Joy Lab Podcast

The science is clear that we humans are wired to tap into something deeper than just the surface layer of our day-to-day activities. It doesn't matter your beliefs, this drive for meaning and purpose is universal. That's why we practice having a conversation with our soul or wisest self in the Joy Lab Program. It's a practice we do every month as we work to build our Elements of Joy. If you're not part of the Program, this will likely be a new practice for you. The practice is designed to help you connect with your wise, authentic self and tap into the Elements of Joy in ways that really resonate with you. We thought we'd share this practice with the hope that it opens you up to new avenues of creativity and joy while offering a glimpse into the transformative practices we work on in the full Joy Lab program. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

What do courage, inspiration, burnout, and the soul have in common? A lot, actually. We'll dig into the 'Courage Work' framework developed by author and teacher Parker Palmer and how it can help us navigate out of burnout and create space for inspiration and renewal. We'll also get into some important details about the causes of burnout, the importance of deep listening and soul work, and how some of the most powerful aspects of our courage show up in surprisingly quiet ways. Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Center for Courage and Renewal Deep Listening episodes: Learning to Love Well: Listen Deeply [ep. 24] Easing Anxiety with Curiosity & the Power of Deep Listening [ep. 62] Seeing Our Innocence & Listening Deeply [ep. 65] The Compassion of Understanding & How to Practice Deep Listening [ep. 178] Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Can inspiration really fuel motivation, connection, and a sense of purpose? The simple answer is yes. Inspiration may seem like a special, rare occurrence, but, it is something that we can prepare for and open up to in a variety of different ways. And that process of preparing for inspiration is surprisingly... well, inspirational. Listen in as we dig into some scientific insights and practical tips on how to invite more inspiration into your life and make it a reliable partner in your journey toward joy. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Full transcript. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

The 'Happiness Paradox' describes how the relentless pursuit of happiness can lead to poorer emotional and long-term health outcomes. That's an important paradox to know about when there's so much pressure to just "suck it up" or "put on a happy face." We'll talk about how to avoid this by contrasting happiness with joy (short story: happiness is fleeting and dependent on external factors, joy is a more enduring internal state that can coexist with negative emotions like grief and sadness). We'll also focus on how we can create positive growth in our lives that honors the coexistence of joy and hardship and how authentic emotional experiences can foster deeper joy. We work on the skills to do this through the Joy Lab Program-- so be sure to join us there for more skill-building, community, connection, and a more empowering and flexible approach to personal growth. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

How have your New Year's resolutions worked out in the past? If you're the majority of us, then they haven't worked out too well. We've got an idea for you this year... it's a resolution that is empowering and nourishing... one that goes beyond self care and supports your mind and body in big ways. Here it is: Join us for the Joy Lab Program! It's open and ready to support you as you build more resilience and uncover more joy in 2025. Join us: https://www.joylab.coach/ Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

This episode is our holiday card to you... we're so grateful you're part of this community and have put in the effort to grow from your innate goodness. Helping you nurture your unique gifts, embrace your full self, and grow in an empowering way is why we're here at Joy Lab. We're excited to be with you in 2025! Sources and Notes: More on these updates in episode #184: You're Gonna Love This News... Pathways North (the new home of Joy Lab) Join the Natural Mental health Newsletter Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Full transcripit here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

We've got more exciting updates for 2025! First, if you don't already know, Joy Lab is joining the nonprofit Pathways North. Second, we're launching a new podcast next year over at Natural Mental Health... the Natural Mental Health podcast. The new podcast will focus on mental health concerns and lifestyle medicine, covering topics like sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management. We think listening to both podcasts will be a perfect combination of science, soul, body, mind, and heart. Looking forward to spending more meaningful and wellbeing-boosting time with you in 2025! Sources and Notes: Join the Natural Mental health Newsletter More on these updates in episode #184: You're Gonna Love This News... Pathways North (the new home of Joy Lab) Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we're digging into the fallacy of scarcity and its impact on mental health and decision making. Scarcity mentality can make us believe we lack sufficient resources, leading to anxiety, poor cognitive function, and decisions that leave us worse off. We'll talk about how to shift toward practicing sympathetic joy, which fosters a deeper sense of joy and a sense of enoughness. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Fallacy of Fairness and Victim Mentality Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we're digging into a key obstacle of Sympathetic Joy (our element for December). This is important because Sympathetic Joy, or the practice of finding joy in someone else's good fortune or joy, is powerful. It's a quick mood boosting strategy, it can foster a deeper sense of connection and belonging, it can serve as an antidote to envy and jealousy, and can fuel our own motivation to get out of ruts that can keep us down. A key obstacle to sympathetic joy is the fallacy of fairness, a thought distortion that can cloud our perception and keep us trapped in negative thought patterns. This fallacy is related to another more commonly known concept called "victim mentality." We'll talk about how this fallacy and mentality shows up, some insights on overcoming these roadblocks, and how to align your heart and mind to navigate life's challenges with a more joyful perspective. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Episode on envy: Envy: Why it surges & what to do when it does Full transcript. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, we'll highlight some exciting updates before we share an encore episode. In the encore episode, we'll dive into the profound power of gratitude and its impact on mental health. We'll mainly focus on the first part of our three-part mindfulness process: see what is, accept what is, and choose wisely. We'll use that process to help explore emotional resilience, the role of gratitude in building connections, and how to persist through life's challenges. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Listen to the Joy Lab Podcast over at JoyLab.coach. Join the Natural Mental Health Newsletter Joy Lab podcast episode 31 (Gratitude in the Wild: Accept What Is) Joy Lab podcast episode 32 (Gratitude in the Wild: Choose Wisely) Zadie Smith (personal website) Richard Rohr (Center for Action and Contemplation- founded by Richard Rohr) Sabrina Benaim (personal website) Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

We have really exciting news to share with you all! The Joy Lab podcast and program will be transitioning into a new nonprofit organization called Pathways North, starting January 2025. Despite the move away from the National Mental Health Organization, you won't need to do anything differently. You can still find the pod wherever you've been listening, you can still head to JoyLab.coach to join us in the program, and most of all, you can be sure that this change is fully-focused on keeping this work going and serving you better. We're so excited for this next adventure with you! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Listen to the Joy Lab Podcast over at JoyLab.coach. Join the Natural Mental Health Newsletter Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we explore how gratitude can be a powerful tool in managing fear and worrying. We'll touch on the evolutionary roots of fear, its impact on our lives, and how nurturing gratitude can lead to a more purposeful and fulfilling life. Most importantly, we'll illustrate how identifying and addressing fear with gratitude can bring about positive emotional shifts and meaningful actions. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Envy: Why it surges & what to do when it does (ep. 182) Otto, A., et. al. (2016). Effects of a randomized gratitude intervention on death-related fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors. Health psychology: official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 35(12). Access here. See transcript here Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we explore the complex emotions of envy and gratitude. We'll discuss how practicing gratitude can serve as a powerful antidote to the corrosive effects of envy, and delve into the evolutionary purpose and varieties of envy, including benign and malicious forms. We also take a quick (and hopefully helpful!) detour into the concept of counterfactual thinking and its role in both fueling and easing envy, with a focus on the use of mindfulness and gratitude to transform negative emotions into positive action. Best of all, we'll end with a really helpful way to reframe envy as a signal for self-care and gratitude. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. More episodes on uncertainty: Getting Comfy with Not Knowing (ep. 162) Mental Health & The Male Hubris, Female Humility Effect (ep. 157) Seeing the Goodness in Others, Yourself, & The World (ep. 66) You Are That Vast Thing You See with Great Telescopes (ep. 18) The Surprising Benefits of Not Knowing (ep. 16) Epstude, K., & Roese, N. J. (2008). The functional theory of counterfactual thinking. Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc, 12(2). Access here Hill, S. E., & Buss, D. M. (2008). The evolutionary psychology of envy. In R. H. Smith (Ed.), Envy: Theory and research (pp. 60–70). Oxford University Press. Access here. Mujcic, R. & Oswald, A. (2018). Is envy harmful to a society's psychological health and wellbeing? A longitudinal study of 18,000 adults. Social Science & Medicine, 198. Access here. Smith, R. & Kim, S. (2007). Comprehending Envy. Psychological Bulletin, 133. Access here. van de Ven, N. (2016). Envy and Its Consequences: Why It Is Useful to Distinguish between Benign and Malicious Envy. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 10(6). Access here. Xiang, Y., Chao, X., & Ye, Y. (2018). Effect of Gratitude on Benign and Malicious Envy: The Mediating Role of Social Support. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Access here. Xiang, Y., Dong, X., & Zhao, J. (2020). Effects of Envy on Depression: The Mediating Roles of Psychological Resilience and Social Support. Psychiatry investigation, 17(6). Access here. Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we explore Dr. Gabor Maté's fifth and final level of compassion: the compassion of possibility. We'll dig into how we can see beyond suffering and dysfunction to recognize the good within ourselves and others. This is a skill we can all practice and get better at. And importantly, this isn't some toxic positivity exercise. This is a skill that helps us see the whole picture, the full truth of whatever we're looking at. Seeing that full picture allows us to step into our wisdom and power so that we can make decisions that are more nourishing. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Previous episodes for this series: Part 1: Your ordinary human compassion (and what happens when you say something you wish you hadn't said) [Joy Lab ep. 177] Part 2: The compassion of understanding & how to practice deep listening. [Joy Lab ep. 178] Part 3: We're all just like the rest of us, aren't we? (the compassion of recognition) [Joy Lab ep. 179] Part 4: See, Accept, & Move Beyond Past Pains (the compassion of truth) [Joy Lab ep. 180] Gabor Mate's website. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

The poet Rumi shared this wisdom: "Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, Your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom." The poetry of Rumi makes that process sound like a smooth and blissful journey. But, the reality is that the work of being open amidst tough stuff, seeing our suffering, accepting our pain, and moving on can be messy and difficult. AND, no matter how many times we try and fall short, it's still healing work. We'll dig into this journey throughout the episode, how we can be open to and see the truth of our pain, and how to apply compassion and practical steps to move beyond what might be holding us back. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Previous episodes for this series: Part 1: Your ordinary human compassion (and what happens when you say something you wish you hadn't said) [Joy Lab ep. 177] Part 2: The compassion of understanding & how to practice deep listening. [Joy Lab ep. 178] Part 3: We're all just like the rest of us, aren't we? (the compassion of recognition) (Joy Lab ep. 179] Gabor Mate's website. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

We're focusing on the third level of compassion, as conceptualized by Dr. Gabor Maté—compassion of recognition. This level emphasizes realizing the shared nature of suffering, highlighting that we are not alone. We'll highlight the 'illusion of separation' and how breaking through it can deepen our connections and ease our struggles. The episode introduces the 'Judge, Mirror, Bridge' exercise to help listeners practice compassion by identifying judgments, finding similarities within oneself, and bridging connections with others. Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Previous episodes for this series: Part 1: Your ordinary human compassion (and what happens when you say something you wish you hadn't said) [Joy Lab ep. 177] Part 2: The compassion of understanding & how to practice deep listening. [Joy Lab ep. 178] Gabor Mate's website. How can I love myself more... and love others more too? [Joy Lab ep. 174] Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we'll explore the 'compassion of understanding'—the second level in Dr. Gabor Maté's five levels of compassion. We'll first highlight the power of moving beyond judgment and into curiosity and understanding, using depression as an example. We'll then get into the practice of deep listening, inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh and Parker Palmer's work, to help cultivate compassion both for ourselves and others Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Gabor Mate's website. Sometimes I Just Sits... (the power of solitude) [Joy Lab ep. 74] Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we're not just defining compassion, but we're really getting into how it shows up in our daily life. We'll start by highlighting the important difference between pain and suffering and then get into how compassion, especially self-compassion, serves as a powerful antidote to ease stress responses. This episode also sets the stage for a 5-part series examining Dr. Gabor Maté's five levels of compassion, starting with ordinary human compassion. We'll dive into lots of practical examples (e.g., when you say something you wish you hadn't) and how to apply compassion. Sources & Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Gabor Mate's website. Dr. Krisitin Neff's website (self-compassion.org). Full transcript Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, we're digging deeper into imposter syndrome. First, a reminder from last episode that you do not have a syndrome if you have these imposter feelings. You are not broken. Further, imposter feelings are not just a problem with self-esteem. This is a common misconception. Self-esteem is actually just a small contributor to these very real and uncomfortable feelings. That's why we'll focus on six key factors that can contribute to imposter feelings and some practical advice for addressing each one. It's likely you'll resonate with at least one of the factors, offering a great place to focus your attention to reduce imposter feelings. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. Access here. Langford, J., & Clance, P. R. (1993). The imposter phenomenon: Recent research findings regarding dynamics, personality and family patterns and their implications for treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 30(3), 495–501. Access here. More episodes on uncertainty: Getting Comfy with Not Knowing (ep. 162) Mental Health & The Male Hubris, Female Humility Effect (ep. 157) Seeing the Goodness in Others, Yourself, & The World (ep. 66) You Are That Vast Thing You See with Great Telescopes (ep. 18) The Surprising Benefits of Not Knowing (ep. 16) Take the Multidimensional Introversion-Extroversion Scales. Tran, N. (2023). From imposter phenomenon to infiltrator experience: Decolonizing the mind to claim space and reclaim self. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 29(2), 184–193. Access here. Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. Access here. Tran, N. (2023). From imposter phenomenon to infiltrator experience: Decolonizing the mind to claim space and reclaim self. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 29(2), 184–193. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000674 Langford, J., & Clance, P. R. (1993). The imposter phenomenon: Recent research findings regarding dynamics, personality and family patterns and their implications for treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 30(3), 495–501. Access here. Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender.

Imposter syndrome is a myth. Well, mostly anyway. We'll unpack this concept of imposter syndrome, or rather, imposter phenomenon, emphasizing that the common perception of it as a 'syndrome' is misleading. In this first part of our two-part series, you'll get a historical overview of this phenomenon, which starts with the work of Dr. Pauline Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes' research in the 1970s. Most importantly, we'll bust some myths around the "who" and "why" of this phenomenon, hitting on the facts that imposter feelings are universal and not solely linked to self-esteem or specific demographics. The takeaway is this: if we want to address our imposter feelings, we need to look at them more holistically and consider evidence-based strategies to reduce them. Those practical steps will be explored in part 2 of this series. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. Access here. Langford, J., & Clance, P. R. (1993). The imposter phenomenon: Recent research findings regarding dynamics, personality and family patterns and their implications for treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 30(3), 495–501. Access here. Tran, N. (2023). From imposter phenomenon to infiltrator experience: Decolonizing the mind to claim space and reclaim self. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 29(2), 184–193. Access here. Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Full transcript Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Love is a skill that takes daily practice. And if you're feeling a bit out of practice... well, you're not alone. In this episode, we're diving into our Element of love by focusing on the wisdom of James Baldwin as he encourages us all to find light within darkness. We'll talk about the relationship of love and mental health, love as a tool for behavior change, the importance of spotlighting positive actions, and the transformative power of kindness in practical situations. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Excerpt from James Baldwin's Nothing Personal. Article: Less Screaming, More Weightlifting: The Army Is Reinventing Basic Training for Gen Z Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Full transcript. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

We're diving into our Element of love in this episode; those genuine, deep connections that feed every aspect of wellbeing. We'll focus on five key lessons of loving well: loving oneself, seeing the innocence in others, embracing vulnerability, listening deeply, and creating a House of Belonging. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Too often mental health conversations get stuck in a focus of dysfunction, uncomfortable symptoms, and focusing on "fixing" what feels off. But, mental health is not simply about trying to rid ourselves of things like negative thoughts. So much of mental health has to do with the day-to-day infusion of positive practices. Which leads us into the importance of fun, pleasure, play, and flow as essential elements of mental health and a joyful life. We'll talk about some simple ways to embrace your fun nature and tap into more flowing states that nourish your body and mind. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org Full transcript available here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Do you have a 'Third Place?' If you don't (or don't know what that is), be sure to take some notes for this episode. We'll talk about a Third Place (a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg) as a an accessible, often public space that invites a diversity of folks to gather. In this episode, we'll get into the simple ways we can all deepen our connections and foster joy through Third Places and also by 'Building a House of Belonging.' Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. David Whyte website Meditation/visualization to create a house of belonging: You Belong and Are Connected [ep. 75] Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Obliger rebellion... it's an intriguing term, right? Gretchen Rubin introduced it in her book, 'The Four Tendencies.' The idea here is that when our external expectations exceed a threshold, then we can become exhausted or rebel. We'll talk about the pros and cons of this phenomenon and how we can listen to our body and make more nourishing, skillful decisions before frustrations reach a boiling point. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Gretchen Rubin's book The Four Tendencies Episode on the "What the Hell" effect- Food: What to Add vs What to Take Away [ep. 119] Weathering emotional storms series: Joy Lab Podcast #48 (Equanimity: A Tool for Emotional Reactivity & the Power of Grounding-Part 1) Joy Lab Podcast #49 (Equanimity: When an Emotional Storm Hits & Thoughts Start Spiraling-Part 2) Joy Lab Podcast #50 (Equanimity: Seeing our Storylines and Changing Course- Part 3) Joy Lab Podcast #51 (Equanimity: Emotional Reactivity and Damage Control- Part 4) Joy Lab Podcast #52 (Equanimity: Cleaning Up After the Storm with Self-Compassion- part 5) Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Our self-care needs change with the seasons. That's why we're talking about self-care tips for the summertime in this episode. We'll dig into the concept of reverse seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and offer practical advice on managing summer agitation. We'll also talk about optimizing sleep during longer days, adjusting supplement routines, and embracing seasonal diets to support wellbeing. Plus, get updates on the Joy Lab podcast's transition and new content coming soon. Key moments: 00:00 Introduction to the Joy Lab Podcast 00:25 Episode Overview and Exciting Updates 01:49 Understanding Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) 05:55 Managing Summer Activities and Social Engagements 07:06 Tips for Better Sleep During Summer 11:02 Summer Supplementation and Dietary Changes 17:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, we're talking about the power of deep, supportive relationships for overall wellbeing. We highlight the Japanese tradition of Moai, groups of lifelong friends that provide various supports, as an example of fostering meaningful connections. We'll talk a bit about the how-to's of building connections, focusing on the necessity of both giving and receiving love. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we're talking about the mental health benefits of dad jokes. We're serious. We'll get into an article by humor researcher Marc Hye-Knudsen, highlighting how dad jokes can build resilience, teach impulse control, and improve emotional regulation in children. So, dads (and all of us), please take care of yourself and others by sharing a cheesy dad joke at least once daily. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources & Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Here's where our Sleep Workshop lives! Plus, gain access to lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Here's the article we focused on (Marc Hye-Knudsen): Dad jokes? That's the way eye roll… Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we talk about how anxiety and depression can influence our decision-making processes. We hope this becomes a more talked about issue because it's a common struggle. We'll get into how anxiety can narrow our options and make us more risk-averse, while depression can lead to more pessimistic choices and lower expectations of positive outcomes. We'll highlight the importance of addressing these mental health challenges to improve decision-making skills. And remember the big takeaway here: While we have tendencies, we are not bound to them and can create change through awareness and new practices. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Here's where our Sleep Workshop lives! Plus, gain access to lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. More episodes on sleep: Align With Nature & Your Rhythms (ultradian, circadian, & infradian) [ep. 139] Overcoming the Energy Thieves and Managing Energy to Feel More Refreshed, Engaged, & Connected [ep. 138] Lack of Sleep, Anxiety, and Panic Attacks [ep. 133] Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Our goal is to help you build resilience and joy. Our website and podcast exist for that goal. If you use any of those tools, then we want to know what's working, what you want to see more of, and what we can do better. This survey should take less than 3 minutes to complete. Here it is: https://www.naturalmentalhealth.com/assessments/2148238359 Most of all, we're grateful you're part of this community and for your help as we spread more joy and resilience all across our blue marble.

Does your mind feel like a constant sea of judgment? Do thoughts popcorn day and night about how you're flawed or how someone else has it all wrong? You're not alone. Those kind of thoughts are common, but they can also be pretty destructive. There's clear evidence that the more we sit in judgment, the higher our risk for depression and anxiety. We'll dig into all this, including some exploration of the concept of aversion in relation to judgment and how it manifests inside our body and out. Most important, we'll dig into self-compassion as a powerful antidote to judgment and provide practices to shift towards acceptance and less judgment. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Gain access to lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Related episodes to check out: Feel Hopeless? Hope's Out There (and in you too) (ep. 146) Accept Yourself Just As You Are & Then You Can Change (ep. 150) Self-Compassion: You Are Not Alone (ep. 86) Self-Compassion: Self-Kindness vs Self-Judgment (ep. 85) Self-Compassion: Don't Believe Everything You Think About Yourself (ep.84) Backdraft: When Being Good to Yourself Feels Bad (ep.29) You're Wired for Compassion (ep. 7) Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Are four hours of sleep enough to function well? How about six? In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we'll dig into how much sleep most folks need, and the importance of sleep with a focus on 'short sleepers.' We'll laser in on the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation on mental health, particularly in late teens and twenties, and explore some of the research. If you need some sleep support, be sure to check out our sleep workshop to help you get the hours you need. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: This is where our sleep workshop lives! You'll also gain access to lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Stellar, J. E., Gordon, A., Anderson, C. L., Piff, P. K., McNeil, G. D., & Keltner, D. (2018). Awe and humility. Journal of personality and social psychology, 114(2), 258–269. Access. Hicklin, T. (2019, September 17). Gene identified in people who need little sleep. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Access. Shi, G., et al. (2019). A rare mutation of β1-adrenergic receptor affects sleep/wake behaviors. Neuron, 103(6), 1044–1055.e7. Access. Pellegrino, R., et al. (2014). A novel BHLHE41 variant is associated with short sleep and resistance to sleep deprivation in humans. Sleep, 37(8), 1327–1336. Access. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

"I don't know." Do those three words make you feel a bit uncomfortable? Yeah, you're not alone. In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we highlight the concepts of awe and intellectual humility and how they can help us embrace more curiosity, avoid rigid thinking, and help us to stay more connected to the world around us (yes, even amidst political and social challenges). We've got some practical tips to take quick action so you can tap into the surprising freedom that sits within "not knowing." Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources & Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Stellar, J. E., Gordon, A., Anderson, C. L., Piff, P. K., McNeil, G. D., & Keltner, D. (2018). Awe and humility. Journal of personality and social psychology, 114(2), 258–269. Access. More episodes like this: Mental Health & The Male Hubris, Female Humility Effect (ep. 157) Seeing the Goodness in Others, Yourself, & The World (ep. 66) You Are That Vast Thing You See with Great Telescopes (ep. 18) The Surprising Benefits of Not Knowing (ep. 16) Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we talk about the use of magnesium for anxiety and depression. There's good evidence to support its use, but it can be confusing. We get into the overall power of magnesium (its importance for nerve and muscle function, gut health, and neurotransmitter production) and why it's vital for mental health, particularly how it can support mood. We'll touch on the different types of magnesium supplements, their uses, and some best practices to consider. Of course, be sure to check with your doctor before taking any new supplement. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we explore a powerful quote by Virginia Woolf: "No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but one's self." It's radically simple wisdom that can be hard in practice. We'll talk about the societal pressures of striving for greatness and the importance of embracing one's authentic self while also exploring the mental health benefits of releasing these pressures and the roles of authenticity and self-compassion in fostering joy and resilience. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we explore the phenomenon of dissociation or what is sometimes called "going offline." We want to highlight that this can be a very natural survival mechanism in response to stress and trauma. It's not all bad. We'll talk about the pros and cons of going offline; share some personal experiences of how dissociation can show up; and provide strategies for grounding, skill building, and reconnecting. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Clarissa Pinkola Estés' website. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Awe is a powerful element of joy and a powerful contributor to good mental health. And it isn't just something to experience when magical, mysterious, or rare events surprise us. Awe is something we can practice daily. But... how?! We'll talk about some cognitive barriers that may hinder it, such as overgeneralization and filtering. We'll also offer some practical steps to welcome more awe into our lives and uncover more of the joy that resides within us. Joy Lab & Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources & Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Full transcript here Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. See our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

There's something called the "male hubris, female humility effect." And it's really a thing. It means that men tend to rate themselves higher on self-reported intelligence compared to women. How does this impact mental health? There's a lot to consider here. We'll talk about this effect and its relationship to intellectual humility and imposter syndrome. We highlight the importance of intellectual humility when it comes to wellbeing and how balancing humility and hubris can prevent rigidity and promote emotional flexibility. Tune in to find out where you might sit on this continuum and how you can cultivate balance to feed your wellbeing. Joy Lab & Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources & Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

How do you know if you're thriving? That's a question we received from one of our NMH Community members. We'll talk about this concept of thriving through the lens of positive psychology, leaning on Dr. Martin Seligman's PERMA model which includes Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Most of all, we'll focus on thriving as a practice rather than a fixed state and highlight the learnable skills we can all integrate to go beyond our baseline. Stay as well for the guided practice to help you tune into your own states of openness or constriction, inviting a more holistic understanding of your emotional and mental wellbeing. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Full transcript here Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Does sad music make you feel a little better? You're not alone. In this episode, we're exploring the intriguing topic of how sad music can influence mood and foster resilience. A recent study revealed some reason why we are drawn to sad music and the diverse emotions it evokes, including nostalgia, peacefulness, and empathy. The study also found four dimensions or rewards of listening to sad music: imagination, emotional regulation, empathy, and experiencing emotions without real-life implications. Long song short, there's a real therapeutic and connecting power of sad music and it can be a valuable mindfulness practice for emotional processing. Joy Lab & Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources & Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Studies & articles referenced: The Paradox of Music-Evoked Sadness: An Online Survey "Hurt": That Time When Johnny Cash Stole Trent Reznor's Best Song Full transcript here Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

We're talking about the concept of 'flow' and how to tap into that state of deep absorption in our activities. Interestingly, flow usually requires a bit of prep work. We have to feel comfortable with the challenge and have some confidence in our abilities before the art of letting go can occur. Tune in for some tips on how to shake overthinking so you can tap into more flow. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Studies referenced: Creative flow as optimized processing: Evidence from brain oscillations during jazz improvisations by expert and non-expert musicians Functional neuroanatomy of altered states of consciousness: The transient hypofrontality hypothesis Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Read this carefully: children of fathers with mild depressive symptoms or anxiety tend to have fewer behavioral difficulties and higher IQs. Yup. We'll talk a bit about the research here, but we want to emphasize the huge benefits of acknowledging and sharing mental health struggles with those close to us. Yes, that means emotional openness is a parenting strength. That means parents and adults can model how to navigate tough emotions in such a way that builds personal growth and enhanced resilience in both themselves and the kids around them. This episode goes out to all the dads, but it's really true for all of us. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Study referenced: Longitudinal associations between paternal mental health and child behavior and cognition in middle childhood Full transcript here Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, we explore the element of curiosity and how it can work to reshape our brains. We become what we think, and by changing the way we think we can reframe how we see things. Curiosity can help us see things in different, positive ways that help us reprogram our neural pathways. Tune in to this episode to explore the element of curiosity and how we can use it to foster joy in our lives. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Full transcript here Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

What do dandruff and depression have in common? Well, they are two of the most over-diagnosed/pathologized experiences of our human journey. They also shine a light on how judgment and stigma can hinder self-care. We'll talk about how we can look beyond the surface and address the real issues impacting mood and wellbeing, amidst the understanding that we are not broken. We can embrace our emotions without shame AND seek appropriate support. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources & Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: Shop our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. The Problem of Pain -C.S. Lewis Full transcript available here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, we explore Carl Rogers' 'Curious Paradox'—the concept that true change comes from self-acceptance. We'll talk about the historical context of Rogers' humanistic psychology and his focus on unconditional positive regard and person-centered therapy. The big takeaway is the profound impact self-acceptance and self-compassion have on behavior change and healing. Watch this episode on YouTube. Key moments: 00:00 Welcome to Joy Lab 00:39 Introducing the Curious Paradox 01:35 About Carl Rogers 05:00 The Power of Self-Acceptance 09:39 Personal Stories of Self-Acceptance 13:29 Embracing Authenticity 20:40 Closing Thoughts and Wisdom Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Many of our serotonin-supporting resources and additional self-care strategies can be found in your Resilience Mini Course. If you don't have your Course yet, simply take the Free Resilience Quiz and then sign up for your free Mini Course to identify your mental health strengths and obstacles and take meaningful actions to support your resilience. Gabrielle Calvocoressi's website. Where to shop: Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account here: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/nmh/store-start Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies: https://www.resilientremedies.com/ Davies, J., & Read, J. (2019). A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? Addictive behaviors, 97, 111–121. Van Leeuwen E, et al. (2021). Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long‐term antidepressant use for depressive and anxiety disorders in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads: https://bookshop.org/shop/NMHreads Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, we talk about the experience of coming off antidepressants. It's important to note that there is a serious lack of attention and research on antidepressant withdrawal compared to starting these medications. We'll talk about the challenges of withdrawal symptoms, the importance of patient voices in healthcare research, and best practices for tapering off medications. We'll also touch on some natural ways to support the serotonin system during withdrawal, such as using supplements like 5-HTP. We hope this episode helps spread information about the realities of antidepressant withdrawal and that folks can have a more well-informed approach in collaboration with healthcare providers to navigate this process with less negative symptoms. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Many of our serotonin-supporting resources and additional self-care strategies can be found in your Resilience Mini Course. If you don't have your Course yet, simply take the Free Resilience Quiz and then sign up for your free Mini Course to identify your mental health strengths and obstacles and take meaningful actions to support your resilience. Gabrielle Calvocoressi's website. Where to shop: Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Davies, J., & Read, J. (2019). A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? Addictive behaviors, 97, 111–121. Van Leeuwen E, et al. (2021). Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long‐term antidepressant use for depressive and anxiety disorders in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads. Full transcript here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

We wanted to share this replay from several years ago, because it covers the concept of hope and its relationship with mental health really well. In this episode, we'll share how hope work with the help of traditional wisdom, neuroscience, and personal experiences. We'll also highlight what we call the "enemies of joy." These include brain imbalance, an unsettled mind, and the illusion of separation. As always, we'll also note the scientifically-backed benefits of being hopeful, which include better life satisfaction, a stronger sense of purpose, and higher possibility of achieving set goals. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Resilience Quiz and free Mini-Course: Based on decades of clinical experience, we've created a model of resilience that is both helpful and practical. True to our approach at Natural Mental Health, we start with strengths. You'll identify these strengths in your Resilience Type. Your Resilience Type highlights your unique strengths, what fuels your joy, what keeps you in balance, and the lifestyle practices that most nourish you. After you find your Resilience Type, sign up for your free mini-course to receive tailored lifestyle practices (e.g., foods to eat more of, ideal forms of exercise, supplements, and mindfulness activities) that can support your mood, resilience, and overall wellbeing. Resilient Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources (like our Sleeping Well Workshop) AND you'll join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going... which means powerful resources stay accessible to everyone. Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads: https://bookshop.org/shop/NMHreads Where to shop: Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account here: Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Full transcript available here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we're diving into the science and soul of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a supplement known for supporting mood through its role in serotonin production. We'll cover the basics of 5-HTP and its role in depression and anxiety along with the complex nature of depression and how 5-HTP might play a role in supporting mood (yeah, we'll even touch on the controversial serotonin hypothesis- we see you psychology and biology nerds!) Of course, since many of us want to know if supplementing with 5-HTP is helpful, we'll talk about the importance of quality in supplements, potential risks of serotonin syndrome, common 5-HTP dosages, and the nuanced approach needed when considering 5-HTP as part of mental health support. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources & Notes: Free Resilience Quiz and free Mini-Course: Take our Free Resilience Quiz and then sign up for your free Mini-Course to identify your mental health strengths and obstacles and take meaningful actions to support your resilience. Supplements noted (see where to shop below): NeuroMood Pure Pack (this is our favorite mood-supporting packet that includes vitamins, minerals, EFAs, curcumin, and amino acids [with 50 mg 5-HTP]) NeuroCalm (a blend that includes 5-HTP to support production of calming neurotransmitters) Liposomal NeuroCalm (same as above, just liposomal delivery) CereVive (includes amino acid precursors and bioactive nutrients that support healthy levels of neurotransmitters) Cerenity (comprehensive formula designed to address daily stress by increasing the production of the calming neurotransmitters serotonin and gamma-amino butyric acid) Cerenity PM (an alternative if sleep is also an issue) 5-HTP Synergy (this can be a good option for those who do not want a product that includes additional ingredients) Where to shop: Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account. Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies: https://www.resilientremedies.com/ Read more at the NMH blog: 5-HTP for Anxiousness Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Blaze J. (2021). A Comparison of Current Regulatory Frameworks for Nutraceuticals in Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States. Innovations in pharmacy, 12(2), 10.24926/iip.v12i2.3694. https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v12i2.3694 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8326690/ Lacasse, J. R., & Leo, J. (2005). Serotonin and depression: a disconnect between the advertisements and the scientific literature. PLoS medicine, 2(12), e392. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392 Joy Lab Podcast #127: Lithium Orotate & Lithium Carbonate Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. "We are not our trauma. We are not our brain chemistry. That's part of who we are, but we're so much more than that." Sam Miller (visit their website). Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org Full transcript here. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.See our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast we explore the concept of hope as a crucial element of joy. We're offering an 'outside in' approach to hope in this episode, suggesting that by fostering hope for the world around us, we can boost our own hope, resilience, and personal growth. There are lots of nuggets to take away from this episode as we dig into topics like learned helplessness; learned hopefulness; the relationship between optimism, pessimism, and hope; and why hope and toxic positivity are not at all the same thing. We'll get into practical insights to help us all tap into the hope that already exists around us and within us. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going. Free Resilience Quiz and free Mini-Course: Take our Free Resilience Quiz and then sign up for your free Mini-Course to identify your mental health strengths and obstacles and take meaningful actions to support your resilience. More on temperament: JL #134: You're Wired for Resilience Dr. Tali Sharot at the Affective Brain Lab Article: "The World Really Is Getting Better" Where to shop: Our partner store, Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for free. Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org. Full transcript available here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

It can be hard to make healthy changes. And there's no shortage of advice on what to change and how to change. In this episode, we dig into why change can be hard and how to make the process a bit easier. We'll talk about the nuances of external and internal motivators in behavior change, distinguishing between external (extrinsic) motivators, which stem from outside forces, and internal (intrinsic) motivators, which arise from our personal desires or values. The short story is that external motivators can be effective in the short term, especially for routine or necessity-driven tasks, but they often fall short in fostering lasting behavioral changes that contribute to wellbeing. We'll share some insights into human biology, including our evolutionary drives and the principle of homeostasis, while also touching on the significance of self-acceptance and self-compassion in nurturing internal motivation. Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all! Sources & Notes: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community! NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources (like our Sleeping Well Workshop) AND you'll join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going... which means powerful resources stay accessible to everyone. Free Resilience Quiz & free Mini-Course: Based on decades of clinical experience, we've created a model of resilience that is both helpful and practical. True to our approach at Natural Mental Health, we start with strengths. You'll identify these strengths in your Resilience Type. Your Resilience Type highlights your unique strengths, what fuels your joy, what keeps you in balance, and the lifestyle practices that most nourish you. After you find your Resilience Type, sign up for your free mini-course to receive tailored lifestyle practices that can support your mood, resilience, and overall wellbeing. Ladapo, J. A., Orstad, S. L., Wali, S., et al. (2023). Effectiveness of Goal-Directed and Outcome-Based Financial Incentives for Weight Loss in Primary Care Patients With Obesity Living in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Neighborhoods: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med, 183(1), 61–69. Access. Murayama, K., Kitagami, S., Tanaka, A. and Raw, J. (2016). People's naiveté about how extrinsic rewards influence intrinsic motivation. Motivation Science, 2 (3), 138-142. Access. Volpp, K. G., John, L. K., Troxel, A. B., Norton, L., Fassbender, J., Loewenstein, G. (2008). Financial Incentive–Based Approaches for Weight Loss: A Randomized Trial. JAMA, 300(22), 2631–2637. Access. Where to shop: Our partner store at Fullscript: Find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account. Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Our favorite resilience-boosting reads at Bookshop.org Full transcript available here. Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.