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What happens when you linger and look closely at a piece of art? Nathalie Ryan, an educator from the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., guides us through a slow looking practice shown to help deepen your sense of awe, presence, and connection. **How To Do This Practice:** 1. **Choose an image to focus on:** Pick a piece of art, photograph, postcard, or even a recent photo from your phone that captures a natural or urban scene. Don’t overthink it—choose something that draws your attention. 2. **Begin with a few slow breaths:** Take a moment to settle into the present. Deepen your inhale, lengthen your exhale, and allow your breathing to slow the pace of your day. 3. **Let your eyes wander slowly:** Scan the image without rushing. Notice the light, colors, shapes, patterns, textures, and details that begin to emerge as you spend more time looking. 4. **Imagine yourself inside the scene:** Engage all of your senses. What might you hear, smell, feel, or taste in this place? Allow yourself to step into the environment with your imagination. 5. **Notice how the scene changes:** Picture the image at different times of day and throughout the seasons. Reflect on how the light, colors, atmosphere, and activity might shift over time. 6. **Reflect on what arises:** Pause to notice any emotions, memories, thoughts, or sensations that surfaced during the practice. Consider what changed when you gave yourself permission to look more slowly. _Scroll down for a transcription of this episode._ **Today’s Happiness Break Guide:** NATHALIE A. RYAN is a Senior Educator at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, where she has led programs for educators, families, teens, and the adult public since 2002. **Related Happiness Break episodes:** How To Ground Yourself in Nature: [**https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm**]( https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm">**https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm** Pause to Look at the Sky: [**https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3**]( https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3">**https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3** Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher: [**https://tinyurl.com/mrutudeh**]( https://tinyurl.com/mrutudeh">**https://tinyurl.com/mrutudeh** **Related Science of Happiness episodes:** Cities of Awe Series: [**https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvny**]( https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvny">**https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvny** How Cities Can Make Space for Awe: [**https://tinyurl.com/yr7m2zb5**]( https://tinyurl.com/yr7m2zb5">**https://tinyurl.com/yr7m2zb5** What Humans Can Learn From Trees: [**https://tinyurl.com/48te84ps**]( https://tinyurl.com/48te84ps">**https://tinyurl.com/48te84ps** Follow us on Instagram: [**@ScienceOfHappinessPod** ]( https://www.instagram.com/scienceofhappinesspod/">**@ScienceOfHappinessPod** We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: [**https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap**]( https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap">**https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap** Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link:**">https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap">** [https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap](https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription:) _Transcription:_ [**_https://tinyurl.com/mt4mcw3m_**]( https://tinyurl.com/mt4mcw3m">**_https://tinyurl.com/mt4mcw3m_**