I have two guests this week—psychologists Dr. Paul Napper and Dr. Anthony Rao. We discussed their recent book, The Power of Agency: The 7 Principles to Conquer Obstacles, Make Effective Decisions, and Create a Life on Your Own Terms (affiliate link). Agency’s an important topic that we probably don’t talk about enough.

The three of us explored ways to reclaim greater control over our lives, from engaging more with the physical world to releasing fear and honoring our intuition. We also discussed the benefits of psychodynamic therapy, and how it can complement a cognitive behavioral approach. Other topics we touched on included:

The feelings of overwhelm and loss of control that are troubling so many people

Factors that contribute to rising levels of stress, including social isolation, technology, and less time outside

Why we often feel like we’re not keeping up and taking care of what we need to

The radical changes in how we live over the past 200 years

The drive for constant productivity that often dominates our lives

The enormous amount of information that confronts us every day

The value in letting yourself be bored at times

The loss of time for moments of reflection

The advantages of analog (non-digital) activities

How my guests manage their own use of screens and social media

The influence that messaging and marketing from digital devices can have on us

The pressure young people often feel to do what everyone else is doing

The problem with being immobile for hours at a time, and the energy created by movement

Lisa Barrett’s work on being able to pinpoint how we’re feeling

Why it’s often healing to go outdoors

The Japanese concept of Forest Bathing

Why practices in stillness (e.g., progressive muscle relaxation; sitting meditation) are so helpful

The many ways of practicing mindfulness

Why anxiety seems to be the primary emotion (see this episode with Dr. Todd Pressman where we discussed a similar topic)

The distinction between stress and anxiety

How to distinguish intuition versus fear

Anthony Rao, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who completed his doctorate in psychology at Vanderbilt University. For more than 20 years, Anthony worked in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children's Hospital and served as instructor at Harvard Medical School, where he trained psychologists and physicians in the use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).

Anthony has been a featured expert on documentaries and has been interviewed for articles in The New Yorker, Boston Globe, Washington Times, Chicago Tribune, and Parents Magazine, among many others. His editorial letters and opinions have appeared in a wide range of publications including Newsweek, Scientific American, The New York Times, and New York Magazine.

Anthony has also lectured extensively at universities, including Tufts University, Emerson College, and Boston University. He regularly presents at conferences and parenting groups, and conducts workshops for professionals around the country who work with children and young adults.

His first book, The Way of Boys: Promoting the Social and Emotional Development of Young Boys (affiliate link), is an expose on the current crisis in American boyhood. It  urges parents, educators, pediatricians, psychologists, and other developmental experts to reevaluate and radically alter how we raise boys – so boys can be their best, respecting their unique development right from the start.

Paul Napper, PsyD, helps business leaders increase their effectiveness through focusing and strengthening their agency as leaders. His professional background includes extensive experience in assessment and the application of psychological principles to improve the performance of peopl...