The Science of Happiness  By  cover art

The Science of Happiness

By: PRX and Greater Good Science Center
  • Summary

  • Learn research-tested strategies for a happier, more meaningful life, drawing on the science of compassion, gratitude, mindfulness, and awe. Hosted by award-winning psychologist Dacher Keltner. Co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center.

    © Greater Good Science Center
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Episodes
  • Happiness Break: Tap into the Joy that Surrounds You, With Anushka Fernandopulle
    Mar 21 2024

    Beyond just feeling good, studies show experiencing other people's joy makes us more compassionate and satisfied with life.

    Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/43e35j37

    How to Do This Practice:

    1. Find a comfortable position to begin this practice, focusing on your breath.

    2. Visualize a person or situation that brings you a sense of joy or happiness. It might be a child laughing, the success of a friend, or even a dog wagging its tail.

    3. Connect with their joy and happiness, wishing them well.

    4. Expand your focus to larger groups of people, like a team winning a match, wishing them well.

    5. Consider repeating this practice when you want to connect your sense of happiness with others.

    Today’s Happiness Break host:

    Anushka Fernandopulle is a Buddhist meditation teacher and leadership coach.

    Learn More about Anushka: https://www.anushkaf.org/about/

    Follow Anushka on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anushka_dharma/

    Follow Anushka on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anushkaf

    More resources from The Greater Good Science Center:

    Happiness Break: Wishing Others’ Well, With Anushka Fernandopulle: https://tinyurl.com/jrkewjs8

    What Is Sympathetic Joy and How Can You Feel More of It? https://tinyurl.com/yuzmykct

    How to Overcome Stress by Seeing Other People’s Joy: https://tinyurl.com/4csukyd5

    Can Little Steps Lead to Big Joy? https://tinyurl.com/3e5yt3hp

    Why Experiencing Joy and Pain in a Group Is So Powerful: https://tinyurl.com/3trjtzfm

    We love hearing from you! Tell us about your experience of appreciating others’ joy. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

    Find us on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3bj4637f

    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.

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    5 mins
  • Who’s Always There for You?
    Mar 14 2024
    When we remember the times someone had our back, it changes the way we view ourselves and the world. Our guest explores what happens when trying a practice to feel more supported. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mrpyr8a7 Episode summary: Ever since he was a young child, José Valladares has spent his life caring for others and has taken pride in supporting his family and community, For our show, he tried a practice where he recalled people in his life who he can turn to during a difficult moment — the people who support him. As he wrote about their admirable qualities and specific instances where they helped him, José felt a renewed sense of gratitude and energy to persist forward in helping others. Later, we hear from psychologist Angela Rowe about how feeling supported can impact our relationships and sense of personal empowerment. Practice: Make a list of the people who offer you comfort or security.Write down six positive qualities that are common to some or all of these people.Next, recall and visualize a specific situation when you felt distressed or worried, and one of these people comforted and helped you.Write a brief description of that situation and how you felt during it. Learn more about this practice at Greater Good In Action: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/feeling_supported Today’s guests: José Valladares is a software engineer in Utah originally from Honduras. Angela Rowe is a psychology professor at the University of Bristol. Learn more about Angela’s work: https://tinyurl.com/4nh752ad Resources from The Greater Good Science Center: Happiness Break: Who Takes Care of You? With Dacher Keltner: https://tinyurl.com/bdezwwyd How to Let Someone Love You (The Science of Happiness Podcast): https://tinyurl.com/5xtzbzj2 Four Ways Social Support Makes You More Resilient: https://tinyurl.com/2p9zkjpj Just One Thing: Feel the Support: https://tinyurl.com/yrfnmwfv Friend or Family? https://tinyurl.com/msbs2kuh More Resources on Feeling Supported NYT Times - Are You Anxious, Avoidant or Secure? https://tinyurl.com/yes746sv The Atlantic - The Trait That ‘Super Friends’ Have in Common: https://tinyurl.com/bdheumdh BBC - Why friendship makes us healthier: https://tinyurl.com/3596n4u7 TED - How to ask for help -- and get a "yes": https://tinyurl.com/2ybrmt7m Stanford - Asking for help is hard, but people want to help more than we realize, Stanford scholar says’: https://tinyurl.com/4n4hraj5' Who do you turn to for support in your life? Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Rate us on Spotify and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/b6779syt
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    17 mins

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