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How To Stop Feeling Negative Emotions All The Time - Dr Ethan Kross - #914

Modern Wisdom

2025/03/13
Modern Wisdom

Modern Wisdom

2025/03/13

Shownote

Ethan Kross is a psychologist, professor, and author. Emotions are complex. We all feel them, but how often are they genuine? When should we express them, and when should we hold them back? And ultimately how do we gain mastery over them? Expect to learn...

Highlights

In this episode, psychologist Ethan Kross explores the nature of emotions, why we struggle to control them, and how to gain mastery over our internal states. He explains that emotions are coordinated responses to meaningful events and that all emotions, even negative ones, serve a purpose at the right intensity. The conversation delves into practical strategies for emotional regulation, from sensory shifters like music and touch to psychological distancing techniques, emphasizing that these skills can be learned and improved over time.
00:00
People experience emotions about 90% of the time
06:52
Negative emotions are functional tools, not flaws.
15:09
Self-experimentation is key to finding personalized strategies
24:53
Science offers hope for emotional regulation.
31:35
We can control how we engage with emotions once they arise
37:50
Music is a powerful emotional shifter.
43:33
Emotional regulation requires two ingredients: motivation and ability.
50:19
We should prioritize enjoying life rather than suffering in silence.
58:39
Music can shift your mood without reinforcing sadness.
1:04:54
Strategic avoidance can be beneficial
1:15:59
Use 'you' to adopt an advice-giving perspective.
1:21:41
We treat ourselves more harshly than others.
1:26:55
Negative emotions serve a protective function.
1:43:25
Envy can be reframed into motivation.
1:51:43
Culture shapes our beliefs about emotions
1:54:58
You can achieve more with supportive cultures and people.
2:01:00
Plan involves an if-then strategy to apply a psychological shifter
2:03:47
Experiment to find what works best for you.
2:06:09
Savoring is a tool to prolong good emotional states.

Chapters

What Is The Definition Of Emotions?
00:00
Difference Between An Emotion And A Feeling
04:25
What Is The Point Of Emotions?
06:45
Why Do We Struggle To Control Our Emotions?
11:56
Why Is The Modern World Environment Causing Anxiety?
18:56
Ways We Can Control Our Emotions
25:45
How We Can Influence Our Internal State
34:51
Studies Into People Managing Their Emotions
40:10
Balancing Our Emotions Through Life
47:11
Recognising And Utilising Our Sensory Shifters
52:49
Benefits And Dangers Of Avoidance
1:02:09
Tactics For Psychological Distancing
1:09:47
Can These Tools Help Provide A Change On Our Outlook?
1:21:36
Structuring The Environment Around Us
1:26:55
How To Harness Our Relationships With Other People
1:37:19
What Is Culture?
1:48:20
How Do We Make Emotional Regulation A Habit?
1:54:50
Finding The Tools That Work Best For You
2:00:52
How To Optimise A Good Emotional State
2:03:46
Where To Find Ethan
2:06:03

Transcript

Chris Williamson: the director of the Emotion and Self-Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan. What's that mean? Ethan Kross: Well, what that means is we get to ask two kinds of questions in my lab. So, number one, we try to understand how do pe...