Happiness Break: An Affirmation Practice for the New Year

Happiness Break: An Affirmation Practice for the New Year

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center January 8, 2026 Duration: 8:04
This New Year, affirm the wonderful qualities you already possess with this meditative writing practice with Chris Murchison called "I Am." How To Do This Practice: Settle your body and breath: Find a comfortable seat. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take a few slow, deep breaths. Feeling your belly and lungs expand. Bringing your attention into the present moment. Notice what’s here: Briefly tune in to what’s moving through you right now: thoughts, emotions, sensations in your body, and the space around you. There’s nothing to change—just notice. Begin with “I am…”: Open your eyes and place your pen at the top of the page. Write the words “I am…” and complete the sentence with whatever feels true at this moment. Keep writing continuously for one minute: On each new line, write “I am…” again and complete it. Keep your pen moving for a full minute. Don’t edit, judge, or overthink. Just let the words come. Pause and reflect: Put your pen down. Read what you’ve written. Notice where you started, how your responses shifted, and where you ended. Look for patterns, themes, or surprises. Carry it forward: Take a few mindful breaths. Consider how this clearer sense of your present self might shape how you move into the next moment with more awareness and care. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide: CHRIS MURCHISON is an artist and meditation teacher. Check out Chris’s website: https://chrismurchison.com/ Follow Chris on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/4nyjahj4 Related Happiness Break episodes: The Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/y4ze59h8 A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/485y3b4y How to Be Your Own Best Friend: https://tinyurl.com/y5kbecej Related Science of Happiness episodes: How to Stick to Your Resolutions in 2024: https://tinyurl.com/mub9z9z4 How Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6 How To Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xc 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/2d595rz3

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 For When You Have Too Much To Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:23
Does your to-do list feel endless? Try this short, guided practice to help you reflect, reconnect, and release the pressure to do it all perfectly. How To Do This Practice: Find a Comfortable Posture: Sit or stand tall w…
What Happens in the Brain When We Improvise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:54
Explore the neuroscience behind musical improvisation—and what it reveals about our natural capacity for creativity. Summary: Creativity may be more natural than we think. Research on musicians and children improvising a…
Happiness Break: A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
How to Make Work More Satisfying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:25
Finding ways to bend tasks toward your strengths and passions can make you happier, more productive and find more meaning in your life—no matter your job. Summary: On this episode of The Science of Happiness, we explore…
Happiness Break: How to Feel More Connected to Others [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:36
Research shows that reflecting on our shared humanity can increase self-compassion and life satisfaction while reducing feelings of isolation. In this practice, Dacher Keltner guides us to look beneath our differences an…
The Science of Love (Episode 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:04
Guest host Geena Davis guides us through the research on love that stretches beyond romance and friendship, showing up in our bonds with objects, nature, grief, and the collective moments that connect us to something lar…
The Science of Love (Episode 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:53
Guest host Geena Davis helps us explore how the love we feel —for our partners, friends, family, even our four legged companions—shapes our brains, bodies, and lives. Summary: On this episode of The Science of Love with…
The Science of Love (Episode 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
In a culture that often reduces love to romance, Geena Davis helps us explore the science of love across the lifespan—revealing how our bonds with parents, friends, partners, and communities shape our health, happiness,…
How to Keep Your Humanity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:17
Discover what happens to our well-being when we respond to suffering with compassion, collective action, and why choosing to care can help us hold on to our shared humanity. Summary: In the face of widespread suffering,…
Happiness Break: Finding Calm in Uncertainty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:58
Psychologist and stress expert Elissa Epel leads us in a gentle, science-backed practice to calm our nervous systems and meet uncertainty with greater ease and acceptance. We want to hear from you! Take our quick 5-minut…