How emotions inform reason and moral action

Modern culture often tells us to express every feeling freely, regardless of the consequences or how our emotions might affect others. In contrast, the Puritan mindset teaches that emotions are dangerous and should be suppressed or ignored while we simply push through life. As parents, which of these extremes should we encourage in our children?

Dr. Suzanne Baars joins us to share insights drawn from a lifetime of mentorship under her father, Dr. Conrad Baars, a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp and the pioneer of Affirmation Therapy. This approach reimagines psychology through the moral framework of Saint Thomas Aquinas, emphasizing that our emotions are valuable signals of our inner state. Rather than being dismissed or indulged, emotions should be understood, respected, and expressed appropriately.

Affirmation Therapy offers a balanced middle ground between emotional repression and unchecked expression. In this conversation, Dr. Baars explains how parents can affirm their children and guide them toward emotional maturity, helping them grow into healthy, happy, and secure adults. Her practical wisdom provides clear steps you can begin using today to foster emotional confidence in your little ones.

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:27 - Sue’s Background

00:06:13 - Psyche, Soul, and Psychology

00:10:20 - Her father’s escape from Nazis

00:24:23 - Affirming Feelings

00:27:45 - Is harder = holier?

00:35:07 - Repression v Expression

00:41:13 - What’s proper use of emotions?

00:53:10 - Personal Management vs Professional Help

00:58:19 - What does Lack of Affirmation look like?

01:03:25 - How to deal with hypersensitivity?

01:07:06 - What are principles for affirming children?

01:20:56 - Being vs Doing with other people

01:25:23 - The Affirming Life Should be for all of us

01:29:22 - How to active your receptivity

01:34:16 - Tips for mothers in particular