Can We Control The Voice In Our Heads? | Harnessing Your Inner Chatter On Dealing With Feelings

Mar 6, 2025

Dr. Ethan Kross, a prominent researcher in emotion regulation and author of 'Chatter', shares his insights on managing the voice in our heads. He discusses the dual nature of introspection, highlighting its benefits and pitfalls. Kross introduces the concept of 'self-distancing' to help navigate anxiety and stress effectively. With practical strategies like using one's name in self-talk and the importance of social support, he emphasizes the need for personalized approaches to emotional well-being and resilience.

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INSIGHT

Emotions As Functional Tools

Emotions are tools evolved to help us achieve goals and can be useful even when negative.
They become harmful when experienced too intensely or for too long, signaling the need to regulate.

ANECDOTE

Dad's Early Lessons Shaped A Career

Ethan's father taught him Eastern philosophy and emotion regulation from age three, implanting lifelong curiosity.
A college psych class revealed introspection's double edge and sealed his research career choice.

INSIGHT

Wisdom Is Easier For Others

People give better advice to others than to themselves, a phenomenon called Solomon's Paradox.
Temporarily shifting perspective lets you advise yourself like a friend and improves decision-making.

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Join Dr. Marc Brackett on "Dealing With Feelings" as he welcomes Dr. Ethan Kross, an expert in healthy emotion regulation and the author of the critically acclaimed book, ‘Chatter’. Learn why the voices in your head matter and how to harness the power of your own emotions for a more balanced and fulfilling life.

What To Expect From This Episode:

-Hear how Ethan's background and how early lessons in Eastern philosophy influenced his approach to understanding emotions.

-Become aware of the benefits and pitfalls of introspection, and strategies for keeping our inner reflections productive.

-Learn techniques like 'self-distancing' which help us approach personal issues such as dealing with anxiety or stress with a clearer mind.

-Learn when and how to use emotional tools effectively, and why sometimes the best action is inaction.

-Hear personal anecdotes from Ethan on building resilience as well as the power of a supportive environment for emotional expression.

Key Takeaways:

-Emotion regulation is a nuanced skill that can be developed with practice and self-experimentation.

-There are no universal solutions for emotional management, emphasizing the need for personalization in emotional well-being.

-Effective emotional communication involves connecting first, then advising

Throughout the webcast, Dr. Marc Brackett, Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, will guide the conversation, providing insights from his own work and how it complements Ethan's findings.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to reshape your relationship with your emotions and harness the full potential of your emotional intelligence. Tune in, take notes, and transform your life—one self-distanced thought at a time.

Engage with Ethan Kross: Explore his work further and gain access to resources that can elevate your emotional wellbeing.-- https://www.ethankross.com

🔗 Connect with Dr. Marc Brackett:Follow Dr. Brackett on social media for additional insights, behind-the-scenes content, and updates:

-Instagram: / marc.brackett

-X: / marcbrackett

-Meta: / drmarcbrackett

-LinkedIn: / drmarcbrackett

-Website: https://marcbrackett.com

Let's embark on this journey of emotional growth and resilience together! #DealingWithFeelings #EmotionRegulation #EvidenceBasedStrategies #GuestInterviews #DrMarcBrackett #EI #permissiontofeel #emotionalintelligence #emotionsmatter #socialemotionallearning

A special thank you to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence for supporting this webcast. I also want to thank Oji Life Lab for their generous support: https://ojilifelab.com. Oji Life Lab is the leader in mastery-centered learning for the workplace. To develop your skills in leadership, emotional intelligence and more, visit oji life lab dot com or click the link in the description of this video and use the promo code DEALINGWITHFEELINGS to save 25%.