We all want to have a good vibe and improve our relationships.

However, we've never really learned how to do so.

A simple seven-minute Buddhist practice can shift how you feel about others—and how others feel around you.

I was in a New York City taxicab headed for the airport for a flight back to California. All should have been well except for one thing: my driver was out of his mind. Granted, I had made him wait for a few minutes while I was getting my bags. But his level of rage was truly frightening. Fueled by his frustration, he was driving fast and recklessly on the highway around Manhattan. Cowering in the back seat, anxious for our lives and feeling completely powerless, I decided to try an ancient Buddhist practice I had heard about.

I closed my eyes and started silently repeating these phrases in my head: "May you be happy, may you be peaceful, may you be at ease." They were directed at the driver, wishing him well.

To my surprise, after a few minutes of doing this silent practice, the driver noticeably relaxed, slowed his speed, and struck up a lovely conversation with me. By the end of the car ride he even showed me pictures of his kids. The change was radical (and a relief!).

Could it have been due to my practice? Or was he just anticipating a better tip? As a scientist, I had to find out. As psychologists and research scientists, we are trained to be skeptical of explanations that rely on vague or mystical claims. So when I got back to........

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