Susan David: Emotional Agility

Susan David is a psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School; cofounder and codirector of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital; and CEO of Evidence Based Psychology. She is the author of the bestselling book Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life*.

Key Points

Showing Up: Instead of ignoring difficult thoughts and emotions or overemphasizing ‘positive thinking’, facing into your thoughts, emotions and behaviors willingly, with curiosity and kindness.

Stepping Out: Detaching from, and observing your thoughts and emotions to see them for what they are — just thoughts, just emotions. Essentially, learning to see yourself as the chessboard, filled with possibilities, rather than as any one piece on the board, confined to certain preordained moves.

Walking Your Why: Your core values provide the compass that keeps you moving in the right direction. Rather than being abstract ideas, these values are the true path to willpower, resilience and effectiveness.

Moving On: Small deliberate tweaks to your mindset, motivation, and habits — in ways that are infused with your values, can make a powerful difference in your life. The idea is to find the balance between challenge and competence, so that you’re neither complacent nor overwhelmed. You’re excited, enthusiastic, invigorated.

Resources Mentioned

Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life* by Susan David

Emotional Agility Quiz

3 Ways to Better Understand Your Emotions

Related Episodes

Ten Ways to Pick Yourself Up When You’re Beaten Down (episode 85)

How to Lead Through Uncertainty and Change, with Jacqueline Farrington (episode 224)

How to Increase Your Conversational Intelligence, with Judith Glaser (episode 271)

Discover More

Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.