162. Getting Comfy w/ Not Knowing

"I don't know." Do those three words make you feel a bit uncomfortable? Yeah, you're not alone. In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we highlight the concepts of awe and intellectual humility and how they can help us embrace more curiosity, avoid rigid thinking, and help us to stay more connected to the world around us (yes, even amidst political and social challenges). We've got some practical tips to take quick action so you can tap into the surprising freedom that sits within "not knowing."

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Key moments:

00:00 Introduction to Joy Lab

00:38 The Power of Awe and Intellectual Humility

01:08 Defining Awe and Intellectual Humility

02:20 The Importance of Intellectual Humility

03:32 Mental Health Benefits of Awe and Humility

07:22 Understanding Cognitive Biases

09:16 Combating Rigidity with Curiosity and Flexibility

13:05 Practical Steps to Cultivate Awe and Humility

15:30 Everyday Awe and Final Thoughts

16:54 Closing Remarks and Resources

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 AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going.

• Stellar, J. E., Gordon, A., Anderson, C. L., Piff, P. K., McNeil, G. D., & Keltner, D. (2018). Awe and humility. Journal of personality and social psychology, 114(2), 258–269. Access. 

• More episodes like this:
  • Mental Health & The Male Hubris, Female Humility Effect (ep. 157)
  • Seeing the Goodness in Others, Yourself, & The World (ep. 66)
  • You Are That Vast Thing You See with Great Telescopes (ep. 18)
  • The Surprising Benefits of Not Knowing (ep. 16)
• Where to shop:
  • Our partner store, Fullscript: Here you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes will require an account. Sign up for free.
  • Resilient Remedies: Shop 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. 

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.