Happiness Break: A Meditation on Becoming A Gift To Life

Our happiness is interconnected with the well-being of others, both people and the natural world. Step outside of you can, or imagine the outdoors from wherever you are now, and join us for a meditation that’ll help us be better stewards of the natural world.

Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/y3yfjsxa

Episode Summary

A meditation on how we can give back to the earth, led by indigenous activist, artist, and scholar Dr. Lyla June Johnston.

How To Do This Practice

1. Sit and take four deep breaths to honor the four sacred directions.
2. Take a moment to stop, and step outside and see what life flourishes from.
3. Take notice of the little things – a bird bath that provides a safe place for the birds to drink and to bathe.
4. Think about how you can give a small gift to life., Maybe you could plant fruit or nut-bearing trees that could feed you,your neighbors, and the wildlife around you.
5. Following this meditation, think about ways that you can make this a reality. You could order a bird bath from your local feed store.
6. Think of the metaphor of the bird bath. A bird bath is a human creation. And it's a gift to birds. It doesn't benefit us at all. It truly is just a gift to a species outside of our own.
7. Reflect on how this is truly what human beings were born to do – born to be givers, stewards, and caretakers of the earth.

Guest Host: Dr. Lyla June Johnston is an indigenous activist, artist, and scholar from the Naaneesht'ezhi Taach'iinii clan of the Diné Nation.

• For more on her work: https://www.lylajune.com/
• Watch her TED talk: https://tinyurl.com/frbe5ya9
• Follow her on instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdfbf8yx
• Follow her on X: https://tinyurl.com/4jj57n25
• Follow her on Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/3cskuh7x

Science of Happiness Episodes like this one

• How to Do Good for the Environment (And Yourself): https://tinyurl.com/dmsr2wkm
• The Healing Effects of Experiencing Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/murmd98b

Happiness Break Related Episodes

• How to Be in Harmony in Nature—Wherever You Are, With Yuria Celidwen: https://tinyurl.com/ynxeeb7a
• Contemplating Our Interdependence With Nature, With Dekila Chungyalpa: https://tinyurl.com/erz2f5de
• Feeling the Awe of Nature From Anywhere, With Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/y4mm4wu9

Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

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