Happiness Break: A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times

幸福休憩:极化时代的心灵冥想

The Science of Happiness

2026-03-05

8 分钟
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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 To Do This Practice: Ground Yourself: Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take three slow, deep breaths, noticing the sensation of each inhale and exhale. Let your body begin to settle. Picture the Conversation: Bring to mind an upcoming interaction that may feel challenging and visualize where it’s happening and what the setting looks like. See yourself arriving there. Lead with Curiosity: Imagine yourself speaking with a calm, open tone and asking thoughtful, genuine questions. Picture your body language expressing interest and care. See It Going Well: Visualize the other person responding positively—softening, engaging, or opening up. Notice how connection feels in your body. Rehearse the Hard Moment: Imagine a tense moment arising and observe what happens inside you without reacting. See yourself choosing a curious question instead of a defensive response. Close with Intention: Picture the conversation ending with appreciation and mutual respect. Take three more slow breaths, then gently open your eyes. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide: SCOTT SHIGEOKA is an author and storyteller who focuses on themes of curiosity and well-being. Learn More About Scott’s work here: https://tinyurl.com/y5xyxky7 Related Happiness Break episodes: Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 Embodying Resilience: https://tinyurl.com/46383mhx A Meditation for When You Feel Uneasy: https://tinyurl.com/4utrkyh5 Related Science of Happiness episodes: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process: https://tinyurl.com/234u5ds7 How To Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xc How Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6 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/s5atfjm7
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  • Welcome to Happiness Break by the Science of Happiness.

  • I'm Dacher Keltner.

  • Each episode serves as a short break in our day to try practices and meditations shown to make us happier.

  • This week, we're practicing how to be more curious.

  • Because research shows that when we are, it helps us to be more present,

  • puts us in a better mood, sparks our creativity,

  • and it can even make our relationships more satisfying.

  • We're going to be led in a visualization practice by Scott Shigeoka,

  • where we imagine ourselves experiencing a difficult situation,

  • but through a curious lens, one where we're keeping a cool, open mind.

  • Studies show that visualizing ourselves doing something difficult helps us meet that challenge when we actually face it.

  • Scott is the author of the new book, Seek, How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Save the World.

  • So find somewhere you feel comfortable.

  • closing your eyes for five minutes or so and enjoy this practice in cultivating curiosity.

  • Here's Scott.

  • Hi, everyone.

  • I'm so excited to share this visualization exercise to help you drop into your deep curiosity for your next conversation.

  • It's really taking a cue out of mental rehearsal, which comes from sports.

  • So the idea that when you visualize yourself hitting a ball with a baseball bat or throwing a free throw at the basketball line,

  • you're more likely to do it when you practice it in your mind through a visualization.