Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joy

By Henry Emmons MD, Holistic Psychiatry; Aimee Prasek PhD, Positive PsychologyHealth & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement

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Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joy episodes

December 01, 2021The Viral Happiness Practice That Transforms Your Wellbeing (It's Sympathetic Joy!) [9]
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.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.
27 min
November 01, 2021Gratitude and Gratefulness: The Science of Both and How to Practice Them for Mood Improvement [8]
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.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.
27 min
October 01, 2021Compassion Is Your Mind-Body Connection Superpower [7]
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.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.
34 min
September 01, 2021Holistic Mental Health: Five Lessons on Loving Well — The Foundation of Emotional Wellbeing [6]
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:

More from Stephen Levine

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.
26 min
August 01, 2021 Challenging the Shoulds That Are Stealing Your Joy (+ CBT Techniques You Can Try Today) [5]
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

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.

27 min
July 01, 2021The Science and Practice of Awe & Letting in the Good: Insights from Positive Psychology (Not Toxic Positivity) [4]
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.

Awe Walk Study: https://bit.ly/awe-walk-study

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.
27 min
June 01, 2021Mental Health Tools: How Curiosity Reshapes Your Brain — The Neuroscience of Staying Curious [3]
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.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.
24 min
May 01, 2021 Depression, Anxiety, & Stress Relief: Reaching for the Handle of Hope When It's Hard to Find [2]
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

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.

25 min
April 13, 2021A Joyful Life Is Natural: Insights from Positive Psychology, Holistic Healing, & Mindfulness [1]
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.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.

The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program.

Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).

Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app:

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn

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.
20 min

About Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joy

From the publisher's feed

Joy Lab isn't your typical happiness podcast. We focus on strengthening your mental health with the science of joy, recognizing that joy can be tapped into even amidst experiences like depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and burnout. You can expect a blend of the best cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, positive psychology practices, stress management techniques, and mindfulness skills. Each month we focus on building one Element of Joy such as gratitude, self-compassion, confidence, self-acceptance, humility, and self-connection. It's a holistic approach to mental health that's refreshingly free of finger-wagging and toxic positivity and full of practical, whole-person support that's empowering and actually helps. Joy Lab is hosted by two leaders in mental health, Henry Emmons, MD (integrative psychiatrist) and Aimee Prasek, PhD (mental health researcher).