Episode Details

We're diving deep into Francis Weller's third gate of grief: the sorrows of the world. This gate reminds us that collective losses like wars, violence, injustice, and environmental destruction impact us whether we acknowledge them or not. We are interdependent beings, wired for connection, and when we try to shut down our caring to protect ourselves, we sacrifice our capacity for joy, flexibility, and resilience. The challenge is to trust our intuitive drive to care and connect, even when it feels uncomfortable. We'll offer some practical strategies to meet that challenge and to help you stay open to collective grief without being overwhelmed by it.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses gun violence.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

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Full transcript here

Sources and Notes for this full grief series:

• 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.
• Grief Series:
  • Why We're Doing a 10-Part Series on Grief (And Why You Need It) [part 1, ep 248]
  • Everything We Love, We Will Lose: Navigating the First Gate of Grief [part 2, ep 249]
  • Welcoming Back the Parts of You That Have Not Known Love [part 3, ep 250]
• Other related Joy Lab episodes:
  • The Power of Gathering: Science-Backed Ways to Combat Loneliness Through Group Connection [ep. 240]
  • Sympathetic Fear vs. Sympathetic Joy: What Are You Tuning Into? [ep. 238]
  • Where's Your Third Place? [ep. 171]
  • Learning to Love Well: Creating a House of Belonging [ep. 25]
  • Common Humanity vs Isolation (ep. 28)
  • Lonely in crowded places (this isn't a country music song) (ep. 73)
• Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller
• Skye Cielita Flor & Miraz Indira, The Joyful Lament: On Pain for the World. 2023

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