Happiness Break: A Meditation to Move Through Anger

Happiness Break: A Meditation to Move Through Anger

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center July 9, 2026 Duration: 7:25
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/2vhuarh8 More Happiness Breaks like this one: A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/ye24rz4k The Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/rrtpje2x A Breathing Technique To Help You Relax: https://tinyurl.com/59y4sf5y Related Science of Happiness episodes: Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33 How To Feel Better About Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/3jave7h2 What To Do When Stress Takes Over: https://tinyurl.com/yxf3jawn 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/2zh8uewh

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: 50

The Science of Happiness
Podcast Episodes
Happiness Break: A Meditation on the Uniqueness of Your Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:07
In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, embrace the beauty of your accent in this self-compassion meditation. Mindfulness and meditation teacher Criss Cuervo invites you to reflect on your history, heritage, and connect…
How to Protect Your Brain as You Age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:48
What if getting older doesn’t have to mean losing your memory? Learn how neuroplasticity, healthy habits, and simple memory exercises can help keep your brain strong at any age. Summary: We often assume that getting olde…
Happiness Break: Tap into the Joy That Surrounds You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:55
Buddhist meditation teacher, Anushka Fernandopulle, guides us through a practice of Mudita, or appreciative joy, to help us share in the happiness of others. How To Do This Practice: Get comfortable and ground yourself:…
Sidedoor: Writing on the Wall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:36
Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. From the time we are old enough to hold a crayon, it feels instinctive to draw on the wall. But for MISS CHELOVE—also known as Cita Sadeli—this instinct became a calling.…
Talk To A Stranger—It’s Good For You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:11
We often underestimate how much small talk can impact our wellbeing. Research shows that even brief conversations with strangers can boost our happiness and sense of connection, but fear and anxiety often keep us from re…
Happiness Break: A Practice In Moving Through Stress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:51
Join yoga and meditation teacher Jonathan Relucio for a trauma-informed practice combining mindful movement and breathing to reduce tension and build resilience to stress. How To Do This Practice: Get comfortable: Sit or…
Where To Look For Joy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:08
How can we feel more moments of joy? Explore how joy is rooted in connection, gratitude, and paying attention to the people and moments that bring meaning to our lives. Summary: Did you know that joy isn’t just something…
Happiness Break: A Body Scan for Calm and Ease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:54
Meditation teacher Spring Washam guides us in a practice of embodied awareness, helping us use the body as an anchor during stressful or overwhelming moments. How To Do This Practice: Find a comfortable position: Sit upr…
Ear Hustle Podcast: Corny-Ass Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:36
Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Nigel says no matter where you are, everyone has a story to tell about a hug: good, bad, or awkward. Earlonne isn’t buying it. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia,…
Why You Can’t Do It Alone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:03
Can anyone truly succeed alone? We explore how role models, mentors, and strong social support make upward mobility far more possible than grit alone. Summary: What role do the people around us play in shaping our succes…