Uncover Our Joy
As Escapees and Xscapers, our lives can be filled with adventures and freedoms. We live pretty amazing lives—camping in majestic places, bucket-list exploring, and enjoying the company of our fellow travelers. Or maybe we choose solitude and silence. However we travel, we still have daily stressors, anxieties, and challenges that affect our mood, just like folks in their sticks and bricks (we are humans after all!).
We may be in complete awe at the top of a mountain peak or feel total happiness on the shores of a beach, but there may be a slight tugging at our soul that something is missing when we’re removed from these moments. We’re searching for something deeper, something everlasting that we can take with us—wherever we roam.
What We Want is Joy.
Joy is not the same thing as happiness. It’s also not the opposite of depression. Joy runs deeper than any feeling. It’s more enduring, and it can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
Joy is a state of being where you feel peaceful, secure, and supported by something beyond your mind, your surroundings, or your own efforts to feel good. That state of joy is within you right now (it’s always with you!) and the Joy Lab Program helps you uncover it.
The Joy Lab program is an evidence-based, self-guided, yet supported, online program that teaches you the 12 Elements of Joy. These elements create a strong foundation that can support your mood (think anxiety and depression) in meaningful ways, invite more ease into your days, and help you create a joyful and sustainable state of being. You'll work to boost these elements in your daily life in realistic ways.
Everything in the program is doable—whether you’re settled in at a campground, boondocking out in the desert, or parked at a Cracker Barrel for the night. You simply need your smartphone (or computer) and the grace to give yourself one hour each week.
Joy is your nature.
GET TO KNOW...
The Joy Lab Program
1. BUILD A FOUNDATION
Elements of Joy
At Joy Lab, you'll work to cultivate the Elements of Joy. These are emotions, practices, and inner states that are strong predictors of good mental health. These elements also fuel joy, and [bonus!] they work to support your entire mind-body system. That means when you boost these elements, choosing other behaviors like healthy eating and exercising can become easier.
2. FOCUS YOUR MIND
Element Lessons
You'll have one key lesson for each element designed to spark your joy. You'll then benefit from new Joy Lab podcast episodes throughout the month that focus on that same element of joy you're working on. This helps offer extra support, motivation, and insight.
3. NOURISH YOUR SYSTEM
Joyful Infusions
Your mind is more changeable at the opening and closing of the day. You'll harness the power for change through your AM and PM infusion experiments. These 3-5 minute meditations are part of our Mindful Redesign process, working to rewire your brain by feeding yourself the elements of joy throughout the day.
4. REWIRE YOUR BRAIN
Mindful Redesign
You're wired for joy. At the same time, life can frazzle our wiring a bit. The Joy Lab program works to rewire those healthy, joyful connections through our Mindful Redesign process. This process is a soul-spiked, scientifically-sound process that leans on the latest neuroscience research to help you reduce the power of thoughts that are no longer serving you and establish connections that foster your most well and joyful self.
5. MOVE THROUGH CONFIDENTLY
Coaching Videos
Every experiment is accompanied by a short video to guide you through the experiment and help you succeed. Most videos are led by your Joy Lab coaches, Drs. Henry Emmons and Aimee Prasek.
6. CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY
Resilient Community
After a few years of testing, we've found that folks want to go around the elements of joy again and again AND they want to couple that work with the lifestyle practices we focus on at Natural Mental Health. We agree! That's why we've merged our Joy Lab program and Resilient Community.
Connect with what matters most.
Joy Lab applies the latest science, infused with soul to help uncover your most joyful life.
No matter how you might be feeling today, we believe that you are not broken and that you do not need fixing. At Joy Lab, our focus is to embrace our most authentic self, while infusing more of the positive, life-giving inner states that fuel wellbeing in big ways. In your Joy Lab Program, you'll learn how to:
- Loosen the grip of thoughts that have you feeling trapped.
- Apply mindfulness to create change in ways that are authentic for you.
- Have a dialogue with your wisest, most compassionate self.
It’s time to uncover your joy and step into your true self.
Henry Emmons, MD
Hi! I’m Henry, an integrative psychiatrist who weaves together mind-body and natural therapies, mindfulness teachings, and other holistic approaches for common mental health problems like depression and anxiety. I don't think healing should stop there though. I am most interested in working with others so that we can all learn to love well and create more joyful lives.
Aimee Prasek, PhD
Hi! I’m Aimee, a digital health and integrative therapies researcher and educator. My work is fueled by the belief that we are all hard-wired for joy and it's our shared purpose to uncover and spread it. I am most interested in sharing accessible tools that help empower others to move out of suffering and uncover their own authentic, joyful self.
EVERYONE'S JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT
Get started today!
Our Joy Lab price is $9 a month but we are extending a 25% off special discount for Escapee and Xscaper members! You'll receive full access to the Joy Lab Program and our Resilient Community for just $6.75 a month. Cancel at any time.
Use discount code ESCAPEES at checkout.
Joining Joy Lab is Easy
Join anytime
You can join the Lab anytime! Over at the podcast, we focus on one element of joy every month. We encourage you to follow that schedule and stick with us, moving through one element monthly. And because it doesn't matter which element you begin with, you'll be able to jump right in, no matter what month we're talking about. You'll then cycle through the elements of joy yearly to uncover your own joy.
Uncover + sustain joy
Your very first experiment will likely spark some quick goodness, but evidence shows continued practice is needed to rewire your brain for joy. We believe that process actually takes about 6-12 months. Stick with us as a member of the Joy Lab program and Resilient Community through this time and we're confident you'll experience some meaningful shifts in your body and mind.
Self-paced, but not alone
Good news! There are no required live sessions to schedule or deadlines to meet in Joy Lab. That doesn't mean you're alone though. As you work through your 4 experiments each month (you can plan for about 45 minutes weekly), you'll gain a little motivational boost knowing that others are doing the same. You can also join in for more resources over at the Resilient Community to further amplify your experience.
Joy Lab FAQ
What elements will I work through?
What elements will I learn first?
How much time is this going to take me?
Do I need anything for the program?
What about cancelling or a refund?
Joy is your nature.
Sign me up*Use discount code ESCAPEES at checkout to get 25% off your monthly membership*
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
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. Consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. 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.