The Science of Happiness

Take a moment to connect with your body and make space for difficult emotions with compassion and care. This embodiment practice is guided by Lyla June Johnston, a Diné musician, scholar of Indigenous land management, and community organizer.How To Do This Practice:  Ground yourself in the present: Find a comfortable seated position and take four slow, deep breaths. Notice the feeling of your body supported by the chair or the floor, bringing your attention fully into the present moment. Reflect on a difficult truth: Gently bring to mind a challenging truth—such as the lasting impacts of colonization or another painful reality. Approach it with curiosity rather than judgment, allowing yourself to stay present instead of becoming overwhelmed. Notice where your emotions live in your body: As you reflect, pay attention to your physical sensations. You might notice tightness in your chest, heaviness in your stomach, warmth in your heart, or another sensation. Simply observe where your emotions show up. Hold your feelings with compassion: Rather than pushing difficult emotions away or getting lost in them, imagine holding them with the same care you would offer a crying child. Let each feeling be seen, heard, and acknowledged without trying to fix it. Replace shame with love and solidarity: If guilt or shame arises, gently set it down. Instead, invite feelings of compassion, hope, and connection. Consider one way you can move toward repair, understanding, or solidarity—even if it's simply bearing witness with an open heart. Return to the present with intention: Bring your awareness back to your breath, your body, and your surroundings. Relax your shoulders, soften your muscles, and take four more deep breaths. As you finish, carry forward an intention to meet difficult truths with courage, love, and compassionate action. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Happiness Break Guide:LYLA JUNE JOHNSTON is the founder and Dean of Instruction at The Rehuman School.Learn about Lyla June Johnston's work: https://www.lylajune.com/Related The Science of Happiness episodes:  How to Feel Less Lonely and More Connected: https://tinyurl.com/2s3tbchdWhen It's Hard To Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/mr32nwtvAn Awe Walk Through History and Possibility: https://tinyurl.com/mr3arrbcRelated Happiness Breaks:A Meditation on the Uniqueness of Your Own Voice: https://tinyurl.com/36x3fbk7A Meditation on Original Love and Interconnectedness:https://tinyurl.com/mu2uzs2cOur Deep Interconnectedness: https://tinyurl.com/y2epxyxnWe’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/3v76jcs8

Neuroscience reveals revenge can become a powerful habit—and that forgiveness may be one of the most effective ways to break the cycle.Summary: After years of bullying led him to almost committing an act of violence, James Kimmel Jr., an assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine, set out to understand why revenge can be so compelling—and how forgiveness can interrupt that cycle, easing emotional pain and strengthening self-control. On this episode of The Science of Happiness, we explore what science can teach us about healing ourselves and creating a less violent world.How To Do This Practice:  Think of a Grievance: Bring to mind a person or situation that still causes you hurt or resentment. Notice How It Feels: Take a moment to observe any tension, anger, or pain that arises without judging it. Imagine Forgiveness: Without forcing yourself to forgive, simply imagine what it would feel like to let go of the hurt. Notice the Shift: Pay attention to any sense of relief, ease, or softening—even if it's subtle. Return to the Feeling: When the grievance comes back, revisit that imagined sense of forgiveness as a way of caring for yourself. Practice Often: Repeat this exercise whenever resentment resurfaces, allowing forgiveness to become a habit that supports your own healing. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.JAMES KIMMEL JR. is a lawyer, lecturer in psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, and co-founder and co-director of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Control Studies.Learn more about James Kimmel Jr. here: https://www.jameskimmeljr.com/Related Science of Happiness episodes:Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33Nine Steps to Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/5xwztnsxThe Science of Letting Go: https://tinyurl.com/ykc2uex4Related Happiness Break episodes:A Science-Backed Path to Self-Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/2js59anmA Note to Self on Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/ycymxh3hA Breathing Technique To Help You Relax: https://tinyurl.com/59y4sf5yThis episode was supported by a generous grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation as part of a Greater Good Science Center project on "Putting the Science of Forgiveness into Practice."Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/4ubmrwyr

Try a practice in accepting difficult feelings like anger or irritation to help keep your cool, feel better overall, and find calm with contemplative social scientist Eve Ekman. How To Do This Practice: Settle with your breath: Take a few slow, deep breaths, lengthening your spine as you inhale and relaxing your face and body as you exhale. Notice your body: Scan your body with curiosity and observe any sensations without trying to change them. Recall a mild frustration: Bring to mind a recent situation that made you feel slightly irritated or frustrated. Release the story: Let go of the memory and focus only on where you feel the emotion in your body. Give the emotion space: Allow the sensations to exist without judging or resisting them, noticing how they naturally shift over time. Close with kindness: Take one final breath and remind yourself to meet future moments of anger with curiosity, acceptance, and compassion. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Happiness Break Guide:EVE EKMAN is a contemplative social scientist and meditation teacher from San Francisco, California.Learn more about Eve’s work: https://tinyurl.com/2vhuarh8More Happiness Breaks like this one:A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/ye24rz4kThe Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/rrtpje2xA Breathing Technique To Help You Relax: https://tinyurl.com/59y4sf5yRelated Science of Happiness episodes:Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33How To Feel Better About Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/3jave7h2What To Do When Stress Takes Over: https://tinyurl.com/yxf3jawnWe’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/2zh8uewh

Choosing joy over guilt and shame can make climate-friendly habits easier to sustain while improving your own well-being along the way.Summary: Fear may grab our attention, but research suggests joy is what helps us make meaningful, sustainable climate choices. On this episode of The Science of Happiness, discover how small shifts can have a big impact. Scientists Elizabeth Dunn and Jiaying Zhao share how reframing climate action around happiness instead of guilt can help us build healthier habits, strengthen our communities, and care for the Earth.How To Do This Practice: Choose one everyday habit: Pick a part of your routine like eating, commuting, shopping, or reducing food waste where you'd like to make a climate-friendly change. Focus on what you can add: Instead of thinking about what to give up, ask yourself what you can enjoy more, such as eating more seasonal produce, walking outdoors, or spending time tending a garden. Notice how it feels: As you try your new habit, pay attention to moments of enjoyment, connection, pride, or calm. Positive emotions help make new behaviors stick. Make it easy: Remove small barriers that get in your way. For example, keep fresh fruits and vegetables where you’ll see them first so they don’t go bad, and pack light when you fly to avoid the extra carbon emissions from checked bags. Share it with someone else: Invite a friend or family member to join you or tell them about a climate-friendly habit you've enjoyed. Positive experiences are more likely to spread than guilt. Reflect on the impact: Consider how your small change affected both your well-being and the planet, and choose one joyful habit you'd like to continue. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Guests:DR. ELIZABETH DUNN is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, who studies the ways that time, money and technology affect our wellbeing.Learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Dunn here: https://dunn.psych.ubc.ca/DR. JIAYING ZHAO is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC, Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Sustainability, and UBC Sauder Distinguished Scholar.Learn more about Dr. Jiaying Zhao here: https://psych.ubc.ca/profile/jiaying-zhao/Related Science of Happiness episodes:Climate, Hope, & Science Series: https://tinyurl.com/pb27repThe Case for Hope, with Rebecca Solnit: https://tinyurl.com/4cj3umbzRelated Happiness Break episodes:How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpmHow to Be in Harmony in Nature—Wherever You Are, With Yuria Celidwen: https://tinyurl.com/5n6pfsn2Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/2s4ft9fc

Indigenous artist Dr. Lyla June Johnston leads a 5-minute freewriting exercise about our personal journeys. Autobiographical writing has been shown to help do better in relationships and feel more satisfied in life.How to Do This Practice: Ground yourself: Sit in a comfortable position and take a few slow breaths. Notice the inhale and exhale without trying to change anything. Let your attention settle into your body and the present moment. Set a simple intention: Bring to mind the idea of observing your story with curiosity rather than judgment. You’re not trying to write something “good,” just something honest. Write the sentence: “I come from a place where…” and pause briefly before continuing. Let the words that follow come from memory, feeling, or imagery—whatever shows up first. Free-write without stopping: Keep your pen moving for several minutes (around 3–5 minutes, or longer if you like). Don’t edit, filter, or worry about grammar or meaning. If you get stuck, repeat the prompt and continue. Notice what emerged: When time is up, read what you wrote slowly. Notice any themes, emotions, memories, or insights that stand out—without trying to fix or interpret them immediately. Reflect and return: Take a moment to acknowledge your experience of the exercise. You might ask: What surprised me? What feels important? Revisit this practice every few weeks or months to notice how your sense of origin and story evolves Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Happiness Break Guide:DR. LYLA JUNE JOHNSTON is an Indigenous artist and scholar from the Diné Nation.Learn about Dr. Lyla June Johnston's work: https://www.lylajune.com/More Happiness Breaks like this one:A Compassionate Letter to Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/3j6vtwh3Finding Yourself in Silence: https://tinyurl.com/3w76t94aAn Affirmation Practice for the New Year: https://tinyurl.com/4f9epzbwRelated Science of Happiness episodes:How To Tap Your Way to Calm and Clarity: https://tinyurl.com/vtfrt8b7The Science of Letting Go: https://tinyurl.com/34u2fu48How Art Heals Us: https://tinyurl.com/88y5r4vrWe’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/36m7wn3m

What can a singing bird, a neighborhood walk, and a pair of puppet adventurers teach us about awe? Sit down with Wowsabout! creators Dorien Davies and Halle Stanford to discuss helping kids—and grownups—find wonder wherever they are.Summary: Kids may be natural wonder-seekers, but how do we help them hold onto that sense of awe as they grow up? On this episode of The Science of Happiness, we talk with Wowsabout! creators Dorien Davies and Halle Stanford about creating a PBS Kids special inspired by awe, the science behind wonder, and why small moments—a bird singing at dawn, a blooming jasmine vine, or a walk around the block—can help us feel more connected to ourselves and the world around us. Together, they explore how cultivating awe can foster curiosity, resilience, creativity, and belonging for children and adults alike.How To Do This Practice: Slow down and set an intention: Pause your usual routine and decide to look for something that inspires wonder. Notice what you feel: Tune into physical sensations, like the warmth of the sun, a cool breeze, or your feet touching the ground. Look closely at your surroundings: Pay attention to colors, shapes, textures, or movement that you might normally overlook. Listen with curiosity: Notice the sounds around you—the birds, the wind, distant voices, or the hum of your neighborhood. Follow what captures your attention: If something sparks your interest or amazement, spend a moment with it instead of rushing on. Reflect on your experience: At the end of your walk, consider what surprised you and how it made you feel more connected to the world around you. Try the full practice here: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/awe_walkScroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Guests:HALLE STANFORD is the creator and writer of Wowsabout!, founder of 7 Crow Stories, Emmy® Award-winning, and twelve-time Emmy®-nominated executive producer of Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.DORIEN DAVIES is an Executive Producer, Co-Creator, Co-Writer and Principal Puppeteer on Wowsabout!, Word Party, and Julie’s Greenroom. Watch Wowsabout! here: https://pbskids.org/videos/wowsaboutRelated Science of Happiness episodes:Cities of Awe Series: https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvnyHow to Find Calm Through Walking: https://tinyurl.com/43dr26reRelated Happiness Break episodes:How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpmPause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/bdsn3n9e

Take less than 10 minutes to write yourself a letter of care, compassion, and encouragement with psychologist Kristin Neff in this research-backed practice.How To Do This Practice: Choose an area of self-judgment: Think of one aspect of yourself that makes you feel inadequate, stressed, or not quite good enough. Name what you're feeling: Write a few sentences about the situation and the emotions it brings up, such as sadness, fear, frustration, shame, or loneliness. Imagine an unconditionally compassionate friend: Picture someone who is wise, accepting, and deeply caring—someone who sees both your strengths and your struggles without judgment. Write a letter from their perspective: Let this compassionate friend respond to your situation with understanding, kindness, and acceptance, recognizing that imperfection is part of being human. Include gentle wisdom and encouragement: If it feels helpful, have your compassionate friend offer caring suggestions for growth or change—not because you need fixing, but because they want you to thrive. Read the letter back to yourself: Set the letter aside for a while, then return to it and read it slowly, allowing the words of compassion and support to sink in. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Listen to the Full Practice Here: https://self-compassion.org/practices/noting-practice-2/Today’s Happiness Break Guide:Dr. Kristin Neff is an associate professor in the University of Texas at Austin's department of educational psychology. She's also the co-author of 'Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout,' which offers tools to help individuals heal and recharge from burnout.More Happiness Breaks like this one:A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/ye24rz4kThe Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/rrtpje2xTake a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/3vn9t4jvRelated Science of Happiness episodes:Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33The Science of Letting Go: https://tinyurl.com/34u2fu48The Contagious Power of Compassion: https://tinyurl.com/y6bpvbv5We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapThis episode was supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation on "Spreading Love Through the Media." Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/4rcnm6s5

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Intention to Treat: The Race Equation is a new series from the New England Journal of Medicine, investigates how race-specific diagnostic tools harm Black patients and contribute to growing health inequities.Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/36bne7hd

Across school campuses and communities, students and educators are discovering how listening, curiosity, and everyday conversations can open pathways across differences and help restore a sense of shared humanity.Summary: How do we learn to truly communicate with people who are deeply different than us? In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we follow students and educators practicing the skills of empathy and courageous listening in classrooms and on the road. Their experiences reveal how intentional conversations can open unexpected pathways toward understanding and shared humanity.How To Do This Practice: Observe Before You Interpret: Spend a few minutes noticing the environment around you and ask yourself: What do people here see, hear, say, think, and need? Approach with Curiosity: Start with simple human connection—small talk, a question about their day, or genuine interest in their community. Signal That You're There to Listen: Make it clear your goal is understanding, not persuading, debating, or changing anyone's mind. Practice Democratic Listening: Give your full attention through eye contact, nodding, and brief acknowledgments, while resisting the urge to agree, disagree, or jump in with your own views. Stay Relaxed Through Discomfort: When differences emerge, maintain "relaxed awareness"—remaining open, attentive, and calm rather than defensive or reactive. Reflect and Learn: Afterward, ask yourself: What helped create connection? What got in the way? What might I try differently next time? Scroll down for a transcript of this episode.Today’s Guests: JESSE KELLY is a McNair and MacArthur fellow and a recent graduate of Bowie State University, Maryland's oldest historically black university.Learn more about Jesse Kelly here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessekellyjr/LIA HOWARD is the director of the Political Empathy Lab at the University of Pennsylvania.Learn more about Lia Howards here: https://snfpaideia.upenn.edu/people/lia-howard/Related The Science of Happiness episodes:  How to Feel Less Lonely and More Connected: https://tinyurl.com/2s3tbchdWhen It's Hard To Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/mr32nwtvAn Awe Walk Through History and Possibility: https://tinyurl.com/mr3arrbcRelated Happiness Breaks:A Meditation on Original Love and Interconnectedness:https://tinyurl.com/mu2uzs2cOur Deep Interconnectedness: https://tinyurl.com/y2epxyxnMessage us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/3bt8fpdj

Trouble sitting still? Learn to practice meditating by simply walking in this practice guided by 10% Happier host Dan Harris.How To Do This Practice: Start walking at a comfortable pace in a place where you can move without rushing. Notice your body moving by paying attention to your feet, legs, and arms as you walk. Tune into your senses by observing sounds, sights, temperature, and other details around you. Notice when your mind wanders into planning, worrying, or distractions. Gently return your attention to the sensations of walking and your surroundings each time you drift away. Keep walking with curiosity and allow yourself to stay present without needing to do it perfectly. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide:DAN HARRIS the host of 10% Happier, a podcast about mindfulness and other practices and thoughts that can support our well-being. Check out Dan’s podcast, 10% Happier: https://tinyurl.com/324xtuutRelated Happiness Break Episodes:Moving Through Space, With Dacher Keltner: https://tinyurl.com/5f58jp42Walk Your Way to Calm, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/y8md2759Making Space For You: https://tinyurl.com/yc42s6mvRelated Science of Happiness Episodes: How To Focus Under Pressure: https://tinyurl.com/3hpah4ssHow to Find Calm Through Walking: https://tinyurl.com/43dr26reHow To Do Good For The Environment (And Yourself): https://tinyurl.com/26msewb8We love hearing from you! Tell us about your experiences with mindful walking. Email us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzusHelp us share Happiness Break! Rate us and copy and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzusTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/9n5xu96e

Do you have a hard time calming your nerves? Author Raina Telgemeier tries a practice to get out of her head, one step at a time.Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, bestselling graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier reflects on growing up with anxiety, panic attacks, and emetophobia—the fear of throwing up—and shares how transforming those experiences into stories helped her feel less alone and inspired young readers to seek support. Through a week-long walking meditation practice, Raina explores what it means to slow down, reconnect with her body, and face discomfort with curiosity rather than avoidance. How To Do This Practice: Choose a small, quiet space: Find a place where you can walk slowly back and forth for about 10–15 steps without interruption. This could be a hallway, living room, backyard, or even a hotel room. Set a timer for 10 minutes: Giving yourself a set amount of time helps you stop checking the clock and allows you to settle more fully into the practice. Begin walking slowly and naturally: Walk at a comfortable pace, paying attention to the sensation of each step—your heel touching the ground, the shift of your weight, and the movement of your body. Focus on your breath: As you walk, gently notice your breathing. You might take a slow breath before turning around at the end of each pass, letting your breath help anchor your attention. When your mind wanders, return to the movement: Thoughts, worries, memories, or distractions will come up. Rather than judging yourself, simply guide your attention back to your steps and breathing. Notice how you feel afterward: When the timer ends, pause for a moment before moving on with your day. Take note of any shifts in your body, mood, or pace of mind, even subtle ones can matter. Try the full practice here: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/walking_meditationScroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Guests:RAINA TELGEMEIER is an American cartoonist and New York Times bestselling author. Her books have received many awards, including multiple Eisner Awards, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor and a Stonewall Honor.Learn more about Raina Telgemeier here: https://goraina.com/ RICHARD DAVIDSON is the founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.Learn more about Richard Davidson here: https://www.richardjdavidson.com/Related The Science of Happiness episodes:  How to Find Calm Through Walking: https://tinyurl.com/43dr26reRelated Happiness Breaks:Walk Your Way to Calm, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/y8md2759Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/mrxkfvkj

What happens when you linger and look closely at a piece of art? Nathalie Ryan, an educator from the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., guides us through a slow looking practice shown to help deepen your sense of awe, presence, and connection.How To Do This Practice: Choose an image to focus on: Pick a piece of art, photograph, postcard, or even a recent photo from your phone that captures a natural or urban scene. Don’t overthink it—choose something that draws your attention. Begin with a few slow breaths: Take a moment to settle into the present. Deepen your inhale, lengthen your exhale, and allow your breathing to slow the pace of your day. Let your eyes wander slowly: Scan the image without rushing. Notice the light, colors, shapes, patterns, textures, and details that begin to emerge as you spend more time looking. Imagine yourself inside the scene: Engage all of your senses. What might you hear, smell, feel, or taste in this place? Allow yourself to step into the environment with your imagination. Notice how the scene changes: Picture the image at different times of day and throughout the seasons. Reflect on how the light, colors, atmosphere, and activity might shift over time. Reflect on what arises: Pause to notice any emotions, memories, thoughts, or sensations that surfaced during the practice. Consider what changed when you gave yourself permission to look more slowly. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Happiness Break Guide:NATHALIE A. RYAN is a Senior Educator at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, where she has led programs for educators, families, teens, and the adult public since 2002.Related Happiness Break episodes:How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpmPause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/mrutudehRelated Science of Happiness episodes:Cities of Awe Series: https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvnyHow Cities Can Make Space for Awe: https://tinyurl.com/yr7m2zb5What Humans Can Learn From Trees: https://tinyurl.com/48te84psFollow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/mt4mcw3m

Description:Sharing a new podcast called Stories from a Stranger, which features portraits of strangers connected by themes of love, loss, regret, inspiration, illness, family connections, and more. In each episode of Stories from a Stranger, host Hunter Prosper shares  raw, intimate, long-form conversations with real people. It’s a show that inspires empathy and connection, proving that “Every stranger has a story.”In this episode, Hunter meets three strangers at three different stages of life and asks them what love means to them. You’ll hear how love looks and feels different at every age—from the dizzying rush of a first crush to the quiet comfort of a lifelong partner, and the ache of wondering if love will ever come at all. Today, yesterday, and tomorrow, love is in the air.Listen to Stories from a Stranger at https://lnk.to/storiesfromastrangerSHTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/mu6sn8dp

What happens when we slow down enough to really experience art? We visit a museum to discover how slow looking at art can cultivate awe, empathy, and a greater sense of connection in a distracted world.Summary: Art has the power to move us emotionally, physically, and socially—but only if we take the time to truly engage with it. As part of our Cities of Awe series, this episode of The Science of Happiness explores what happens when we slow down and really look at a piece of art. We visit the Nevada Museum of Art to look at the science and practice of slow looking—how it can deepen empathy, presence, and everyday meaning.How To Do This Practice: Choose One Piece and Commit to Staying With It: Pick a single artwork, photograph, object, or even a scene in nature. Set aside about 15 minutes and put away distractions—especially your phone. The goal is not to “figure it out,” but to stay present long enough for your experience to deepen. Spend Time Noticing the Form: For the first five minutes, focus only on what you see. Notice the shapes, textures, colors, lines, patterns, shadows, movement, or composition. Let your eyes wander slowly across the piece and observe details you might normally miss. Pay Attention to Your Emotional Response: For the next five minutes, shift inward. What feelings arise as you look? Curiosity, comfort, sadness, awe, tension, delight, nostalgia? Instead of labeling the experience as simply “I like it” or “I don’t,” explore the full range of emotions and reactions that emerge. Let Your Mind Make Associations: For the last five minutes, allow the artwork to lead your thoughts elsewhere. What memories, people, places, or ideas come to mind? Does it remind you of something from your own life or spark questions about the world, history, or humanity? Follow the associations without judging them. Stay Open to Complexity and Discomfort: Some works may bring up conflicting or uncomfortable emotions. Rather than rushing past them, give yourself permission to sit with them.  Read the full study here.Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Guests: COLIN ROBERTSON is the Senior Vice President of Education and Research at the Nevada Museum of Art. Learn more about Colin Robertson here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmrobertson/DR. ANJAN CHATTERJEE is a professor of Neurology, Psychology, and Architecture and the founding Director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics. Learn more about Dr. Anjan Chatterjee here: https://tinyurl.com/yw2fs364Related Science of Happiness episodes:Cities of Awe Series: https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvnyFollow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/5b5prh4t

Take a few minutes to reflect on someone who inspires you, and how you can embody the values you admire in them.How To Do This Practice:  Arrive and Settle: Find a quiet place to sit or stand. Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take a few slow, steady breaths, allowing your body to relax and the noise of the day to quiet. Call to Mind Someone Who Inspires You: Think of a person whose character deeply moves you—someone whose courage, kindness, integrity, or compassion stands out. Let one specific moment come to mind when they embodied those qualities. Replay the Moment: Picture what they did as clearly as you can. What action did they take? What values were they expressing? Stay with the details of that moment and what made it meaningful. Notice How It Lands in Your Body: As you hold this image, turn your attention inward. What do you feel physically? Warmth, openness, a softening, maybe even emotion rising—just observe without judgment. Name What Matters to You: Reflect on why this moment resonates so deeply. What value or sense of purpose does it point to—justice, care, truth, courage, love? Let yourself name what feels most true for you. Ask yourself: What’s one small way I can live this value today? It might be in how you speak to someone, how you show up in your work, or how you care for yourself or others. Carry this intention with you as you move forward. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Happiness Break Guide:DACHER KELTNER is the host of the Greater Good Science Center’s award-winning podcast, The Science of Happiness and is a co-instructor of the GGSC’s popular online course of the same name. He’s also the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.Related Happiness Break episodes:Embodying Resilience: https://tinyurl.com/46383mhxA Meditation on Becoming a Gift to Life: https://tinyurl.com/yc76n7urVisualizing Your Purpose: https://tinyurl.com/3ndn95zrRelated Science of Happiness episodes:What’s Your “Why” in Life?: https://tinyurl.com/b38kdt68How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpmPause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/33uyrykc