Happiness Break: A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times

Happiness Break: A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center March 5, 2026 Duration: 8:32
Having a curious approach to life can improve our mood, creativity and relationships. Scott Shigeoka leads a visualization exercise to help you approach someone you might disagree with with an open and curious mind. How To Do This Practice: Ground Yourself: Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take three slow, deep breaths, noticing the sensation of each inhale and exhale. Let your body begin to settle. Picture the Conversation: Bring to mind an upcoming interaction that may feel challenging and visualize where it’s happening and what the setting looks like. See yourself arriving there. Lead with Curiosity: Imagine yourself speaking with a calm, open tone and asking thoughtful, genuine questions. Picture your body language expressing interest and care. See It Going Well: Visualize the other person responding positively—softening, engaging, or opening up. Notice how connection feels in your body. Rehearse the Hard Moment: Imagine a tense moment arising and observe what happens inside you without reacting. See yourself choosing a curious question instead of a defensive response. Close with Intention: Picture the conversation ending with appreciation and mutual respect. Take three more slow breaths, then gently open your eyes. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide: SCOTT SHIGEOKA is an author and storyteller who focuses on themes of curiosity and well-being. Learn More About Scott’s work here: https://tinyurl.com/y5xyxky7 Related Happiness Break episodes: Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 Embodying Resilience: https://tinyurl.com/46383mhx A Meditation for When You Feel Uneasy: https://tinyurl.com/4utrkyh5 Related Science of Happiness episodes: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process: https://tinyurl.com/234u5ds7 How To Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xc How Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6 Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/s5atfjm7

What if the things that make life feel worthwhile aren't just abstract ideas, but observable, measurable phenomena? That's the territory explored in The Science of Happiness. Each episode moves beyond simple self-help platitudes, grounding itself in the concrete research from psychology and neuroscience. Hosted by the insightful Dacher Keltner, a psychologist whose work often centers on these very emotions, the conversations feel both authoritative and deeply human. You'll hear from people who are actively testing out specific, research-backed practices-from cultivating compassion to finding moments of genuine awe-and then discussing the real, sometimes messy results. This isn't about a constant state of cheer; it's about understanding the building blocks of a resilient and meaningful existence. The podcast, a co-production of PRX and the Greater Good Science Center, translates academic findings into accessible stories and actionable insights. Tuning in feels less like receiving a lecture and more like sitting in on a fascinating experiment about our shared human condition, one where the data points are moments of connection, gratitude, and personal discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Science of Happiness
Podcast Episodes
Finding Common Ground in Uncomfortable Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
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. Summar…
Happiness Break: A Walking Meditation With Dan Harris of 10% Happier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:00
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 wit…
How To Step Away from Anxiety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:46
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 T…
Happiness Break: The Unexpected Joy of Slow Looking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:37
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 o…
Love Throughout Your Life: Stories from a Stranger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:40
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 S…
The Art of Slowing Down [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:42
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…
Happiness Break: A Meditation to Inspire a Sense of Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:40
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 s…
An Awe Walk Through History and Possibility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:59
Noticing the history and beauty around us can shift how we see ourselves—and our communities. An awe walk through Harlem reveals how the stories embedded in public spaces can spark connection, perspective, and a sense of…
Happiness Break: A Loving-Kindness Practice for Yourself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:09
In this gentle practice, psychologist Kristin Neff helps us extend loving kindness inward, offering ourselves the same care and goodwill we naturally give to others. How To Do This Practice: Settle into your body: Sit co…
How Cities Can Make Space for Awe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:22
A simple experiment turning a parking space into a parklet reveals how small changes to public spaces can spark connection, belonging, and awe. Summary: What if even the smallest changes to our cities could transform how…