Joy Lab is back with an exciting new schedule that includes Wednesday Joy Lab episodes and Saturday Resilience Lab episodes! The latter will focus on common mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, offering tools and knowledge to help in overcoming these challenges. Looking forward to being with you all more often! 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. ...
Jan 13, 2024•5 min•Ep. 109
In this episode of Joy Lab Podcast, Dr. Henry Emmons guides us through a powerful guided meditation and journaling practice that we like to call: Dialogue With Your soul. Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow along in order, beginning with episode #78 and you can visit the Podcourse Page to find all the episodes. However , these episodes can be listened to in any order and you can take action with any strategy that you fee...
Jan 10, 2024•17 min•Ep. 108
In this episode of JoyLab Podcast, Dr. Henry Emmons touches on the exploration of depression as a sacred experience that can serve as a vehicle for growth. Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow along in order, beginning with episode #78 and you can visit the Podcourse Page to find all the episodes. However , these episodes can be listened to in any order and you can take action with any strategy that you feel connected to....
Jan 06, 2024•15 min•Ep. 107
In this quick bonus episode, Dr. Henry Emmons will describe the simple way to practice sympathetic joy in daily life. Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow along in order, beginning with episode #78 and you can visit the Podcourse Page to find all the episodes. However , these episodes can be listened to in any order and you can take action with any strategy that you feel connected to. Resilience Quiz and free Mini-Course ...
Jan 04, 2024•3 min•Ep. 106
Get comfortable and settle in for this heart opening meditation with Dr. Henry Emmons. Remember to simply observe, accepting whatever state your heart is in without judgement. Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow along in order, beginning with episode #78 and you can visit the Podcourse Page to find all the episodes. However , these episodes can be listened to in any order and you can take action with any strategy that yo...
Jan 03, 2024•11 min•Ep. 105
In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, Dr. Henry Emmons highlights the concept of the 'illusion of separation,' explaining that we are not isolated beings but deeply connected to each other and the world around us. In the context of easing depression and anxiety, this concept emphasizes the critical role of human connection, kindness, love, and self-compassion. Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow along in order, beginni...
Dec 30, 2023•12 min•Ep. 104
In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, hosts Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek delve into the concept of sympathetic joy, a concept that encourages joy in others' well-being. That alone is a powerful tool to help combat feelings of isolation and build a more interconnected, joyful life. Aimee will also explain some of the science of emotional contagion, exploring how our emotions and physiological states are unconsciously influenced by those around us. And of course, Henry and Aimee will ta...
Dec 27, 2023•25 min•Ep. 103
This is a simple, yet powerful compassion meditation that you can do at any time. This practice can help create greater self-compassion and enhance your ability to be present with others in times of need. Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow along in order, beginning with episode #78 and you can visit the Podcourse Page to find all the episodes. However , these episodes can be listened to in any order and you can take act...
Dec 23, 2023•11 min•Ep. 102
In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons explores how we can cultivate a good heart and its profound impact on our wellbeing, especially in overcoming challenges like depression and anxiety. Be sure to listen in for the story about a wise sage and a young seeker. It illustrates the importance of nurturing our capacity for compassion and understanding suffering. And just like the sage's lesson with the bitter herb and the lake, we can learn how to dissolve our suffering by expanding our capacity for com...
Dec 20, 2023•11 min•Ep. 101
Last episode, Dr. Emmons talked about emotional storms. This is a meditation to help practice with those storms. This meditation is something that's really best done after it's happened, after you've settled down a little bit, and the emotion's not so strong. The power of this practice is in its ability to offer wisdom from those storms. To rework the event. To imagine yourself doing it in a different way than what actually happened. And it's that power of imagination that you'll use in this med...
Dec 16, 2023•14 min•Ep. 100
In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons talks about emotional reactivity and its profound relationship with anxiety and depression, especially recurring episodes of depression. Henry will take you through a real-life example of how an emotional storm (aka emotional reactivity) was triggered by a seemingly simple situation. And as the example highlights, this powerful cascade from an initial hurt to a personal storyline can feel uncontrollable. The good news is that emotional reactivity can be worked w...
Dec 13, 2023•15 min•Ep. 99
Emotions reside within us, and they manifest physically in our bodies. Discover the power of processing your emotions in this soothing meditation practice. You can use this practice whenever you need it, whether you're experiencing challenging emotions in the moment or reflecting on a past difficulty. *If you're in our Resilient Community, find this meditation in your Workshops area. The intro is removed for you, so you can just dive right into the meditation! Sources and Notes: This episode is ...
Dec 09, 2023•11 min•Ep. 98
This episode is all about the normal, daily emotions we encounter each day. Listen in as Dr. Henry Emmons discusses how emotions can serve as your compass, pointing the way to what needs your attention. As you listen, you'll learn how giving your emotions the attention they seek can allow them to transform and eventually move on. Henry will also highlight the mind's inclination to seek reasons for our negative emotions, which can lead to something called self-derision. Understanding this dynamic...
Dec 06, 2023•11 min•Ep. 97
In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons highlights the power of thoughts, how they shape our reality, and how emotions are intricately connected. This trickiness of our mind and the arising of our emotions is an important understanding before we wade deeper into the world of emotions. Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow along in order, beginning with episode #78 and you can visit the Podcourse Page to find all the episodes. Ho...
Dec 02, 2023•9 min•Ep. 96
In this meditation, you'll learn to connect with the observer within, the part of your mind that can step back and simply observe your thoughts. This is a powerful antidote for overthinking. It may seem challenging at first, but with practice, it becomes a powerful tool for mindfulness and self-awareness. And don’t worry if you feel distracted during this meditation… the goal of this meditation is to actually realize that you are the thinker. Your thoughts are creations of your mind and they onl...
Nov 29, 2023•15 min•Ep. 95
In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons will talk about overthinking and the art of calming an unquiet mind... which is essential in today's busy, high-stimuli world. Henry will illustrate how overthinking can get us into trouble with the second arrow metaphor. When life's slings and arrows wound us (the first arrow), our unconscious reactions and overthinking can often add unnecessary suffering (the second arrow). The good news is that this cycle can be broken (we see you neuroplasticity!) and Henry ...
Nov 25, 2023•17 min•Ep. 94
We're diving deep into the science and soul of gratitude in this episode. Learn how it can positively impact your relationships, physical health, mental health, and even your 9 to 5. Of course, gratitude isn't always easy. Dr. Emmons and Dr. Prasek discuss the obstacles to gratitude, what it can look like in the face of loss or stress, and realistic strategies to put it into practice. Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow ...
Nov 22, 2023•27 min•Ep. 93
Stress can be relentless, negatively impacting our mental health and wellbeing. But, it's not all about the stressors. So often, it's not the actual stressor that causes us harm, but it's our thinking that takes us down. That's when stress turns into suffering. In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons describes this relationship of stress, overthinking, and suffering. And most importantly, there are ways out of this snare. Those ways out are much of what we're working on in the remaining lessons of our...
Nov 18, 2023•11 min•Ep. 92
We're entering a new phase of our podcourse... We're shifting from more body-focused strategies to explore two crucial dimensions of our being: the mind and the heart. These realms hold immense power over our mood and wellbeing. Mindfulness grants us the ability to perceive reality as it truly is, free from the distortions of our thoughts and the surge of emotions that can sweep us up. Heartfulness, on the other hand, expands our capacity to stay open and to love ourselves more deeply. And when ...
Nov 15, 2023•9 min•Ep. 91
Here's an important reminder about medications and depression and anxiety: You don't have to choose between medication or a "natural" approach. A truly integrative approach makes room for it all. It's about harnessing science, skills, and the incredible capacity for healing we all possess. In this episode, Dr. Emmons will discuss a more balanced perspective on medication and its role in mental health. He'll share his unique approach to medications with the reminder that healing is an individual ...
Nov 11, 2023•9 min•Ep. 90
Have you wondered if supplements or vitamins might help with managing anxiety and depression? There's some good science to say that a few key supplements can offer some much needed support. In this episode, we explore five foundational supplements that we really like to not only support mental health, but overall wellbeing. And no need to take notes, find all the supplements referenced in the show notes. And you can help support the Joy Lab podcast by purchasing through our links. You'll even re...
Nov 08, 2023•25 min•Ep. 89
In this episode, Dr. Emmons will talk about the connection between diet and depression and anxiety. And even though there's a powerful link there, we can still take a very holistic and empowering approach to our diet. Expect to come away with tips on how to tailor your diet to support your unique mood pattern along with some motivation and confidence to eat in a way that fully supports your entire system. Links and Sources: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, yo...
Nov 04, 2023•18 min•Ep. 88
What if there was a treatment that was nearly always helpful for depression and anxiety, had few to no side effects, and was accessible to everybody? You'd want that, right? Well, that magical treatment is called exercise. but let's reframe it as "movement." In this episode, Dr. Emmons explains the profound impact of movement on your wellbeing and how you can bring it back into your natural daily rhythm if it's missing. Key things we'll cover in this episode: Discover the research-backed benefit...
Nov 01, 2023•18 min•Ep. 87
Self-compassion is the secret sauce to making positive changes in your life. It really is a primary fuel for transformation. In this episode, we're diving deep into the third aspect of self-compassion, which is all about common humanity versus isolation. In our previous episodes, we explored self-compassion from different angles. We learned how to separate ourselves from our thoughts and be kinder to ourselves when we stumble. But today, we're tackling the gnarly feeling of not belonging, of iso...
Oct 28, 2023•25 min•Ep. 86
Are self-criticism, guilt, and shame holding you back? Join the club, right?! So often, we are our own worst critic and are so hard on ourselves. In this episode, we're diving deep into self-compassion, particularly focusing on self-kindness versus self-judgment. Our goal is to help you understand what it means to treat yourself with warmth and understanding, especially when you're going through tough times. We're talking about accepting your imperfections, learning from your mistakes, and exper...
Oct 25, 2023•22 min•Ep. 85
In this episode, we dive deep into the essential topic of self-compassion. We'll highlight the importance of self-compassion, especially in countering negative self-talk. To do that, we'll focus on mindfulness as it relates to self-compassion. We'll look at strategies to get out of our heads, ways to break the cycle of chaotic or rigid thinking, and how we can get out of our heads and into our bodies to quiet the mind and cultivate self-compassion. Links and Sources: This episode is part of our ...
Oct 21, 2023•30 min•Ep. 84
In this episode, we explore how supplements can help with three common sleep struggles: problems falling asleep, problems staying asleep, and waking up too early (that vexing 4 a.m. hour). Tailoring supplements to these patterns of sleep problems can make your efforts more worthwhile. And no need to take notes, find all the supplements referenced in the show notes. And you can help support the Joy Lab podcast by purchasing through our links. You'll even receive a special discount on our favorite...
Oct 18, 2023•22 min•Ep. 83
In this episode, Henry takes you on a journey to uncover the remarkable science behind sleep and its pivotal role in depression, anxiety, and overall wellbeing. Henry will also highlight simple adjustments in your daily routine to help you improve your sleep, support your mood, and enhance your resilience. A few key questions answered in this episode: Why is sleep so vital for emotional balance? How does sleep impact cognitive abilities and memory? What happens in your body during deep sleep tha...
Oct 14, 2023•25 min•Ep. 82
Are you tired of not finding answers that resonate with your unique experience of depression, anxiety, or stress? In this episode, we're breaking down the traditional barriers of understanding depression and anxiety and introducing you to an innovative approach – the three subtypes. Determining where you tend to fall with these subtypes can help you gain a more empowering perspective of depression and anxiety while also helping you tailor your mental health journey. Here are some notes about the...
Oct 11, 2023•20 min•Ep. 81
If you've experienced years of depression and anxiety, it may seem like that's just your "new normal" and the way things will always be. But, that's just not the case. Change is always possible. There's a science behind getting out of that fog of depression and anxiety and building a more resilient and joyful life. In this episode, Henry will dive into this "Science of Hope" with the help of three essential scientific realms; epigenetics, neurogenesis, and neuroplasticity. Understanding the scie...
Oct 07, 2023•25 min•Ep. 80
