Emotions are real, but they're created by the brain's meaning-making process. This implies that individuals have more control over their emotions than they might think. By recognizing that emotions are essentially electrical signals in the brain, individuals can liberate themselves from negative feelings and gain control over their emotional experiences.
Emotions are like opinions — everyone has them. Thanks to the pioneering research of today’s guest, we know that it’s possible to transform our feelings by changing how we think and talk about them. Lisa Feldman Barrett is a psychologist and neuroscientist at Northeastern University and Harvard Medical School. In this episode, Lisa and Adam bust myths about how emotions are constructed in the brain and experienced in the body. They discuss the surprising evidence that language doesn’t just describe emotions — it shapes them. And they examine how managing your emotions is easier than you may realize. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts