Worry has a way of sneaking into everything—even gratitude, loving-kindness, and joy.

In this episode, Dan Harris sits down with meditation teacher and psychologist Christiane Wolf to explore how to work skillfully with worry without suppressing it, indulging it, or turning meditation into yet another way to beat yourself up.

Together, they unpack some of the most common pain points meditators face:

Why trying to force certain feelings (gratitude, calm, compassion) often backfires
Whether worry is ever actually helpful—and how to tell when it's not
How to work with fear while waiting for a health diagnosis
What to do when gratitude or loving-kindness practice triggers sadness or anxiety
How consumerism (hello, holiday season) fuels craving and unease
When mindfulness is enough—and when psychological work is needed to avoid spiritual bypassing

Christiane offers practical tools for meeting worry with kindness, curiosity, and clarity—including how to "name it to tame it," how to gently redirect attention without suppression, and how to relate to anxious or critical thoughts as parts rather than as who you are.

This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply humane—especially for anyone who worries that they're "doing meditation wrong" or feels guilty for not feeling better fast enough.

Recorded live during a subscriber Q&A session – join us at DanHarris.com to be part of these sessions as they happen!

Related Episodes:

How to Outsmart Your Pain | Christiane Wolf
Is Your Ambition Rooted in Trauma? | Christiane Wolf

Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here

Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Thanks to our sponsors:

Airbnb: Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host.

AT&T: Happy Holidays from AT&T. Connecting changes everything.

To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris

How to Work with Worry | Christiane Wolf

10% Happier with Dan Harris