Happiness Break: A Meditation for Seeking Forgiveness, With Shelly Tygielski
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When we practice forgiveness, studies show we can have healthier relationships, higher self-esteem, and less anxiety and depression.

Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mt9uwad8)

How to Do This Practice:

- Find a comfortable place to begin the practice. Soften your gaze and take a few slow, deep breaths.

- Imagine there is a light made of compassion, love and understanding all around you.

- As the light comforts you, think of a person you would like to seek forgiveness from. Take note of any emotions that arise. Imagine sincerely apologizing to them.

- Visualize a bridge connecting you and the individual. Know that while forgiveness is not always immediately accepted, you've taken the first step towards healing.

- Turn your forgiveness towards yourself, breathing in love and compassion.

- End this practice by reconnecting with your body and refocusing your gaze, remembering that the journey of forgiveness is ongoing.

.Today’s Happiness Break host:

Shelly Tygielski is a trauma-informed mindfulness teacher based in Florida.

To get Shelly Tygielski and Justin Michael Williams’ book How We Ended Racism: go to howweendedracism.com) or your favorite book seller.

Learn more about Shelly’s work: https://tinyurl.com/26xkdnku)

Follow Shelly on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/4k4bx3nn)

Follow Shelly on Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/bdfsb9pt)

Follow Shelly on Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/2edu2fzu)

More resources from The Greater Good Science Center:

Eight Keys to Forgiveness: )https://tinyurl.com/2s4hbz3a)

The New Science of Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/5f2c7sfb)

How to Overcome Barriers to Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/22zteuyj)

The Power of Forgiveness at Work: https://tinyurl.com/mrx5hzvh)

How to Build a More Forgiving Community: https://tinyurl.com/5frja2h2)

We love hearing from you! Tell us about your experience with forgiveness. Email us at [email protected]) or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

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We're living through a mental health crisis. Between the stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, burnout — we all could use a break to feel better. That's where Happiness Break comes in. In each biweekly podcast episode, instructors guide you through research-backed practices and meditations that you can do in real-time. These relaxing and uplifting practices have been shown in a lab to help you cultivate calm, compassion, connection, mindfulness, and more — what the latest science says will directly support your well-being. All in less than ten minutes. A little break in your day.