logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
9m 45s

Happiness Break: Contemplating our Inter...

PRX AND GREATER GOOD SCIENCE CENTER
About this episode

Take ten minutes to renew your connection to the earth through this guided meditation on our interdependence with the ecosystem.

Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mt473u79

How to Do This Practice:

  1. Find a comfortable place to do this practice, relax into your body.

  2. Wherever you are, start to acknowledge your surroundings, noticing the living and inanimate things around you.

  3. Focus your attention on your breath, and how your breathing is interdependent on other life forms, and other life forms are dependent on your breath.

  4. Contemplate the Earth’s compassion, and how it provides you with unconditional support.

  5. Finish this practice by acknowledging your connection to the natural world.

Today’s Happiness Break host:

Dekila Chungyalpa is the founder and head of the Loka Initiative, which brings together faith leaders and culture keepers of indigenous traditions on environmental and climate issues.

Learn More About Dekila Chungyalpa’s work: https://centerhealthyminds.org/about/people/dekila-chungyalpa

Learn about the Loka Initiative: https://centerhealthyminds.org/programs/loka-initiative

Follow Dekila on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dchungyalpa/?hl=en

Follow Dekila on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dchungyalpa?lang=en

More resources from The Greater Good Science Center:

What Happens When We Reconnect With Nature: https://tinyurl.com/553xwm47

How Nature Helps Us Heal: https://tinyurl.com/2p93682j

Why Is Nature So Good for Your Mental Health? https://tinyurl.com/ycx9ns4p

How Nature Can Make You Kinder, Happier and More Creative: https://tinyurl.com/d2vzpsaj

How Being in Nature Can Spur Personal Growth: https://tinyurl.com/2p822nyj

How Modern Life Became Disconnected from Nature: https://tinyurl.com/bdzzy6pc

Being Around Nature Helps You Love Your Body: https://tinyurl.com/34m7tfre

We love hearing from you! How do you connect with nature? Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap

Help us share Happiness Break! Leave us a 5-star review and copy and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap

We're living through a mental health crisis. Between the stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, burnout — we all could use a break to feel better. That's where Happiness Break comes in. In each biweekly podcast episode, instructors guide you through research-backed practices and meditations that you can do in real-time. These relaxing and uplifting practices have been shown in a lab to help you cultivate calm, compassion, connection, mindfulness, and more — what the latest science says will directly support your well-being. All in less than ten minutes. A little break in your day.

This Happiness Break is part of our special series, Climate, Hope & Science. In it, we explore the intersection of environmental well-being and our own well-being, where taking care of ourselves and the planet are one in the same and feeling good is not only possible, it’s helpful. We find the links between crisis, hope, happiness, and action.

Look for the third and final episode May 11. Plus, we’ll share another climate-focused Happiness Break on May 18.

Up next
Oct 9
The Case for Hope, With Rebecca Solnit
We explore how embracing uncertainty enables us to move beyond climate anxiety and despair to hope and action, with author and activist Rebecca Solnit.Summary: When you think about climate change, do you feel hope? In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we examine what it m ... Show More
21m 45s
Oct 2
Happiness Break: Finding Yourself in Silence
Zen and mindfulness teacher Henry Shukman guides us in a meditation that invites us to listen deeply and find clarity in quiet.How To Do This Practice: Find Stillness: Sit comfortably in a quiet space. Close your eyes if you’d like, and allow your body to settle. Bring Your Atten ... Show More
6m 26s
Sep 25
What to Do When Stress Takes Over
Learn why uncertainty fuels anxiety and how noticing our body’s stress signals can help us find calm.Summary: One in five adults in the U.S. report living with anxiety, and many of us struggle to control or avoid the feelings that come with it. Science shows that tuning into the ... Show More
23m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
Meditation: Nature's Healing Touch
Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player.  Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> http ... Show More
25m 17s
Sep 2023
Affirmation: I Am One With Mother Nature
Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player.  Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> http ... Show More
9m 41s
Jun 2021
The healing beauty of nature - guided walking mindfulness meditation
These days a lot of us are spending more time indoors, especially if you’re working from home - we can start to forget how important nature is for our wellbeing. Today we’re going to go for a mindful walk, I hope you can join me. Be Calm Be Happy course: https://www.eventbrite.co ... Show More
26m 13s
Apr 2023
The Science Of Happiness: How To Be Happier
One question everyone in the world would say yes to: “Do you want to be happy?” That’s what today’s episode is about. I’m going to share some things that any and everyone in the world can do to improve their level of happiness. (SPOILER ALERT: These aren’t about making more money ... Show More
19m 28s
Oct 2023
Meditation: Chasing the Sun
We want to hear from you! Fill out our brief survey here: https://womensmeditationnetwork.com/survey. Your feedback helps us create more of what you want 💓 Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts c ... Show More
16m 51s
Dec 2022
This Scientist Says One Emotion Might Be the Key to Happiness. Can You Guess What It Is? | Dacher Keltner
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Our guest today is one of the most prominent happiness researchers in the world, and he has come to the conclusion that living the good life boils down to on ... Show More
1h 3m
Jul 2023
#441 Life Diversity Leads to a Happier Life (New Research Study)
Life Diversity Leads to a Happier Life (New Research Study) Research has recently discovered a correlation between our happiness and the amount of diversity we create in our lives.  When we enhance our mental and physical routines, our happiness state increases.  Additionally, th ... Show More
14m 45s
Jul 2022
Feel Happier, Day 7 The Art of Nature Therapy
Nature as a perpetual path to happiness. This week, we launch into a meditation series designed to help you connect with the natural world. You'll explore the ancient art of Japanese Forest Bathing. Immerse yourself in the healing powers of nature. In this week's series, you'll d ... Show More
10m 52s