Joy Lab Podcast

Did you catch the first set of images released from the Webb telescope? Did you feel a bit of awe? And if you listened to last episode (#17) you may have thought... "Hey! That's me in those images!" Yes! That might sound a bit wild, but it's true. Aimee is here to chat a bit about the power of seeing yourself in those images. Seeing your mystery, your magic, your power. In fact, the most incredible thing that you can discover might just be within. Telescopes optional. Key Takeaways: Carl Sagan: "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Alan Watts: "You are that vast thing that you see far, far off with great telescopes." Let the Webb images remind you of your power, your awe. Embracing your "small self" boosts your feelings of joy, generosity, wellbeing, and humility. Links Mentioned: Joy Lab Episode #4 Joy Lab Episode #17 Carl Sagan (website covering some of his work) Alan Watts: The Nature of Consciousness The Science of Awe (including more on the "small self") Joy Lab Program

Awe, wonder, enchantment… don't we all want these experiences?! And when it comes to mental health, they're super beneficial. In this episode, we'll explain how the element of awe and these experiences are not completely outside of our control, but instead available to us daily. We'll also dig into negative self-evaluation, a common obstacle that stands in the way of awe (aka, constant thoughts of comparing ourselves to others). As we learn how to put aside these negative thoughts, we can create space for awe and step into more joy. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Einstein had it right: "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. They to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: their eyes are closed." Negative self-evaluation, or constantly comparing ourselves to others is a huge obstacle to awe and wonder. The opening words from the dhammapada describe how powerful our thoughts are: "We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world." We can put aside our thoughts to make room for awe, wonder, enchantment, and joy. Our bodies are awesome (stardust?!). If you want to see more awe in the world, see it in yourself first. Some truths about mental health (influenced by the 4 Noble Truths): Everyone suffers from time to time. With our thoughts, we make the world. What kind of world do we want to create for ourselves? We can be largely free of suffering, at least the kind that we create with our thinking. Our paths to wellbeing might be meandering and unique, but we will create more joy, step-by-step. Thich Nhat Hanh: "Hell and paradise are both available in each step." Links mentioned: Join us at the Joy Lab Program Joy Lab podcast episode #4: Letting in the Good.

Curiosity is a powerful element of joy. There are two key constructs related to curiosity that we'll dive into in this episode because they are particularly powerful. These are intellectual humility and uncertainty tolerance. You can practice skills to build these constructs in your life, both of which not only build a more resilient brain and body, but enhance your joy and a deeper sense of connection with others. We'll talk about some obstacles that might stand in the way of these constructs along with five simple strategies to start building them in your daily life. The Invisible Gorilla Study: Take just a few minutes for this study before you listen to the episode (or pause the episode when prompted). Everything you need to know is in the 1:21 video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo. Simply count how many times the players wearing white pass the basketball. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Intellectual humility describes the recognition that you might be wrong about the things you believe in. Building more intellectual humility is powerful. Individuals who score higher on intellectual humility also: Report improvements in wellbeing. Score higher on self-awareness assessments and are more tolerant of other perspectives. Are less likely to get fooled by misinformation. Are more likely to seek out opportunities to learn. In effect, intellectually humble folks actually tend to know more compared to folks who score lower on intellectual humility assessments. Uncertainty tolerance is the ability to tolerate (or not tolerate) uncertainty. There's a full spectrum within there. Two key pieces of uncertainty tolerance are places where we can skill-build: Increasing the amount of uncertainty we can handle How we react when we hit that limit and work to reduce the uncertainty Uncertainty tolerance, followed by coming to a healthy resolution of that uncertainty, is really good for your brain (and your stress resiliency!). Five simple strategies can be used to boost intellectual humility and uncertainty tolerance: Practice admitting you're wrong, at least once per day. Even if it's just to yourself (which can be a great place to start). Challenge your perceptions. Or, put another way, don't believe everything you think. Don't google every question. Sit with uncertainty and even try to explore answers to your question offline. Exercise. Exercise increases curiosity. Try heading outside for a walk for an even bigger boost. Act like a scientist. Try something new. Observe what happens. Apply what you learn. Bonus (but essential) strategy: Be gentle with yourself. We grow not through self-improvement, but from self-acceptance. LINKS AND SOURCES MENTIONED: Join us at the Joy Lab Program Dr. Else Frenkel-Brunswik Dr. Barbara Fredrickson (Broaden and Build Theory and the Upward Spiral Theory) Your work reputation stays solid when you admit you're wrong More on the Invisible Gorilla Study (and Drs. Chabris and Simons) Curious kids: Study on rapid question asking Why asking questions is an essential skill for kids (and adults) Exercise and curiosity (along with other variables). Exercise and mental health resources from Natural Mental Health

How are you feeling? What are you feeling in your body? As for me (Aimee here, co-host of the Joy Lab podcast), I've been a sobbing, ticked off human the last few days. I rollercoastered between fear, apathy, sorrow, and fiery rage. My body also tumbled between lethargy and a fierce triple-threat position. Now I'm tired. Just really flippin' tired. Can you relate? I have a nearly 4-year old who I could hardly drop off at preschool this week. I mean... what if? Many of my friends with k-12 kids also texted me in the last 48 hours. They all described this pit of aching fear and uncertainty that felt so consuming. It's exhausting to hold all of the experiences that have happened in the last few years. The Uvalde mass shooting might feel like too much, like a last dagger in our collective hope for a healthier community. That's what we're talking about in this episode. How is joy even possible amidst so much tragic loss? How can we keep the elements of joy that we work on in Joy Lab present amidst such pain and sorrow? An important truth to hold onto is that we're wired for joy, resilience, and all the other elements we work with here. AND, we need some support to fill up our tank because, particularly at times like this, we can get depleted. When we pause to fill up a bit, then we'll have some fuel to tap into our elements of joy and take wise action, doing the necessary work of creating healthier and safer communities. So, please take some time to fill your tank. Seek out the support of a mental health professional, a family member, and/or a friend. You can also reach out to SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline. It's a free, 24/7 resource that offers counseling and support amidst disasters, including mass shootings. Simply call or text 1-800-985-5990 and you'll be connected with a trained crisis counselor. NMH and Joy Lab are also here for you with resources to help fill your tank. One key resource we've decided to offer during this time is our Resilient Kids Summit. We have removed the $75 fee to make it FREE and more accessible. The Summit offers key resources that parents and others with kiddos in their lives can use to help navigate through adversity, with specific attention to adolescent depression, anxiety, and ADHD. The Summit is led by nationally-recognized leaders in the field of integrative mental health and is aimed at helping you utilize integrative, safe, affordable, and evidence-based strategies that can help the kids in your life thrive. There are no live dates to plug into your calendar. Simply watch the sessions whenever they fit into your schedule. So, please use this newly free Summit to help fill your tank and nourish the kids in your life. And share with anyone who may need it as well. It's really fantastic. Most of all, it's ok to not feel ok right now. Just know that you are resilient. We are resilient. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Joy is not the same as happiness. It's a deeper, more lasting foundation. So, you don't need to feel happy all the time AND joy is always present. Acceptance is not the same as inaction. It doesn't mean you don't get mobilized. In fact, acceptance is often the most efficient fuel for wise action. Sometimes anger is the healthy emotion. It can ignite motivation. It's those next steps that are key. How can anger motivate healthy action? And, as Rainer Maria Rilke said, "No feeling is final." LINKS MENTIONED: Joy Lab Program SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline Resilient Kids Summit

Feeling hopeful is a key contributor to better mental health. And don't worry, you don't have to be an optimist to be hopeful, as it's a skill that we can all boost. Problem is, hope may seem hard to find right now. There's a lot of events and messaging that makes that feel really true. In this episode, we'll get into a key obstacle that stands in the way of hope: The illusion of separation. This is the belief that we are separate beings, with a clear separation between each of us and a separation between ourselves and the outside world. That sounds true, right?! Well, we'll break that myth down in this episode and also touch on some key strategies to build more hope. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Hope is different than optimism; you don't have to be an optimist to be hopeful. Remember Dr. Jacqueline Mattis' definition: Hope is optimism with a plan. What stands in the way of hope? The illusion of separation. This illusion has been built into policies, health, medicine…. and more. The illusion of separation can be broken down into four common divisions we make within and between ourselves: Mind and body Head and heart Nature and nurture Inside and outside. Mind and body: Advancements in science continue to reveal that we are more interconnected than we ever imagined. Head and heart: Whole-hearted listening is a practice that can re-engage your heart. Nature and nurture: Epigenetics demonstrates that our DNA is not so concrete… let's talk about nuptial pads! Inside and outside: We're all doing the best we can right now. At the same time, it's essential to do inner-work so that we can get more skilled at how we respond to our outer world. We can build our awareness and connection (we do this at the Joy Lab program), and with that practice, so much of what bugs us just falls away. If you're breathing, there's room for healing. Links mentioned: Join us at Joy Lab Program Chemistry of Calm book Barbara Kingsolver (Author) Mind-Body Dualism: A Critique from a Health Perspective Sources of human psychological differences: the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart Dr. Kammerer and the Midwife Toads: Dr. Kammerer's book: The Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics Radiolab episode: Leaving Your Lamarck Shel Silverstein (Author)

We're all wired for resilience. It's built into all living systems, from a single cell to dynamic global systems. And none of us would be here if we didn't have it. But, have you wondered why we all have different levels of resilience and how it can be boosted? In this episode, we explore what resilience means, how to protect your resilience, how to get it back if it's been depleted, and even how to grow it to a level you might not have thought you could get to. IN THIS EPISODE: [03:34] What does resilience mean and why do so many people struggle with it? [11:30] Aimee explains the term Ordinary Magic and the research behind it. [14:50] Key factors to boost your resilience. [18:32] Restoring resilience through our model, The Roots of Resilience. [24:20] Emotional reactivity and how it's related to depression. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Everyone has a different level of resilience and it's determined by three primary things: genetics, early childhood, and current stress. The Roots of Resilience include: Balancing brain chemistry, managing energy, aligning with nature, calming your mind, turning toward the feeling, cultivating a good heart, and creating deep connections. It is never too late to learn the skills or support others so that our natural resilience can take the lead. LINKS MENTIONED: Join us at Joy Lab Program Take questionnaire to learn your resilience type Ordinary Magic, Resilience in Development Summary of the Project Competence Longitudinal Study Chemistry of Calm book Evidence and other poems by Mary Oliver

Feeling stressed lately? Our stress responses are being activated by a lot of stressors floating around lately. Activation is generally fine (and can be good stress!), as long as it recedes in a reasonable amount of time. If that doesn't happen, we can really lock ourselves into a chronic state of stress. Here's where equanimity can come in. In this episode, we explore equanimity (we also like to call it inner calm), the science behind it, and how it has been sought after throughout human history. We share some learnings from those quests and five pathways to experiment with to help ease our stress responses and bring more equanimity back into our lives–even after just a single equanimity practice. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction to Joy Lab Podcast 00:43 Understanding the Concept of Equanimity 02:12 Historical Perspectives on Equanimity 03:50 Personal Experiences with Equanimity 10:12 The Neuroscience of Equanimity 13:38 The Science of Equanimity 19:21 Pathways to Inner Calm and Equanimity 27:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts KEY TAKEAWAYS: Equanimity is defined as an even-minded mental state where clear action can come from. It is not the same as indifference or apathy. Stress is not a bad thing, it is a normal and healthy reaction. But it is essential that we learn to respond to it in more healthy ways. Individuals taught practices that helped them cultivate equanimity respond more calmly to a stressor and rebound more quickly compared to individuals who have not engaged in an equanimity practice. 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. Joan Halifax: https://gratefulness.org/resource/equanimity-the-fourth-abode/ Pema Chodron: https://pemachodronfoundation.org/product/working-directly-with-the-mind-audio-download/ Interoceptive Awareness Skills for Emotion Regulation- Theory and Approach of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5985305/ Mindfulness and Psychological Process: http://www.contemplativemind.org/enewsletter/2011_Spring/Mindfulness_and_Psychology-Mark_Williams.pdf Moving beyond Mindfulness- Defining Equanimity as an Outcome Measure in Meditation and Contemplative Research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350240/#R148 Mind over Matter: Reappraising Arousal Improves Cardiovascular and Cognitive Responses to Stress: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3410434/ 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: 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/ 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 are exploring the forgotten key to happiness… savoring! In our modern world, there is both excess and inequity, a recipe that has distracted us from the art of noticing and appreciating the good things around us. We discuss the relationship between dopamine, pleasure, addiction, motivation, and in the midst of those, the superpower of savoring. Listen in for the powerful benefits of savoring and how it can unlock greater happiness in your life. 00:00 Introduction to the Joy Lab Podcast 00:36 Exploring the Element of Savoring 01:28 The Science Behind Savoring 02:24 The Power of Savoring in Daily Life 07:26 Savoring and the Dopamine System 15:14 The Role of Savoring in Emotional Regulation 20:45 Personal Experiences with Savoring 25:08 The Many Ways to Savor 25:50 Closing Thoughts and Invitation to the Joy Lab Program 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. Bryant, F. B. (2021). Current Progress and Future Directions for Theory and Research on Savoring. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.771698. Parker-Pope, T. (January 3, 2022). Diets Make You Feel Bad. Try Training Your Brain Instead. The New York Times. Wilson, K. A., & MacNamara, A. (2021). Savor the moment: Willful increase in positive emotion and the persistence of this effect across time. Psychophysiology, 58. doi: 10.1111/psyp.13754 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: 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/ 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 element for this episode is inspiration. It's the magic of being awakened to new possibilities or feeling deeply passionate that you want to do something out of that passion. We all know inspiration can strike when we least expect it to, but perhaps there is a depth to its transcendence and interconnectedness within us that we can learn to tap into. Tune in as we talk about the five qualities of inspiration, how to avoid common pitfalls, and key ways to increase your likelihood of experiencing inspiration. Key Takeaways: The more inspiration you have, the more internal drive and purpose you have to be motivated in everyday work. One of the pitfalls with inspiration is when you only rely on others to get it; that's just not a reliable source. It is transcendent in how it comes to us, either from within us or from beyond us. You can increase your likelihood of being inspired by being open to new experiences, practicing positive emotions, and through preparation. Links Mentioned: The Joy Lab Program

The element for this episode is sympathetic joy, which is the practice of delighting in other people's happiness. But it's easier said than done—especially when we feel others' accomplishments are unfairly earned or they receive something we want for ourselves. How do we overcome these negative responses? The biggest obstacle to overcome is the belief that we are fundamentally separate from each other; that our happiness is not dependent on others. Tune in to this episode as we talk about how deeply interconnected the world is and how the path to our own happiness may in fact be tied to the happiness of others. In This Episode: [00:54] What is sympathetic joy [03:00] The highest qualities of a good heart [04:39] Obstacles to sympathetic joy [06:58] The impact and research of sympathetic joy and emotional contagion [12:25] Why practicing sympathetic joy is difficult [16:03] Common cognitive roadblocks with sympathetic joy [21:12] A model of what the world looks like when sympathetic joy is present Key Takeaways: Sympathetic joy is a Buddhist concept that roughly translates into taking delight in other people's happiness. Sympathetic joy is seen as being a direct path to one's own happiness by learning to be happy for others. There's strong scientific evidence that we are impacted by the emotions of those around us, meaning we are interconnected creatures. Negative emotions can often feel more "contagious" which is why sympathetic joy can be a particularly effective tool to not only buffer the emotions around us but add a positive element to the world. There are two cognitive roadblocks to sympathetic joy: The fallacy of fairness and the fallacy of scarcity. Both of these distortions are built on the belief that we are fundamentally separate from others. At the heart of sympathetic joy is the belief that we are all interconnected on a deep level. Links Mentioned: joylab.coach

Today, we're discussing gratitude. Not the gratitude associated with cliche sayings stamped on mugs or "#blessed" posts on Instagram. We're diving into the goodness of gratefulness that's not based solely on circumstances. In this episode, we'll look at the scientific benefits of gratitude and how it can transform your life. Join Joy Lab hosts, Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek, as they share a fresh perspective on the power of gratitude and gratefulness. In This Episode: [02:35] The scientific benefits of gratitude [08:00] Two essential parts of being grateful [09:16] What gratitude is not [13:30] Five guiding principles for making gratefulness into our way of life [20:58] Addressing toxic positivity [22:40] The difficulty and power of practicing gratitude in times of loss and pain Key Takeaways: There's a difference between a momentary feeling of thankfulness in response to something good coming our way and a habit of gratitude that is woven into how you live. Toxic positivity and gratitude are not the same thing. Gratitude is meant to be expressed alongside our emotions, even when experiencing loss and grief. A habit of gratitude is developed as we learn to savor the ordinary moments in life and appreciate everything that we have. Links Mentioned: joylab.coach

The element for this episode is compassion. Given everything that's going on in the world today, it's more important than ever. Despite this growing need for compassion, it's often confusing and misunderstood. In this episode, we'll clarify what compassion is, the many ways it can take shape, and how we're all wired for it. Join us in this episode of Joy Lab, as we examine the science of compassion and how you can bring more of it into your life. In This Episode: [01:36] What compassion can do for us when we take the time to cultivate it [05:10] The biology and healing nature of compassion [10:02] The why and how of practicing compassion [15:19] The relationship between current events and compassion fatigue [18:40] An example of what simple genuine compassion can look like [23:18] Examining common obstacles for compassion [27:46] The difficulties of moving from a place of compassion in the face of evil and the importance of compassion superheroes Key Takeaways: We all experience pain and suffering. And while we can't escape it, we can build a larger container to hold it in. We can do that by cultivating a good heart by opening ourselves up again and again and creating genuine connections. Compassion is something we can train ourselves and get better at through practice. Compassion offers us a different choice when we feel as if we want to close up in response to pain and suffering. With genuine compassion, there is an acknowledgment that this is how things are, and this is what happened, without the need to fix it or make someone feel better. We can build a bigger container for our pain and suffering by giving out compassion and also letting more compassion in. We need it. We are wired for it. Links Mentioned: www.joylab.coach

The theme of this episode is Love. Not the rom-com version of love, but the genuine deep connection that we all long for. And even though love is all around, it's easy to close our hearts to love, in fear of becoming vulnerable and getting hurt. So how do we open ourselves again, and how do we keep our hearts open? Tune into this episode to learn the five lessons on loving well and how we can keep our hearts and minds open to love. Key Takeaways: Love is always there. We just need to keep our hearts open so we can let it in. When learning how to love and let the love in, we need to learn how to love ourselves first. Many of us still believe that if we want to be happy, we need to weed out all the flaws, which is a never-ending quest. Instead, we need to find the balance between self-improvement and self-acceptance. Everyone is doing the best they can, at any given moment. See that innocence in yourself and others. Links and Sources: Resilient Community Find lots of resources to support you and you'll join a crew of inspiring people who are building their resilience and joy while also helping to keep our Joy Lab podcast in existence! Joy Lab Program (step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life) Go deeper: More pods on the Lessons of Loving Well: Joy Lab Podcast episode #21 (Love Yourself First) Joy Lab Podcast episode #22 (See the Innocence in Others) Joy Lab Podcast episode #23 (Be More Permeable) Joy Lab Podcast episode #24 (Listen Deeply) Joy Lab Podcast episode #25 (Create a House of Belonging) More from Stephen Levine

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. Watch this episode on YouTube. Key moments: 00:00 Welcome to the Joy Lab Podcast 00:44 The Importance of Fun and Play 02:02 Overcoming Barriers to Fun 08:29 The Concept of Flow 15:42 The Counterclockwise Study 20:57 Neurogenesis and Connection 24:05 Authenticity and Fun 25:45 Conclusion and Invitation to Joy Lab 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.

Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek are talking all about awe today. Awe might seem like a rare occurrence and entirely outside of your control. But, that's not true! Awe is really about letting in more of the good and allowing yourself to just be with that experience. And you don't have to be in just the right place at just the right time to experience it. Drs. Emmons and Prasek reveal what type of thinking might be blocking your ability to experience awe and how you can change that thinking to invite more awe, and more of the good, into your life. In This Episode: [03:50] Reading of the poem, "Where Does the Temple Begin, Where Does It End?" [06:05] Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches us how our thinking can change our mood. [10:45] How we can bypass the errors of our thinking and invite awe into our life. [15:00] Anxiety can take over your world; however, your life is more than your anxiety. [20:10] Reading of the poem, "Can't You See the Mighty Warrior?" Key Takeaways: Overgeneralization is when we allow one small experience, usually a bad memory, to apply in unrelated situations. To undo this, you have to develop the ability to observe yourself. Filtering happens when the criticisms or attacks get through, but the praise or support doesn't. It's hard to be filled with awe when you filter out the good. Awe boosts your feelings of joy, generosity, wellbeing, and humility. Links Mentioned: Awe Walk Study https://bit.ly/awe-walk-study Joy Lab The Joy Lab Program

In this episode of JoyLab, our hosts Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek 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 the neural pathways in our minds. Tune in to this episode to explore the element of curiosity and how we can use that to foster joy in our lives. In This Episode: [03:00] How we create neural pathways in our brain by repeating thoughts over and over again. [6:00] Bringing conscious awareness to negative paths we've created in our minds and how to instead choose to see things in a more positive way, repeating those thoughts over and over to change that path. [8:00] The Buddhist path to a more joyful life is referred to as the middle way which also goes along with a mental health concept: The spectrum of rigidity to chaos. [11:00] Identifying two key dimensions of curiosity, external and internal, and how they can affect our thoughts and mental health. [15:23] Sitting with the element of discomfort can create a broader perspective and allow you to see things in a new light and create new neural connections. Key Takeaways: We create a neural pathway in our brains by having the same thoughts over and over again. That means repetitive negative or fearful thoughts become increasingly difficult to stray from. Living at either extreme of the mental health spectrum, rigidity or chaos, is not ideal. This creates looping thoughts and emotions that can get stuck, putting an end to curiosity and creativity pretty quickly. Learn to strike a balance between healthy seeking and constant distraction by staying somewhere in the middle of these two actions. The benefits of curiosity can cause some discomfort, but that's also where the learning happens. Curiosity teaches us that there's always more to learn, there is no final mastery and there's always something new before us.

In this episode, we discuss the concept of hope as a tool to achieving joyful lives, drawing from 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. Key moments: 00:00 Introduction to the Joy Lab Podcast 00:45 Unveiling the Theme: Hope 02:06 The Two Wolves: A Story of Hope and Fear 05:04 The Neuroscience of Hope 11:55 The Enemies of Joy: Brain Imbalance and Toxicity 13:39 The Power of Perception and Genetics 14:56 The Unsettled Mind and the Illusion of Separation 21:30 The Power of Hope in Mental Health 23:26 Conclusion: Embracing the Invisible Joy 23:57 Outro and Disclaimer 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: 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/ 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 you ready to uncover and foster your most joyful self? Dr. Henry Emmons, MD, is an author and an integrative psychiatrist with over three decades of experience. Dr. Aimee Prasek, PhD, is a researcher and educator in integrative mental health therapies. Together they have created JoyLab, an ideal mix of soulful and scientifically sound tools to spark your joy. Join Dr. Emmons and Dr. Prasek in their first episode of the JoyLab Podcast as they introduce you to their science based, soul-filled program to help you build resilience and create a more joyful life. They will discuss the explosive rise in anxiety and depression and why the standard approach to treating mental health issues may not be working. Tune in and begin to connect science and soul to learn key positive emotions and begin to uncover your joy. In This Episode: [01:00] Dr. Emmons and Dr. Prasek explain the science and soul involved in the online JoyLab program. [3:11] Why do we need something like JoyLab right now? Dr. Emmons discusses the explosive rise in anxiety and depression and the JoyLab approach to uncover Joy. [9:44] It's possible to feel joyful even in the midst of dealing with a problem. Joy is not just an emotion. It is a state of being. [14:30] The four pillars that make up JoyLab. Key Takeaways: Joy is not the opposite of depression. It is different from happiness and runs deeper than any feeling. Joy can be accessed anytime and anywhere. Joy is not just an emotion. It is a peaceful and natural state of being that is woven into our nature. Links Mentioned: https://www.joylab.coach/ https://www.naturalmentalhealth.com/