Hidden Brain

How to Harness Your Feelings

May 5, 2025
Ethan Kross, a psychologist at the University of Michigan, shares insights on emotional regulation—one of life’s essential skills. He discusses how self-talk can combat fear, drawing from a harrowing astronaut story. Kross introduces personal writing and music as powerful tools for mood regulation. He emphasizes the importance of selective avoidance to break emotional spirals. With anecdotes from various individuals, he highlights that emotional management techniques are not one-size-fits-all, but rather a toolbox for navigating life’s ups and downs.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Dad's Emotional Driving Outburst

  • Ethan Kross observed his dad, calm in many situations, become aggressive and reckless when driving in Brooklyn due to perceived injustices on the road.
  • This contrast illustrated how emotional regulation can vary greatly depending on context.
ANECDOTE

Ethan's Airport Confrontation

  • Ethan confronted a man at an airport who was rude to an airline worker, leading to Ethan's own emotional outburst and later regret.
  • This showed how even experts struggle with emotional hijacking triggered by perceived injustice.
ANECDOTE

Astronaut's Self-Talk in Crisis

  • Astronaut Jerry Lininger used self-talk in a life-threatening fire on the Mir space station to calm himself and take effective action.
  • His coaching himself helped manage fear and focus on survival.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app