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: <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li1">[02:35] The scientific benefits of gratitude </li> <li class="li1">[08:00] Two essential parts of being grateful</li> <li class="li1">[09:16] What gratitude is not </li> <li class="li1">[13:30] Five guiding principles for making gratefulness into our way of life</li> <li class="li1">[20:58] Addressing toxic positivity </li> <li class="li1">[22:40] The difficulty and power of practicing gratitude in times of loss and pain</li> </ul> Key Takeaways: <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li1">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. </li> <li class="li1">Toxic positivity and gratitude are not the same thing. Gratitude is meant to be expressed alongside our emotions, even when experiencing loss and grief.</li> <li class="li1">A habit of gratitude is developed as we learn to savor the ordinary moments in life and appreciate everything that we have.</li> </ul> Links Mentioned: <a href="joylab.coach">joylab.coach</a>

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

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: <ul> <li>[02:35] The scientific benefits of gratitude </li> <li>[08:00] Two essential parts of being grateful</li> <li>[09:16] What gratitude is not </li> <li>[13:30] Five guiding principles for making gratefulness into our way of life</li> <li>[20:58] Addressing toxic positivity </li> <li>[22:40] The difficulty and power of practicing gratitude in times of loss and pain</li> </ul> Key Takeaways: <ul> <li>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. </li> <li>Toxic positivity and gratitude are not the same thing. Gratitude is meant to be expressed alongside our emotions, even when experiencing loss and grief.</li> <li>A habit of gratitude is developed as we learn to savor the ordinary moments in life and appreciate everything that we have.</li> </ul> Links Mentioned: <a href="joylab.coach" rel="noopener noreferrer">joylab.coach</a>

Why Gratitude Is Good (And Gratefulness Is Great)

Joy Lab is a science-grounded guide to mental health, resilience, and joy. It's hosted by Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek, who are leaders in integrative mental health.

If you're navigating stress, anxiety, low mood, burnout, or that persistent sense of "meh" that's hard to name but impossible to ignore, you're in the right place. Joy Lab blends the best of evidence-based mental health practices from CBT, positive psychology, & mindfulness with the deeper wisdom that science alone can't capture. It's what we call "science with soul" and, importantly, it's free of finger-wagging and toxic positivity. We focus on practical, whole-person support that's empowering and actually helps.

You'll probably find this pod most useful if any of these feel familiar:

*You feel caught in cycles of worry or anxiety.

*Stress has settled into your body; with tension, fatigue, and irritation showing up too often.

*The news of the world is getting under your skin, affecting your mood and focus more than you'd like to admit.

*Day-to-day life feels too "meh" and you want something more.

*Your mind feels full, foggy, or restless... maybe at 3am, when it seems especially determined to revisit everything you can't solve.

*You've been in a low mood rut for a while and you want out.

Episodes drop every Wednesdays + the 1st of each month. Each episode is a practical guide to building resilience, cultivating joy, and navigating life with more steadiness. It's an empowering approach that isn't just focused on what's wrong or endlessly chasing after fleeting moments of happiness. 

Henry and Aimee bring 50+ combined years in mental health, along with the lived experience to know that 'not so bad' is not the end goal for mental health. Joy Lab is here to help you reclaim the resilience and joy that's already within you.

The Joy Lab Podcast and Program are powered by Pathways North 501(c)(3).

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your doctor or a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (SAMHSA) or contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264 (Mon–Fri, 10am–10pm ET), text "HelpLine" to 62640, or email helpline@nami.org.

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Joy Lab is a science-grounded guide to mental health, resilience, and joy. It's hosted by Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek, who are leaders in integrative mental health. If you're navigating stress, anxiety, low mood, burnout, or that persistent sense of "meh" that's hard to name but impossible to ignore, you're in the right place. Joy Lab blends the best of evidence-based mental health practices from CBT, positive psychology, & mindfulness with the deeper wisdom that science alone can't capture. It's what we call "science with soul" and, importantly, it's free of finger-wagging and toxic positivity. We focus on practical, whole-person support that's empowering and actually helps. You'll probably find this pod most useful if any of these feel familiar: *You feel caught in cycles of worry or anxiety. *Stress has settled into your body; with tension, fatigue, and irritation showing up too often. *The news of the world is getting under your skin, affecting your mood and focus more than you'd like to admit. *Day-to-day life feels too "meh" and you want something more. *Your mind feels full, foggy, or restless... maybe at 3am, when it seems especially determined to revisit everything you can't solve. *You've been in a low mood rut for a while and you want out. Episodes drop every Wednesdays + the 1st of each month. Each episode is a practical guide to building resilience, cultivating joy, and navigating life with more steadiness. It's an empowering approach that isn't just focused on what's wrong or endlessly chasing after fleeting moments of happiness. Henry and Aimee bring 50+ combined years in mental health, along with the lived experience to know that 'not so bad' is not the end goal for mental health. Joy Lab is here to help you reclaim the resilience and joy that's already within you. The Joy Lab Podcast and Program are powered by Pathways North 501(c)(3). This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your doctor or a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (SAMHSA) or contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264 (Mon–Fri, 10am–10pm ET), text "HelpLine" to 62640, or email helpline@nami.org.

Joy Lab is a science-grounded guide to mental health, resilience, and joy. It's hosted by Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek, who are leaders in integrative mental health.

If you're navigating stress, anxiety, low mood, burnout, or that persistent sense of "meh" that's hard to name but impossible to ignore, you're in the right place. Joy Lab blends the best of evidence-based mental health practices from CBT, positive psychology, &amp; mindfulness with the deeper wisdom that science alone can't capture. It's what we call "science with soul" and, importantly, it's free of finger-wagging and toxic positivity. We focus on practical, whole-person support that's empowering and actually helps.

You'll probably find this pod most useful if any of these feel familiar:

*You feel caught in cycles of worry or anxiety.

*Stress has settled into your body; with tension, fatigue, and irritation showing up too often.

*The news of the world is getting under your skin, affecting your mood and focus more than you'd like to admit.

*Day-to-day life feels too "meh" and you want something more.

*Your mind feels full, foggy, or restless... maybe at 3am, when it seems especially determined to revisit everything you can't solve.

*You've been in a low mood rut for a while and you want out.

Episodes drop every Wednesdays + the 1st of each month. Each episode is a practical guide to building resilience, cultivating joy, and navigating life with more steadiness. It's an empowering approach that isn't just focused on what's wrong or endlessly chasing after fleeting moments of happiness. 

Henry and Aimee bring 50+ combined years in mental health, along with the lived experience to know that 'not so bad' is not the end goal for mental health. Joy Lab is here to help you reclaim the resilience and joy that's already within you.

The Joy Lab Podcast and Program are powered by Pathways North 501(c)(3).

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your doctor or a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (SAMHSA) or contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264 (Mon–Fri, 10am–10pm ET), text "HelpLine" to 62640, or email helpline@nami.org.

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