The Science of Happiness

Happiness Break: How To Tune Into Water’s Restorative Power

Nov 14, 2024

Dr. Yuria Celidwen, an Indigenous scholar of contemplative studies and author of *Flourishing Kin*, invites listeners to explore their relationship with water as more than just a resource. She emphasizes water’s restorative qualities and its transformative power. Through sensory engagement, like listening to flowing water, Yuria encourages reflection on emotions and belonging in nature. The conversation fosters a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with water, urging us to cherish and protect this vital element.

07:35

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Yuria Celidwen

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Quick takeaways

Connecting with water through our senses enhances well-being by reducing stress and fostering deeper emotional connections to the environment.

Embracing a respectful relationship with water emphasizes its life-sustaining role, promoting environmental stewardship and personal responsibility towards nature.

Deep dives

Healing Through Sensory Connection to Water

Connecting with water through our senses can significantly enhance well-being by reducing stress and promoting calm. Research indicates that engaging with water, such as through its sounds and sights, fosters a deeper emotional connection, which may lead to a greater commitment to protecting water sources. This connection emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in our interactions with water, urging individuals to appreciate its healing qualities. Such practices encourage individuals to create meaningful relationships with water, transforming how they view their environment and their role within it.

Awakening to Water's Restorative and Relational Nature

3min

Embracing the Restorative Connection with Water

4min

Indigenous scholar Dr. Yuria Celidwen guides us in a reflection on our interconnection with water, encouraging us to see it as more than just a vital resource, but as kin.

How to Do This Practice:

Last week we explored the scientifically backed healing qualities of water, focusing on how connecting with water through sound, sight, and touch can support our well being. This week, indigenous scholar Dr. Yuria Celidwen guides us in a reflection on our interconnection with water, encouraging us to see it as more than just a vital resource, but as kin.

Find a quiet space where you can engage with water— a nearby river, ocean, or even the faucet at home.
Focus on the sound of water. Whether it’s the gentle drip from a faucet or the sound of waves, listen deeply to how water calls to you.
Contemplate how water transforms between solid, liquid, and gas. Let this remind you of your own potential for transformation.
Imagine the water flow, guiding you to feel its presence within and around you, awakening memories, imagination, and a sense of belonging in this shared world.
Take a few moments to reflect on how different manifestations of water connect with you.

Today’s Happiness Break Host:

DR. YURIA CELIDWEN is an indigenous scholar of contemplative studies, and author of the new book, Flourishing Kin: Indigenous Foundations For Collective Well-Being.

Read more on Yuria: https://www.yuriacelidwen.com/#about

Follow Yuria on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuriacelidwen/

Read Yuria’s work on kin relationality: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.994508/full

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We’d love to hear how this practice goes for you! Let us know how you connect with water in your life.

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Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/59mmr7jc