Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Happiness Break: A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Happiness Break: A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times
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 [email protected] 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
View all episodes
By PRX and Greater Good Science Center
4.5
18521,852 ratings
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 [email protected] 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
More shows like The Science of Happiness
View all
TED Radio Hour
21,953 Listeners
Hidden Brain
43,651 Listeners
The One You Feed | Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience & Purpose
2,555 Listeners
Snap Judgment
11,652 Listeners
Live Wire with Luke Burbank
326 Listeners
The World
942 Listeners
Reveal
8,475 Listeners
Living on Earth
468 Listeners
Afropop Worldwide
310 Listeners
Tara Brach
10,587 Listeners
Untangle
848 Listeners
Good Life Project
3,381 Listeners
Sounds True: Insights at the Edge
1,886 Listeners
Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg
705 Listeners
Latino USA
3,792 Listeners
On Being with Krista Tippett
10,398 Listeners
10% Happier with Dan Harris
12,724 Listeners
Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson
2,524 Listeners
Things That Go Boom
324 Listeners
Life Kit
4,814 Listeners
The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
14,315 Listeners
Suave
1,554 Listeners
A Slight Change of Plans
2,115 Listeners
The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good
29 Listeners