The speakers delve into the concept of compassion fatigue, discussing how it relates to empathy and compassion for others. They explore the challenge of feeling helpless amidst global crises and emphasize the importance of maintaining empathy while prioritizing well-being. The conversation also touches on emotion regulation and the need for a nuanced understanding of emotions to navigate difficult situations effectively.
You don’t always decide what you feel, but you do own how you react to those feelings. In her bestselling book and TED Talk, Harvard Medical School psychologist Susan David examines the skills involved in emotional agility. She and Adam go deep on this topic, discussing the risks of judging and suppressing unwanted emotions — and effective techniques for managing them. They explore why optimism is not essential to well-being and how to overcome pressure to be positive. And they reveal how paying attention to what you feel can reveal what you value. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts