10% Happier With Dan Harris

Let go of your thoughts, stop getting caught in your stories, and try the ancient practice of walking meditation. Walking meditation is one of the most practical and underrated tools in mindfulness — and in this episode, Dan shares a guided practice from his new audiobook, Even You Can Meditate (co-authored with Sebene Selassie), out now on Audible. The practice is led by Sebene herself. The premise is simple: walk slowly and deliberately, pay attention to the sensations of each step, and when your mind wanders — just start again. It bridges the gap between formal sitting practice and everyday life, and it's a genuine game-changer for fidgeters, restless types, and anyone who finds stillness unbearable. In this guided practice, Sebene leads you through: Grounding yourself before you take your first step Tuning into the physical sensations of lifting, moving, and placing each foot Expanding awareness to include your whole body and your surroundings Letting thoughts come and go — without getting caught

Plus, staying sane in a crazy world, giving tough feedback, and how to orient to the dumpster fire of the news. Ajahn Kovilo Bhikkhu and Ajahn Nisabho are North American-born, Theravada monks who founded Clear Mountain Monastery in Seattle, Washington.  In this episode we talk about: How to get stuff off your chest How to live with less shame and regret How to give feedback without pissing people off too much How to accept feedback without getting pissed off or getting defensive How to stay sane in a crazy news cycle Why being miserable about the state of the world doesn't actually help anything How to cultivate the opposite of depression Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel This episode is sponsored by:  LinkedIn Ads — Reach the right professionals with precision targeting. Spend $250 and get a $250 credit at http://www.linkedin.com/happier Fast Growing Trees — America's largest online nursery

Yale emotional intelligence expert on how to deal with other people's emotions (and your own). Marc Brackett, Ph.D. is the author of Dealing with Feeling: Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want and the bestselling Permission to Feel. He is the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University. You can watch Marc's podcast interviews here.  In this episode we talk about: How to deal with stress, anxiety and anger How to use gratitude in moments of compare and despair, like when you're on Instagram comparing yourself to other people's lives  How to talk to yourself in moments of high stress How to talk to other people when they're experiencing powerful emotions themselves Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Thanks to our sponsors: FitBod — Personalized workout plans that adapt as you improve. Get 25% off or try free

What Anderson learned from losing everyone he loved, what we owe our parents, and how grief shapes all of us--a conversation from the podcast "IMO." On IMO, siblings Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson aim to bring you candid perspectives on the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Each week, they're joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. In this episode, Anderson Cooper shares what he's learned about holding space for grief. The three talk about how they managed (or avoided) the grieving process and how their moms prepared their kids to live without them. Plus Anderson shares his thoughts on the Vanderbilts inspiring an episode of "The Gilded Age." You can hear more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecraigTH   Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel   To advertise on the show, contact sales@a

Practical Buddhist strategies to focus the mind.   Shaila Catherine is a dharma teacher and author of the book titled "Beyond Distraction: Five Practical Ways to Focus the Mind." She authored two additional books on the concentration practices called jhana and approaches to insight meditation. She has practiced for more than 45 years, including nine years, cumulatively, of silent retreat. Shaila has been leading meditation retreats for 30 years, and has developed an array of in-depth online courses offered through BodhiCourses.org.   In this episode we talk about: The Buddha's struggles with distraction Shaila's attempts to make the teachings of the Buddha accessible to contemporary minds The importance of getting to know your own thought patterns the counterintuitive strategy of "avoid it, ignore it, forget it," Replacing seduction with mindfulness Developing a flexibility of mind And why we're vulnerable to our own tendencies when we're not mindful   This episode originally aired June 29th, 2022.   Relate

Plus: How to "turn down the volume" on suffering, how to reframe your problems, and the clinical evidence for "stopping and smelling the roses."   Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW is Endowed Professor in Health Sciences at the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Center for Addiction Science and Treatment at University of California San Diego (UCSD), and Director of UCSD ONEMIND (Optimized Neuroscience-Enhanced Mindfulness Intervention Design). Dr. Garland researches treatments for addiction and chronic pain, and is the developer of an innovative, mind-body therapy founded on insights derived from cognitive, affective, and neurobiological science, called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE).    In this episode we talk about: The three parts of his MORE protocol Simple practices for dealing with everyday addictions Mindfulness techniques for dealing with pain  What pain actually is How to reframe negative thought patterns Practical tools for regain

Plus: How to find practices that work for you, what "mindfulness" actually means, and a new audiobook out now. Sebene Selassie has been meditating for decades, survived cancer three times, and still says the practice isn't a magic bullet. That honesty is kind of the point. Today we're sharing a sneak preview of Dan's new audiobook, Even You Can Meditate, co-authored with Sebene. Think of it as a practical rescue plan for anyone who feels too distracted, overwhelmed, or skeptical to start (or restart) a meditation practice. In this preview, Dan and Seb cover: Why "mindfulness" is actually a bit of a misnomer — and what the practice is really about What meditation can and can't do for you (it won't solve everything, but the benefits tend to kick in faster than you'd expect) How to find the style that works for your specific brain, body, and life — including if sitting still feels impossible The role of intention, and why getting clear on your "why" can become a surprisingly powerful engine for keeping a

The comedian on: connecting instead of separating, feeling whole, and the upside of being an affirmation addict. Pete Holmes is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor. He created and starred in HBO's Crashing and hosted The Pete Holmes Show on TBS. He has released stand-up specials on HBO, Netflix, and Comedy Central, hosts the popular You Made It Weird podcast, and is the author of Comedy Sex God. This episode is a live conversation recorded in NYC as part of a benefit for the amazing organization New York Insight Meditation Center.  In this episode we talk about: How Pete Holmes's evangelical upbringing shaped his early ideas about fear, morality, and God Psychedelics, awareness, identity and consciousness   Mysticism and metaphor versus literal belief Meditation and different paths of practice What meditation reveals about awareness, forgetting, and remembering Being an affirmation addict Service and helping others Happiness versus peace of mind Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's fr

The brain benefits of self-disclosure, the costs of staying silent, and how to know what to reveal and when. Leslie John is the James E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. Her new book is called Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing. In this episode we talk about: Why self-disclosure can feel risky but is often socially rewarding The psychological and physiological costs of keeping secrets How putting feelings into words can reduce rumination and anxiety Why validation is often more helpful than advice Why undersharing leads to missed opportunities in relationships, work, and life Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel LinkedIn |  Spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a $250 credit for the next one. Just go to http://linkedin.com/happier Fast Growing Trees | Get 20% off your first purchase at http://fastgrowingtrees.com, using the

If you struggle with the terrifying reality that everything changes, this conversation is for you. Bart van Melik is a meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and our Teacher of the Month for January. In this live session recorded on Zoom with subscribers to the 10% with Dan Harris app, Bart and Dan explore one of Bart's favorite teachings: "Keep calmly knowing change"—four words that supposedly distill all 84,000 of the Buddha's teachings. We talk about: Why attuning to the flow of things brings peace (even though change is terrifying)—and what the Buddha said on his deathbed about impermanence How to introduce meditation to kids without making it seem difficult or boring  The three dimensions of mindfulness: internal (your own mind), external (noticing other people's breath on the subway), and relational (the field we're all co-creating together) Whether connecting through venting and complaining is harmless or something to examine more closely "Useless speech" (sampappalāpa)—the Pali term for saying

Plus, making the mundane sacred, meditating in a cave, and lowering the ego walls. Michael Pollan is the author of ten books, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. His latest book is A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness. In this episode we talk about: How to get over yourself How to reduce rumination How to lower the ego's walls How to elevate mundane tasks The value of what Zen practitioners call "don't know mind" How to reclaim your attention from Big Tech (what Michael calls the "colonizers of consciousness") The value of MDMA-assisted therapy Michael's experiences meditating in a cave Related Episodes: Don't Let This Crisis Go To Waste | Roshi Joan Halifax Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris  

A financial psychology expert on the science of contentment.   Morgan Housel is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Psychology of Money and Same As Ever. He's a partner at The Collaborative Fund, serves on the board of directors at Markel and is host of The Morgan Housel Podcast. His new book is The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life.  In this episode we talk about: What "irrational" spending habits really tell us How to manage money ambition with sanity  How to use scarcity to your advantage A useful equation for finding contentment The key defense against envy  How to minimize future regret Why young people should check their bank accounts more often How to talk to your kids about money How to disconnect self-worth from financial worth  And more   Related Episodes: The Psychology of Money | Morgan Housel   Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise

How do you stay engaged without getting consumed? That's one of the central questions in this conversation between Dan and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais.  Together they explore:  working at your edge in meditation, panic disorder, and professional life why love might be the most important skill we can develop  navigating rage in difficult political times and the Ideal Competitive Mindset — a concept Dan found surprisingly useful.  Originally recorded for Dr. Gervais' podcast, Finding Mastery, this one turned into a real back-and-forth.   Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris

In this episode, Dan takes live questions from subscribers to the 10% with Dan Harris app. Topics include: meditating through grief and serious emotional pain, the hidden addiction to feeling calm during meditation, how to find focus and concentration without straining so hard you get a headache, whether guided meditations are just "training wheels," and how to practice when ADHD or restlessness makes sitting still feel impossible. Throughout, Dan returns to a central theme: the point of meditation isn't to feel any particular way — it's to relate differently to whatever is already there. To join the live Tuesday sessions, sign up for a free 14-day trial at danharris.com. Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel LinkedIn:  Spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a $250 credit for the next one. Just go to linkedin.com/happier. To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.co

The two practices that helped turn this self described scowling, sarcastic skeptic into an expert meditator.   Devin Berry is a Core Guiding Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society and a residential retreat teacher at IMS and Spirit Rock. A meditator since 1999, his practice is rooted in long-term retreat practice and the mettā and vipassanā teachings of the Insight Meditation tradition.    In this episode we talk about: Why mindfulness alone is not enough How mettā is part of four related mental skills called the Brahma Viharas The story of how and why the Buddha (according to the legend) invented mettā practice The role and practice of generosity A year long experiment that Devin ran in mettā and danā And lastly, how these practices can help us both on and off the cushion   This episode originally aired on July 31st, 2024.   Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Thanks to our sponsors:  LinkedI

What it really means to feel loved, and why many people who are loved don't feel it. Sonja Lyubomirsky is a preeminent happiness expert and Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California. Harry Reis is one of the world's leading experts on relationships and Dean's Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Rochester. They are the authors of: HOW TO FEEL LOVED: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most. In this episode we talk about: What it really means to feel loved, and why many people who are loved don't feel it An antidote to loneliness  A broader definition of love beyond romance Why feeling loved may be the true key to happiness How feeling loved is more in your control than you think The "relationship seesaw": lifting others up to feel loved yourself The power of curiosity, listening, and reciprocity Why dropping emotional armor is necessary for real connection Practical tools for feeling more loved Tips on asking better questions and showing

A conversation with meditation teacher Jay Michaelson about what to do when you're constantly tired, fried, and running on empty. If you feel exhausted seemingly all the time—whether it's a low hum or something louder—you're not alone. In this conversation, Jay Michaelson, our Teacher of the Month for February, talks with executive producer DJ Cashmere about the relentless fatigue so many of us are experiencing, and what actually helps. We talk about: Why your first move should be self-compassion (not self-blame)—especially in a culture obsessed with sleep optimization The important oscillation between being with difficulty versus reaching for an antidote HALT: the acronym that can save you (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) How to investigate exhaustion without trying to fix it right away Practical antidotes: screen hygiene, micro-naps, and yes, brain machines How our Stone Age brains are being hijacked by tech companies Why nap shame is "pure garbage" and you should kiss it goodbye The social co

A live Q&A session with meditation teacher Jeff Warren, where Dan and Jeff tackle some of the hardest questions in meditation and life. Jeff Warren is a meditation teacher, author, and co-founder of the Consciousness Explorers Club. In this live session recorded on Zoom with subscribers to the 10% with Dan Harris app, Jeff and Dan take questions about insomnia, chronic pain, caring for aging parents, existential fears for loved ones, and what to do when your meditation practice feels stuck. We talk about: How to get equanimity around existential fears for your kids (which Jeff calls "the single hardest thing in human life") Why acceptance is a terrible word and equanimity is better The difference between doomsday spirals and what's actually happening right now Practical strategies for insomnia and chronic pain (including why your goal shouldn't be eight hours of unconscious sleep) What to do when you feel stuck in your meditation practice (hint: the plateau is normal) Three strategies for turn

How to become the wisest version of yourself.   Ryan Holiday is one of the world's bestselling living philosophers. His books, including The Daily Stoic, The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, Stillness Is the Key and his #1 New York Times bestselling series on the Stoic Virtues, appear in more than forty languages and have sold over 10 million copies. In this episode we talk about: The value of asking pertinent questions  How to create a second brain Finding a teacher for yourself How not to be a know it all Achieving focus through a morning routine  How to seek out criticism Learning how to die And much more   Related Episodes: Ancient Strategies For Managing Stress And Anxiety    Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources:  Wisdom Takes Work  The Stoic Virtue Series The Daily Stoic   Dailystoic.com  Glorious Exploits     To advertise on the show, contact sales@adv

Our bodies are brilliant at healing. An integrative doctor on how to tap that resource. Victoria Maizes, MD, is the founding executive director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Her new book is Heal Faster: Unlock Your Body's Rapid Recovery Reflex to Feel Better—Quicker.  In this episode we talk about: What integrative medicine is (and isn't)  How lifestyle, stress, sleep, and relationships factor into healing Why "a pill for every ill" often falls short What the Rapid Recovery Reflex is and why the body wants to heal The biggest things that block recovery in modern life Practical ways to improve our health, ranging from sleep to stress  Why patients have more power than they think How AI can help people ask better questions and work smarter with doctors Why what and when you eat matters How environmental toxins and social connection quietly shape our health more than we realize Tips for handling colds and flu more effectively Smarter ways to recover from pain and injuries Practical tools