Happiness Break: How To Tune Into Water’s Restorative Power

Happiness Break: How To Tune Into Water’s Restorative Power

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center November 14, 2024 Duration: 7:35
Indigenous scholar Dr. Yuria Celidwen guides us in a reflection on our interconnection with water, encouraging us to see it as more than just a vital resource, but as kin.  How to Do This Practice: Last week we explored the scientifically backed healing qualities of water, focusing on how connecting with water through sound, sight, and touch can support our well being. This week, indigenous scholar Dr. Yuria Celidwen guides us in a reflection on our interconnection with water, encouraging us to see it as more than just a vital resource, but as kin.   Find a quiet space where you can engage with water— a nearby river, ocean, or even the faucet at home. Focus on the sound of water. Whether it’s the gentle drip from a faucet or the sound of waves, listen deeply to how water calls to you. Contemplate how water transforms between solid, liquid, and gas. Let this remind you of your own potential for transformation. Imagine the water flow, guiding you to feel its presence within and around you, awakening memories, imagination, and a sense of belonging in this shared world. Take a few moments to reflect on how different manifestations of water connect with you.  Today’s Happiness Break Host: DR. YURIA CELIDWEN is an indigenous scholar of contemplative studies, and author of the new book, Flourishing Kin: Indigenous Foundations For Collective Well-Being. Read more on Yuria: https://www.yuriacelidwen.com/#about Follow Yuria on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuriacelidwen/ Read Yuria’s work on kin relationality: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.994508/full If You Enjoyed This Happiness Break, You Might Also Like: Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher How to Ground Yourself in Nature, With Yuria Celidwen  Check Out These Episodes of The Science of Happiness:  The Healing Effects of Experiencing Wildlife  How to Do Good for the Environment (And Yourself)  How to Use Your Body to Relax Your Mind (The Science of Happiness) This episode is supported by Tianren Culture, whose vision is “One Wisdom, One Health.” Tianren Culture is a next-generation social platform that acts as a catalyst to foster positive global values and lifestyles. Help us share Happiness Break! Rate us and copy and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzus Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/59mmr7jc

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
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…
Happiness Break: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:57
Through poetic reflection, Yrsa Daley-Ward helps us embrace the in-between moments, reminding us that the unknown can be the very terrain where real change begins. Settle into Stillness: Find a quiet space, get comfortab…
Happiness Break: How Poetry Helps Us Feel and Heal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:15
What happens in your brain when you read or write a poem? We listen to powerful poetry from you, our listeners, and uncover the neuroscience of why it helps us feel, process, and recover. Scroll down for a transcription…
Why Work Feels Better Together [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:48
From a worker-owned restaurant in Oakland to a nonprofit built on shared leadership, we explore how collective work models can help people feel heard, valued, and more invested in their work. Summary: In this episode of…