The Anxious Achiever Why You Should Stop Labeling Emotions Good or Bad with Dr. Susan David
Sep 18, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Susan David, a Harvard-trained psychologist and bestselling author, explores the transformative power of emotional agility. She challenges the stigma surrounding difficult emotions, emphasizing that they are not inherently good or bad. Jessie Litton shares her personal journey through caregiving and grief, explaining how these experiences helped reshape her professional identity. Together, they reveal how embracing emotions can guide us toward our values, enhance resilience, and prevent burnout in both personal and professional lives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Emotions Are Data, Not Judgments
- Emotions are neither good nor bad; they're the brain doing its job to help and protect us.
- Treating emotions as data reframes them as information, not directives.
Her Father's Experience With Toxic Positivity
- Susan David recounts her father sobbing and being told his illness was due to lack of faith.
- That memory illustrates how toxic positivity blamed real suffering on people's feelings.
Forced Positivity Harms Leadership
- Toxic positivity and forced optimism cause leaders to ignore real concerns and create unseeing.
- This orientation links to burnout, poorer mental health, and weaker organizational performance.
