Episode Ep 1212 October 30, 2026 38 min 33s

When the News Feels Like Too Much, Try This | Sharon Salzberg

From 10% Happier with Dan Harris 10% Happier

Buddhist advice on taking care of yourself so you can take care of the world, including what to do with your outrage, and why looking for the good on purpose isn't denial.

The news is painful right now. And for most of us, the options we reach for — doom-scrolling, rage-posting, or unplugging entirely — don't actually help. Meditation teacher and bestselling author Sharon Salzberg joins Dan to take live questions from the 10% with Dan Harris community on how to find solid ground when the world feels like it's on fire.

In this conversation, Sharon Salzberg and Dan Harris discuss:

How to feel your anger without being consumed by it — and why that distinction matters
What's usually hiding underneath the anger: grief, fear, and sadness
Why action is the antidote to despair — and what actually counts as action
How civil rights movement leaders sustained their effort in the face of uncertainty
How to handle guilt about not doing enough
Why "look for the helpers" is more than a platitude
Whether meditation can possibly be relevant in a full-blown poly-crisis — Sharon's answer may surprise you
Sharon Salzberg is one of the most influential meditation teachers in the Western world. She has been teaching for over four decades and is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. She is the author of many books, including Lovingkindness and Real Happiness. Find more of her guided meditations in the 10% with Dan Harris app.

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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.

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