Clause

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on December 17, 2009

For many of us, the wear-and-tear of the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a net loss for our brains and our bodies, and it's not just because of the extra food and drink, or how annoying your in-laws are.

For many of us, the wear-and-tear of the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a net loss for our brains and our bodies, and it's not just because of the extra food and drink, or how annoying your in-laws are.

Mindfulness

Don't Get Hooked by the Family Craziness: Using Brain-Wise M

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on November 18, 2009

Most of us have a lovely vision of Thanksgiving: The road to Grandma's house, graced by autumn leaves. Being greeted by warmth and family, feeling grateful and eating our familiar favorites. The kids have made turkey drawings by tracing around their adorable little hands. Best of all, everyone gets along beautifully.Yeah, right.

Most of us have a lovely vision of Thanksgiving: The road to Grandma's house, graced by autumn leaves. Being greeted by warmth and family, feeling grateful and eating our familiar favorites. The kids have made turkey drawings by tracing around their adorable little hands. Best of all, everyone gets along beautifully.Yeah, right.

Relationships

Nine Ways a Meditating Brain Creates Better Relationships

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on November 11, 2009

There's increasing evidence that the simple practice of mindfulness meditation can re-wire your brain. In key areas, you can literally change and grow neural connections which support finding and creating better relationships. And in nine different ways, your brain can become more like those who grew up knowing how to love and be loved in healthy, sustainable ways.

There's increasing evidence that the simple practice of mindfulness meditation can re-wire your brain. In key areas, you can literally change and grow neural connections which support finding and creating better relationships. And in nine different ways, your brain can become more like those who grew up knowing how to love and be loved in healthy, sustainable ways.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness + Neuroscience = Healthier Relationships

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on October 29, 2009

If we had healthy relationships with our parents, we're good to go, with brain connections that were nurtured in ways that support healthy relationships. For the rest of us? Very good news: We're not stuck with a brain that doesn't change. We can give ourselves a second chance for successful relationship brain wiring, using mindfulness meditation (no religion required).

If we had healthy relationships with our parents, we're good to go, with brain connections that were nurtured in ways that support healthy relationships. For the rest of us? Very good news: We're not stuck with a brain that doesn't change. We can give ourselves a second chance for successful relationship brain wiring, using mindfulness meditation (no religion required).

Mindfulness

Change Your Brain, Change The World: The Dalai Lama, Richie Davidson, and Thoreau

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on October 13, 2009

The Dalai Lama was in Washington, DC recently, meeting with world-class neuroscientists, national leaders in education, and advanced contemplatives. I went to get the latest scoop about mindfulness meditation and its impact on the brain. One gem came from neither ancient Buddhist wisdom, nor cutting-edge neuroscience, but from that peaceful renegade, Henry David Thoreau.

The Dalai Lama was in Washington, DC recently, meeting with world-class neuroscientists, national leaders in education, and advanced contemplatives. I went to get the latest scoop about mindfulness meditation and its impact on the brain. One gem came from neither ancient Buddhist wisdom, nor cutting-edge neuroscience, but from that peaceful renegade, Henry David Thoreau.

Mindfulness

Can firing the judge in your brain improve your chances at l

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on October 6, 2009

We all know that being judgmental isn't a relationship-enhancer. And still, most of us step into that trap, doing damage to our relationships on a stubbornly regular basis. How about knocking that judge out with a one-two punch: Use the latest neuroscientific findings about the brain, and then bring in a Buddhist nun to finish things off?

We all know that being judgmental isn't a relationship-enhancer. And still, most of us step into that trap, doing damage to our relationships on a stubbornly regular basis. How about knocking that judge out with a one-two punch: Use the latest neuroscientific findings about the brain, and then bring in a Buddhist nun to finish things off?

Meditation

The Toothpaste-Tube Wars: Relationship Battles and the Brain

Marsha Lucas Ph.D. on September 24, 2009

A friend of mine calls them "The Toothpaste Tube Wars." In some households, it's the "Battle of the Toilet Seat" or the "Why-on-Earth-Do-You-Load-the-Dishwasher-Like-That Police Action." They start with a small skirmish over something minor, and quickly escalate into a heated battle.

Over. And. Over. Again.

A friend of mine calls them "The Toothpaste Tube Wars." In some households, it's the "Battle of the Toilet Seat" or the "Why-on-Earth-Do-You-Load-the-Dishwasher-Like-That Police Action." They start with a small skirmish over something minor, and quickly escalate into a heated battle.

Over. And. Over. Again.