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 What if the antidote to the gnawing "what's the point" feeling isn't a retreat or a self-help book — but the chirping going on outside your window right now? There's a whole soap opera happening above your head every day, and most of us are missing it. Lili Taylor is one of the most respected actors of her generation, with credits including Mystic Pizza, Six Feet Under, American Crime, and an upcoming role in the Hunger Games prequel. She's also a serious birder whose new book, "Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing," makes the case that paying attention to birds is a contemplative practice in itself — one that's helped her find awe, meaning, and a way out of her own inner nihilist's grip. In this episode we talk about: – Why Lili turned to birds when she couldn't make meditation work – The "chirp of death" and other reasons that sweet little house sparrow isn't what you think – What watching bird migration from the top of the Empire State Building taught her about the will to live – Why awe might literally make you a better person (and why it sometimes hurts) – "No contempt prior to investigation" — and why most of us say no out of fear – The science of awe walks and how to actually do one – Why even pigeons deserve your attention Subscribe to watch more 10% Happier videos: https://www.youtube.com/tenpercenthappier Follow Dan Harris on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/danharris/ https://www.tiktok.com/@danbharris https://www.facebook.com/DanHarrisABC https://twitter.com/danbharris https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-harris-91ba5716b/ 0:00:00 Why birds, why now 0:04:00 The blue jay moment that changed everything 0:08:00 The will to live, on top of the Empire State Building 0:12:00 "More than me" — the answer to hopelessness 0:15:00 Birds are literally living dinosaurs 0:18:00 The five daily remembrances and the trap of nihilism 0:24:00 Biophilia and why we look up 0:28:00 Awe, moral behavior, and why it sometimes hurts 0:32:00 The science of awe walks 0:35:00 Listening as the core skill of acting (and birding) 0:40:00 Why meditation isn't supposed to feel a certain way 0:42:00 Dan's daily practice, broken down 0:47:00 Autotelic — doing things just for the sake of doing them 0:51:00 Why pigeons deserve your attention 0:53:00 What's next for Lili #10PercentHappier #LiliTaylor #Birding Sponsors: BetterHelp: May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a reminder that whatever you're dealing with, you don't have to deal with it alone. Sign up and get 10% off at https://www.betterhelp.com/happier Square: Square keeps your business running smoothly — payments, POS, online orders, inventory, and staff, all in one place. Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://www.square.com/go/happier