Happiness Break: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process

Happiness Break: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center April 2, 2026 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 comfortable, and take a few slow breaths to arrive in the moment. Acknowledge the Unknown: Gently notice and name any uncertainty, confusion, or emotional fog you’re feeling without needing to fix it. Welcome the Silence: Allow the silence and stillness to be here, trusting it holds meaning even if it feels uncomfortable. Reflect with Gentle Words: Repeat silently or write: “To love yourself through the darkness is to plant gardens at night.” Feel Your Connection: Remember that many others are also sitting with uncertainty, and you are not alone in this experience. Close with Compassion: Offer yourself kindness through touch or words and affirm that this pause is part of your growth. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide: YRSA DALEY-WARD is an award-winning poet and author of the novel, The Catch. Learn more about Yrsa here: https://yrsadaleyward.squarespace.com/ Order her book here: https://tinyurl.com/yanw6bb5 Related Happiness Break episodes: Using Art As Medicine Series: https://tinyurl.com/k3mneupx Making Space For You: https://tinyurl.com/yk6nfnfv How To Awaken Your Creative Energy: https://tinyurl.com/4fknd8ev Related Science of Happiness episodes: How Art Heals Us: https://tinyurl.com/yc77fkzu Our Brains on Poetry: https://tinyurl.com/y9r9dyzd Are You Following Your Inner Compass: https://tinyurl.com/y2bh8vvj 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/yckxhbja

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
What Happens in the Brain When We Improvise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Happiness Break: How to Feel More Connected to Others [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:36
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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
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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,…
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Duration: 22:17
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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…
How Qigong Can Calm Your Mind and Body [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:09
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