A Meditation to Allow Genuine Happiness, Even In Hard Times

A Meditation to Allow Genuine Happiness, Even In Hard Times

From 12 Minute Meditation by Mindful.org

March 27, 2026 · 14 min

About this episode

Wendy O'Leary shares a guided meditation to help cultivate genuine happiness during difficult times.

When we are going through a difficult season personally, or we are bearing witness to the pain of others, our relationship to genuine joy or happiness can get complicated and confusing. Happiness can feel out of reach, or it can feel like a betrayal, like it's something we don't "deserve" in hard times. But strengthening our ability to notice and soak in moments of beauty, tenderness, connection, and gratitude can actually have a fortifying effect on us. It can help us build resilience and fill our empty emotional tanks—which can foster our own healing and make it possible for us to show up in healing ways for others. This week, teacher Wendy O'Leary shares a guided practice to tune our attention to the reality that shimmers right alongside our genuine seasons of struggle. Wendy O'Leary, M.Ed., author and health educator, has three children's books and an adult book on self-compassion in families. She is a certified mindfulness teacher, parent educator, and self-compassion advocate with expertise in teaching emotional resilience to children and adults. Her next publication is a card deck for children titled "Let's Grow Happiness," created in collaboration with her colleague Helen…

People in this episode

Guest: Wendy O'Leary

Topics covered

  • genuine happiness
  • emotional resilience
  • mindfulness
  • self-compassion
  • healing
  • gratitude

Keywords

  • meditation
  • happiness
  • resilience
  • mindfulness
  • self-compassion
  • gratitude
  • emotional healing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mindful.org

Products: Let's Grow Happiness

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