The Science of Happiness

Happiness Break: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process


Listen Later

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.

  1. Settle into Stillness: Find a quiet space, get comfortable, and take a few slow breaths to arrive in the moment.
  2. Acknowledge the Unknown: Gently notice and name any uncertainty, confusion, or emotional fog you’re feeling without needing to fix it.
  3. Welcome the Silence: Allow the silence and stillness to be here, trusting it holds meaning even if it feels uncomfortable.
  4. Reflect with Gentle Words: Repeat silently or write: “To love yourself through the darkness is to plant gardens at night.”
  5. Feel Your Connection: Remember that many others are also sitting with uncertainty, and you are not alone in this experience.
  6. 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. Her debut novel, The Catch, comes out June 3rd.
    Learn more about Yrsa here: https://yrsadaleyward.squarespace.com/

    Pre-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:

    Our Brains on Poetry: https://tinyurl.com/y9r9dyzd

    How Art Heals Us: https://tinyurl.com/yc77fkzu

    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 [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/234u5ds7

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Science of HappinessBy PRX and Greater Good Science Center

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    1,816 ratings


    More shows like The Science of Happiness

    View all
    Living on Earth by World Media Foundation

    Living on Earth

    465 Listeners

    Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen by PRX

    Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen

    664 Listeners

    Latino USA by My Cultura, Futuro and iHeartPodcasts

    Latino USA

    3,748 Listeners

    Afropop Worldwide by Afropop Worldwide

    Afropop Worldwide

    309 Listeners

    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,416 Listeners

    Live Wire with Luke Burbank by PRX

    Live Wire with Luke Burbank

    321 Listeners

    The World by PRX

    The World

    916 Listeners

    Snap Judgment by Snap Judgment and PRX

    Snap Judgment

    11,537 Listeners

    TED Radio Hour by NPR

    TED Radio Hour

    22,074 Listeners

    Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

    Good Life Project

    3,287 Listeners

    The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

    The One You Feed

    2,501 Listeners

    Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

    Reveal

    8,276 Listeners

    Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg by Be Here Now Network

    Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

    684 Listeners

    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,483 Listeners

    Untangle by Untangle

    Untangle

    836 Listeners

    10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

    10% Happier with Dan Harris

    12,553 Listeners

    Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

    Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

    2,481 Listeners

    How To! by Slate Podcasts

    How To!

    1,943 Listeners

    Meditative Story by WaitWhat

    Meditative Story

    3,074 Listeners

    The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos by Pushkin Industries

    The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

    14,399 Listeners

    How to Be a Better Human by TED

    How to Be a Better Human

    1,374 Listeners

    Suave by Futuro Media

    Suave

    1,517 Listeners

    A Slight Change of Plans by Pushkin Industries

    A Slight Change of Plans

    2,066 Listeners

    How to Age Up by The Atlantic

    How to Age Up

    1,424 Listeners