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

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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.
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• 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:
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