Gratitude Step 2: Accepting What Is and What It Does for Your Stress & Mood [31]

We're talking about Gratitude and the second of our strategies to put it into practice (see the first strategy in episode #30). This strategy of "Accepting what is" can be tough. Interestingly, even accepting the good things in our lives can be tough. We'll talk about why this happens and also identify some key obstacles that keep gratitude at a distance (i.e., mindlessness, grasping, and aversion), and how we can open up to accept the good, the bad... and everything else. You'll also learn a super simple gratitude practice that is worth two million dollars! 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   Key Takeaways: Acceptance is not the same as giving up. Acceptance actually gives us an honest platform to work from. If we choose to fight, we can and we can be more clear about what we're dealing with and what needs to be done. We might also choose to let things be as they are and let ourselves feel better about them. It's really just when we're unwilling to accept things as they actually are, that we get ourselves into trouble.  Some key obstacles can stand in the way of gratitude and acceptance. These are: aversion, grasping, and mindlessness. And of course... cheraphobia! Cheraphobia is the fear of being happy. It's surprisingly common. Gratitude and acceptance are powerful strategies for this.  You can use your hands as a real-time neurofeedback tool to practice gratitude and acceptance (it's cheaper than a 2 million dollar fMRI machine!)   Links Mentioned: Sharon Salzberg (personal website)   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