How To Fail With Elizabeth Day ON GRIEF… With Mo Gawdat and Bonnie Tyler
Sep 14, 2025
Mo Gawdat, a former Google executive and author, shares profound insights on navigating the heart-wrenching journey of grief after the loss of his son, Ali. He emphasizes the importance of honoring joyful memories and embracing constructive thought to aid healing. Bonnie Tyler, renowned singer and emotional storyteller, reminisces about her beloved mother, sharing a poignant memory that symbolizes love and connection. Together, they shed light on resilience and the power of reframing one’s mindset after tragedy, offering comfort to those facing similar loss.
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Three Types Of Thought
- Our brains produce three types of thoughts: incessant, insightful, and experiential, and only the latter two are useful.
- Mo Gawdat reframes suffering by distinguishing pain from needless mental suffering and choosing productive thought.
Tell Your Brain To Stop Rumination
- When grief triggers unhelpful thoughts, tell your brain to stop and ask for a useful or joyful thought instead.
- Mo Gawdat uses deliberate commands like "Becky, stop" to prevent rumination and redirect to constructive action.
Convert Grief Into Purposeful Action
- Channel painful energy into tangible projects that honor the lost person and help others.
- Mo turned his grief into creating and sharing a happiness model to reach millions in Ali's memory.