The Simple Rule That Keeps the News From Taking Over Your Day | Sharon Salzberg

Ready to begin or deepen your meditation practice? Join Dan Harris and world-class meditation teachers on the 10% with Dan Harris app here: https://app.danharris.com/membership We’re four days out from the midterms, and whatever side of the aisle you’re on, there’s a reasonable chance you’ve been feeling the anxiety. Today’s conversation — recorded live with the Ten Percent Happier app community — is a deeply practical guide to staying engaged with the news (and reality) without letting it wreck you. If you’ve been losing sleep, doom-scrolling, feeling guilty for not doing more, or just quietly seething, this one is for you. Sharon Salzberg is a legendary meditation teacher and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society. She is this month’s featured teacher on the Ten Percent with Dan Harris app. 🗳️ Two free live meditation events this week: – Election Day, Nov 3, 4 PM ET — guided meditation and Q&A with Vinny Ferraro and Dan – Day after Election Day, Nov 4, 4 PM ET — guided meditation and Q&A with Dan solo Both free and open to everyone. Sign up at danharris.com for the Zoom link. In this episode: – Sharon’s own news consumption habits (and the baby-bananas defense) – The Insight Meditation Society bulletin-board tradition the day after a presidential election – What happened on November 6, 2024, inside a silent retreat center – The Hiroshima grass-and-flowers rumor — and what it still has to teach us – Mr. Rogers’ “look for the helpers” — plus the research showing that moral beauty is one of the greatest sources of awe – Amy’s question: how do you feel anger without being consumed by it? – “Some things just hurt” (one of Sharon’s many pandemic-era mugs) – Why hating what you feel and getting embroiled in it are the two extremes to avoid – What’s actually BEHIND anger — grief, fear, sadness – “Seeing by dividing” — the ancient dharma frame for defusing a strong emotion – “Isn’t meditation self-indulgent at a time like this?” Sharon’s answer involves the civil rights movement – The underappreciated fact: those activists didn’t know IF they would prevail, not just when – Kelly and Barbara on the guilt of “I’m not doing enough” and the discomfort of a comfortable life – The Insight / Instant / Hindsight Meditation Society mail story – Is it okay to experience joy when so many people are suffering? – Why compassion is the movement TOWARD suffering (not INTO it) – Kaylee’s question — a wife deployed, a son whose other mom is in a war zone – “It’s not surviving the news. It’s surviving reality.” – The “my father’s homeless” moment at Roshi Joan Halifax’s Zen center – Sebene Selassie’s “no news before noon” and Arthur Brooks’ first-and-last-hour-of-day rule – Why Sharon in particular has a traumatic reaction to deceit — and the boundary she set Subscribe to watch more 10% Happier videos:    / tenpercenthappier   Follow Dan Harris on Social Media:   / danharris     / danbharris     / danharrisabc     / danbharris     / dan-harris-91ba5716b   0:00:00 Four days from the midterms — how to stay engaged without going crazy 0:02:00 Sharon’s own news consumption (and the baby-bananas defense) 0:04:00 The IMS bulletin board tradition the day after a presidential election 0:08:00 The Hiroshima grass-and-flowers rumor 0:09:00 “Look for the helpers” — plus the awe research on moral beauty 0:11:00 Amy’s question: feeling anger without being consumed 0:16:00 What’s actually BEHIND anger 0:17:00 “Seeing by dividing” 0:18:00 Is meditation self-indulgent right now? The civil rights movement model 0:20:00 They didn’t know IF they would prevail — not just WHEN 0:22:00 The guilt of “I’m not doing enough” 0:23:00 The Insight / Instant / Hindsight Meditation Society story 0:31:00 Is it okay to experience joy right now? 0:32:00 Kaylee’s question — a wife deployed 0:33:00 “It’s not surviving the news. It’s surviving reality.” 0:38:00 Sebene’s “no news before noon” and Arthur Brooks’ first-and-last-hour rule #10PercentHappier #SharonSalzberg #PoliticalAnxiety This episode is sponsored by: Planet Visionaries: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, listen to or watch Planet Visionaries wherever you get your podcasts. Reddit: Download the Reddit app today. Base44: Go to Base44.com/Happier and sign up through our link to get 30% off the Builder plan for your first year.