Joy Lab Podcast Henry Emmons, MD and Aimee Prasek, PhD

In this episode, we're working on our element Hope... and resilience as well! We're still adventuring through The Roots of Resilience (laid out in one of Dr. Emmons book, The Chemistry of Calm). We're talking about the seventh and final root, "Creating Deep Connections" and how those connections are essential for our resilience and hope. And fear not, introverts. This root doesn't mean you need to to make a boatload of friends. Instead, we're looking at how connection and belonging are essential for our mental health. That means one of the most important shifts you can make is to wake up from the illusion of separation and replace it with an awareness of unity. We'll talk about practical ways to do that in this episode and why it matters so much for mental health.
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 (like our Sleeping Well Workshop) & 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 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.
Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series)
Dr. Lou Cozolino's website and books
A moral act, elevation, and prosocial behavior: Moderators of morality (Thomson & Siegel study)
The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Hope and Stress
The role of Hope in subsequent health and well-being for older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach
Hopelessness and Risk of Mortality and Incidence of Myocardial Infarction and Cancer
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.
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 helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, we're working on our element Hope… and resilience as well! We're still adventuring through The Roots of Resilience (laid out in one of Dr. Emmons books, The Chemistry of Calm). We're talking about the sixth root, "Cultivating a Good Heart." What does this have to do with mental health?! A lot actually. We're not just a brain wandering around all alone. We're more than that. And this root opens up the rest of our body, and the world around us, so that we can not only improve our mental health, but connect with meaning and purpose, and tap into our joy, hope, and resilience. We'll get into some specifics with the factors of self-acceptance, loving-kindness, and compassion as foundational strategies to cultivate a good heart. Expect to learn some insights from neuroscience and traditional wisdom on the heart's central role in emotional processing and connection, along with key practices to cultivate kindness and compassion towards ourselves and others. 
Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support 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) & 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 and free Mini-Course: Based on decades of clinical experience, we've created a model of resilience that is both helpful and practical.
Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series)
Annual Research Review: Positive adjustment to adversity -Trajectories of minimal-impact resilience and emergent resilience
The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Hope and Stress
The role of Hope in subsequent health and well-being for older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach
More on those snails/slugs:
RNA from Trained Aplysia Can Induce an Epigenetic Engram for Long-Term Sensitization in Untrained Aplysia 
Reinstatement of long-term memory following erasure of its behavioral and synaptic expression in Aplysia
Joy Lab Podcast ep #26: Self-Compassion: Don't Believe Everything You Think (about yourself)
The Three Kindnesses. Here are the three patterns of kindness to notice:
Notice someone acting kindly to another person.
Notice someone acting kindly to you.
Notice when you act kindly to someone else.
Hopelessness and Risk of Mortality and Incidence of Myocardial Infarction and Cancer
Shop:
Fullscript (partner store): 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.
Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies.
Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads here.
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 tex

In this episode, we're working on our element Hope... and resilience as well! We're still adventuring through The Roots of Resilience (laid out in one of Dr. Emmons book, The Chemistry of Calm). We're talking about the fifth root, "Turning Toward the Feeling." Specifically, those uncomfortable ones that we may want to run from or push down. Instead, if we want those feelings to move through us (and go on their way), then we need to turn toward them and give them the attention that they require.This can be a really hard practice to start, but we'll discuss a three-step process that is super effective at helping us face and move through these uncomfortable feelings. And, like any other skill, we'll get better and better at facing them every time we practice. 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 (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 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. Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series) Equanimity Series (with the grounding strategies) 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) Joy Lab Podcast #38 (Know Your Obstacles to Joy... Two Small Ones And A Really Big One) Henri Nouwen Society 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 your free Fullscript account here. 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 Frida

As you may know, we're still adventuring through The Roots of Resilience (laid out in one of Dr. Emmons book, The Chemistry of Calm). In this episode, we're working on our fourth root, "Calming the Mind." We'll hit on some key insights and strategies that include: Realizing we're thinking and that many of our thoughts are false, embracing the skill of learned optimism, stepping into the role of our observing self, and how we can get more comfortable venturing into our inner-world. Bonus: Head over to our NMH community for a Calm Mind Meditation to put this conversation into practice. 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 and free Mini-Course: Based on decades of clinical experience, we've created a model of resilience that is both helpful and practical.  Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series) Learned Optimism (Seligman book) Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind (this is the study of people shocking themselves out of boredom) 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. Signing up is 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. 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 helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
 

In this episode, we're working on our element Hope... and resilience as well! As you may know, we're still adventuring through The Roots of Resilience (laid out in one of Dr. Emmons book, The Chemistry of Calm). We’re adding this element of Hope because working on our resilience skills is something that can actually feed hope, which then boosts our resilience… which then fuels our hope. It’s the upward spiral we love here. And, just to be clear, you don't need to be an optimist to be hopeful. Or joyful. We'll discuss a bit more about that in this episode. One more reason why we like to talk about hope and resilience together: Working with these elements together creates more opportunities to tap into our resilient self, particularly if we're feeling at odds with our body (for whatever reason). We'll discuss how we can tap into our resilience and hope through our mind and heart space, and in a way that also nourishes the body.   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 (like our Sleeping Well Workshop) & 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 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. Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series) The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Hope and Stress The role of Hope in subsequent health and well-being for older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach (Long & Colleagues) On the promotion of human flourishing (VanderWeele article) Hopelessness and Risk of Mortality and Incidence of Myocardial Infarction and Cancer  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. Shop now. 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
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 helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. Yo

In this episode, we're working on our element of Resilience and exploring the third "Root of Resilience" known as aligning with nature. The Roots of Resilience were laid out in one of Dr. Emmons book, "The Chemistry of Calm." This root builds on our last one ("managing energy") by embracing the cycles and rhythms that are part of a much bigger system. This may seem "woo-woo," but.. well, it's not. Like all mammals and really every other living thing, we are influenced by cycles around us. A growing field of study known as chronobiology is bringing more scientific understanding to these cycles (for example: seasonal affective disorder and seasonal mood shifts). We'll talk more about this root and how increasing awareness of your connection with nature and adding some simple skills in response to this connection can support your mood, energy, and resilience in really powerful ways.
 
Key moments:
00:00 Welcome to Joy Lab
00:46 Introducing the Roots of Resilience Series
01:46 Aligning with Nature: The Third Root of Resilience
02:03 Exploring Bio Rhythms: A Key to Mental Health
04:39 Diving Deep into Ultradian Rhythms
10:39 Circadian Rhythms: The Impact of Sleep on Mental Health
22:32 Infradian Rhythms: The Examples of Menstruation and Seasonal Affective Disorder
26:44 Wrapping Up: The Power of Aligning with Nature
 
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 (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 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. Joy Lab Podcast #13 (The Roots of Resilience) This episode is a broad overview of what we'll be talking about over the next 9 episodes. It's a really helpful summary! Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series) 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/ Supplements Mentioned to support SAD and drops in mood during winter: TruAdapt NeuroMood Pure Pack Vitamin D (we like this October-April) The 20 Minute Break (book) Linnaeus' Flower Clock More on light therapy in our blog here. More on seasonal affective disorder and seasonal mood shifts from our blogs: Natural Approaches for Seasonal Affective Disorder and Supporting Winter Mood Does Winter Get You Down? (video) What Causes Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal Affective Disorder in the Summer A Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder: Definition, Tr