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
- Sit and take four deep breaths to honor the four sacred directions.
- Take a moment to stop, and step outside and see what life flourishes from.
- Take notice of the little things – a bird bath that provides a safe place for the birds to drink and to bathe.
- 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.
- Following this meditation, think about ways that you can make this a reality. You could order a bird bath from your local feed store.
- 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.
- 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.
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
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The Science of Happiness