Are You Remembering The Good Times?
Thinking about happy memories activates reward centers in our brains, and can help us feel more connected and accepted. Palestinian-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye discovers the joy-bringing power of recalling her good childhood memories.
\n\nLink to Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2r63e6tn
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Episode summary: Whether it\u2019s news notifications or work emails, it\u2019s easy to feel overwhelmed by the stresses of our time every moment of every day. But what if there was something we could do to rekindle the greatest joys of our pasts? How might that shift how we feel in the present moment? Simply reflecting on happy memories has been shown in a lab to reduce stress, activate the reward center in our brain, and uplift our mood. This week, Palestinian-American poet and author Naomi Shihab Nye reminisces on happy memories from her youth and finds the practice soothes her and sparks joyfulness. We also hear from neuroscientist Mauricio Delgado about how the practice changes the way we think and feel, and which types of happy memories serve us best.
\n\nPractice: For one week or more, spend 5-10 minutes each day writing in response to the following prompt:
\n\nThink about good memories you have from your past. Write a few paragraphs describing them and one event that you still remember to this date. Please provide as many details as possible, including who was there, so that another person reading what you wrote could understand how you felt at that time.
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Today\u2019s guests: Naomi Shihab Nye is a Palestinian-American poet and author. Her new book of poetry, Grace Notes, will be available May 7.
\n\nOrder Grace Notes: https://tinyurl.com/st3w6n8t
\n\nCheck out Naomi\u2019s children\u2019s book about a child visiting her Palestinian grandmother, Sitti\u2019s Secrets: https://tinyurl.com/5embjxuj
\n\nFollow Naomi on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/5hddcf8k
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Mauricio Delgado is a psychology professor at Rutgers University who studies social and cognitive neuroscience.
\n\nLearn more about Mauricio\u2019s work: https://tinyurl.com/4tt7bp2d
\n\nFollow Mauricio on Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/27kvv6j7
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More episodes like this one:
\n\nWhy We Should Look Up at the Sky - https://tinyurl.com/4xs88sye
\n\nWhy We Need Friends with Shared Interests - https://tinyurl.com/bdesh3he
\n\nRelated Happiness Breaks:
\n\nA Meditation to Connect to Your Roots, With Yuria Celidwen - https://tinyurl.com/3ae3w3z3
\n\nWhere Did You Come From? Guided Writing, With Lyla June - https://tinyurl.com/ytypxn5t
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Tell us about your happiest childhood memories, and what they bring to you now. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.
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