Ethan Kross, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan and author of 'Chatter' and 'Shift,' shares his insights on mastering emotions in today's chaotic world. He discusses the importance of a flexible emotional toolkit tailored to individuals. Kross highlights how negativity in media affects our emotional health and advocates for strategic news consumption. He explores the role of AI in mental wellness while emphasizing that human connections remain crucial. Ultimately, he shows how even negative emotions can fuel creativity and success.
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Carpenter's Toolbox Metaphor
Ethan Kross shares about his grandfather, a master carpenter with extensive toolboxes.
This serves as a metaphor for having a diverse emotional toolkit to handle different life challenges.
insights INSIGHT
Focus on Emotional Extremes
Society focuses on emotional extremes and predominantly on negative emotions.
Yet, people generally have more positive experiences and show resilience more than vulnerability.
insights INSIGHT
Normalization of Emotional Distress
Emotional turbulence may reflect increased willingness to admit distress rather than an actual rise in suffering.
Cultural shifts and mental health destigmatization could lead to more open expressions of vulnerability.
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Shift: Managing Your Emotions So They Don't Manage You
Ethan Kross
In 'Shift: Managing Your Emotions So They Don't Manage You', Dr. Ethan Kross presents a comprehensive approach to emotional management. Drawing from his extensive research, Kross offers practical strategies to help individuals control their emotions rather than being controlled by them. The book addresses common myths and provides evidence-based techniques to enhance emotional well-being.
Aflame
Pico Iyer
Chatter
The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It
Ethan Kross
In *Chatter*, Ethan Kross delves into the silent conversations we have with ourselves, examining how these internal dialogues shape our lives, work, and relationships. Kross, drawing from his own lab research and real-world case studies, explains how negative self-talk (referred to as 'chatter') can have detrimental effects on our health, mood, and social connections. However, he also provides tools and strategies to manage and harness this inner voice positively. These tools include techniques such as zooming out to gain perspective, using the second person to increase psychological distance, and leveraging the power of nature and placebos. The book is a comprehensive guide on how to transform negative self-talk into a constructive and supportive inner voice.
Ethan Kross is one of the sharpest minds on the planet when it comes to understanding how our emotions shape our thoughts, decisions, and relationships. As a professor of psychology and business at the University of Michigan and the author of the bestselling books Chatter and Shift - Managing Your Emotions - So They Don’t Manage You, Ethan brings together rigorous research and practical insight in ways that are deeply human and immediately useful. In our conversation, we explore what it takes to manage emotions in a world that feels like it’s dialed up to 11 - from doomscrolling and overstimulation to the growing cultural obsession with emotional transparency. Ethan challenges some of our most common assumptions about how emotions work (no, avoidance isn’t always bad; yes, anger has a place) and makes the case for building a “diverse emotional toolkit” - strategies that are flexible, personal, and context-specific. We talk about the influence of technology, how AI might fit into the future of mental wellness, and why dosing your news intake might be as important as getting your steps in. For anyone feeling like their emotions are a little closer to the surface these days, Ethan offers not just understanding - but agency. Enjoy the conversation...
(00:00) - Understanding Emotional Turbulence. (03:06) - The Toolbox of Emotion Management. (06:00) - The Misconception of Emotions. (09:00) - Collective Emotional Breakdown? (11:51) - The Role of Media in Emotional Perception. (14:45) - The Balance of Technology and Emotion. (18:06) - Navigating Emotional Overstimulation. (27:09) - Dosing the News for Better Wellbeing. (30:40) - Navigating Social Media and Emotional Health. (31:10) - Understanding Emotions and Meta-Emotions. (34:44) - The Shift from Self-Talk to Emotional Regulation. (38:00) - AI's Role in Emotional Management. (43:06) - Balancing Emotion Management and High Performance. (46:38) - Tools for Managing Emotions in Different Situations. (49:53) - The Power of Combining Emotional Tools.
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast 
