Short, grounding breaks during the day do even more than calm you or restore your energy. A Grand Master on the shakuhachi, the ancient meditation flute, explains how you can create and maintain the beneficial yet simple habit of taking short, 'proper' breaks.

Things are not always 'great!' or even just 'good' or merely 'neutral.' What can you do immediately, on your own, to get through the bad times?

Alternatively, when things in life feel great, what can you do to keep that 'great' feeling around a bit longer or bring a past wonderful sensation back again?

I have been playing the shakuhachi, the 'Zen' meditation flute, for more than 50 years. The music of my bamboo flute might be the answer.

Take a break. Things happen when one sits and listens quietly.