Greater Good

Rick Hanson says that giving other people what they need will improve your life, not just their theirs.

After the Boston Marathon explosions, we are inundated with horrific images of violence and suffering. Here's how to protect our kids--and ourselves--from vicarious trauma.

Hint: Don’t just turn the other cheek.

Emma Seppala explains how compassionate workplaces are good for employee health and the corporate bottom line.

A new study suggests mindfulness meditation can help us overcome the "bystander effect."

School-testing season is here—and a little compassion can go a long way in relieving the stress for all involved.

Brooke Dodson-Lavelle explains how a trailblazing compassion training program expands children's natural capacity for empathy and kindness—even toward so-called "bullies."

As demands on health care providers increase, compassion becomes more difficult to sustain. But a new training holds the promise of helping them meet those challenges.

Mindfulness is more than just moment-to-moment awareness, says Shauna Shapiro. It is a kind, curious awareness that helps us relate to ourselves and others with compassion.

Here are the places where romantic love abides in our bodies—and the role each one plays in sustaining love over time.

Research tells us that kindness may be the antidote to “popularity-through-meanness.”

Many of us assume that we only have so much compassion to spare. But research says we can build our capacity to alleviate suffering.

The most surprising, provocative, and inspiring findings published this past year.

Need some elevation? We remember acts of heroism, altruism, compassion, joy, and forgiveness from the past year.

Are people horrible? It's a question many Americans are asking ourselves after the horror of a school shooting.

A new book explores extreme differences between parents and children—and in so doing, reveals how we can all find empathy, resilience, and meaning in life's most difficult experiences.

Tips for raising children who don't push others around.

To create a caring school community, research tells us that care must be extended to everyone.

Why SEL is a necessity for children of every background.

What Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” video reveals about the links between inequality, compassion, and happiness.

Great companies have compassionate leaders, says Google's "Jolly Good Fellow."

Tips for keeping cool and being kind to yourself, even in the midst of a stressful situation.

Hint: Don’t just turn the other cheek.

Emma Seppala explains how compassionate workplaces are good for employee health and the corporate bottom line.

How to teach kids loving-kindness meditation

Researcher Kristin Neff reveals the benefits of going easy on yourself: less anxiety, less conflict, and more peace of mind.

A new study suggests mindfulness meditation can help us overcome the "bystander effect."

Robert Emmons offers everyday tips for living a life of gratitude.

Dacher Keltner explains how compassion is literally at our fingertips.

Here are the places where romantic love abides in our bodies—and the role each one plays in sustaining love over time.

Brooke Dodson-Lavelle explains how a trailblazing compassion training program expands children's natural capacity for empathy and kindness—even toward so-called "bullies."

School-testing season is here—and a little compassion can go a long way in relieving the stress for all involved.

After the Boston Marathon explosions, we are inundated with horrific images of violence and suffering. Here's how to protect our kids--and ourselves--from vicarious trauma.

Great companies have compassionate leaders, says Google's "Jolly Good Fellow."

The most surprising, provocative, and inspiring findings published this past year.

Rick Hanson says that giving other people what they need will improve your life, not just their theirs.

Tips for keeping cool and being kind to yourself, even in the midst of a stressful situation.

Mindfulness is more than just moment-to-moment awareness, says Shauna Shapiro. It is a kind, curious awareness that helps us relate to ourselves and others with compassion.

As demands on health care providers increase, compassion becomes more difficult to sustain. But a new training holds the promise of helping them meet those challenges.

Marc Bekoff explains how many different animal species show grief, friendship, gratitude, wonder, and a range of other emotions.

Jack Kornfield shares extraordinary stories of forgiveness--and explains how the next story could be yours.

Research tells us that kindness may be the antidote to “popularity-through-meanness.”

Many of us assume that we only have so much compassion to spare. But research says we can build our capacity to alleviate suffering.

Best-selling author Rick Hanson explains how we can rewire our brains for lasting happiness—part of Greater Good's podcast series.

Researcher Kristin Neff reveals the benefits of going easy on yourself: less anxiety, less conflict, and more peace of mind.

Facebook is confronting cyberbullying and online conflict. Can a team of researchers help boost kindness among the site's 900 million users?

What Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” video reveals about the links between inequality, compassion, and happiness.

Dacher Keltner explains how compassion is literally at our fingertips.

Here are the places where romantic love abides in our bodies—and the role each one plays in sustaining love over time.

Are people horrible? It's a question many Americans are asking ourselves after the horror of a school shooting.

Why SEL is a necessity for children of every background.

A recent gathering of compassion researchers reveals new discoveries about how and why humans help each other.

The most surprising, provocative, and inspiring findings published this past year.

Jack Kornfield shares extraordinary stories of forgiveness--and explains how the next story could be yours.

Want to live a longer, healthier life? Stephen G. Post explains how to reap the benefits of practicing altruism.

A new books explores what happens when corporations turn compassion into a commodity.

A GGSC-sponsored study found that compassion is less important for moving religious people to perform acts of kindness. But that doesn't mean they are less compassionate!

A review of Karen Armstrong's 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life.

Marc Bekoff explains how many different animal species show grief, friendship, gratitude, wonder, and a range of other emotions.

The vulnerability of our children transformed human relationships, argues Dacher Keltner, and made compassion essential to our survival.

In this commencement address, Dacher Keltner asks today's graduates to look for the best in themselves and in humanity.

Economic insecurity. A broken health care system. Youth violence. Congressman Tim Ryan explains how mindfulness can help.

Kristin Neff discusses how self-compassion differs from self-esteem, why self-compassion can be hard for Americans, and the transformative effect it had on her own life--part of Greater Good's podcast series.

Robert Emmons offers everyday tips for living a life of gratitude.

Best-selling author Rick Hanson explains how we can rewire our brains for lasting happiness—part of Greater Good's podcast series.

Brooke Dodson-Lavelle explains how a trailblazing compassion training program expands children's natural capacity for empathy and kindness—even toward so-called "bullies."

Researcher Kristin Neff reveals the benefits of going easy on yourself: less anxiety, less conflict, and more peace of mind.

Facebook is confronting cyberbullying and online conflict. Can a team of researchers help boost kindness among the site's 900 million users?

Dacher Keltner explains how compassion is literally at our fingertips.

The most surprising, provocative, and inspiring findings published this past year.

Robert Emmons offers everyday tips for living a life of gratitude.

What Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” video reveals about the links between inequality, compassion, and happiness.

Tips for keeping cool and being kind to yourself, even in the midst of a stressful situation.

As the political season heats up, psychologist Jonathan Haidt explains why liberals and conservatives don’t understand each other, and how psychological research can help us get past the culture wars—part of Greater Good's podcast series.

A recent gathering of compassion researchers reveals new discoveries about how and why humans help each other.

Here are the places where romantic love abides in our bodies—and the role each one plays in sustaining love over time.

Research tells us that kindness may be the antidote to “popularity-through-meanness.”

Brooke Dodson-Lavelle explains how a trailblazing compassion training program expands children's natural capacity for empathy and kindness—even toward so-called "bullies."

Emma Seppala explains how compassionate workplaces are good for employee health and the corporate bottom line.

Jack Kornfield shares extraordinary stories of forgiveness--and explains how the next story could be yours.

Best-selling author Rick Hanson explains how we can rewire our brains for lasting happiness—part of Greater Good's podcast series.

As Roots of Empathy gears up for its U.S. expansion, founder Mary Gordon reveals how the program has nurtured compassion around the world, one child at a time.

Are people horrible? It's a question many Americans are asking ourselves after the horror of a school shooting.

Mindfulness is more than just moment-to-moment awareness, says Shauna Shapiro. It is a kind, curious awareness that helps us relate to ourselves and others with compassion.

The vulnerability of our children transformed human relationships, argues Dacher Keltner, and made compassion essential to our survival.

Marc Bekoff explains how many different animal species show grief, friendship, gratitude, wonder, and a range of other emotions.