Scott Barry Kaufman has spent his career studying human potential. In his book Rise Above, he challenges one of the most common ways people get stuck, the belief that your past equals your future.

In this episode of Dealing With Feeling, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman and Dr. Marc Brackett unpack what a victim mindset looks like in real life, how it quietly steals agency, and what it means to move forward without bypassing your pain.

In this conversation:

• Why "my past equals my future" becomes a mental trap
• How over identifying with trauma can erode agency over time
• The difference between honest support and coddling
• Practical ways to reframe anxiety, anger, and envy into forward motion
• How gratitude can shift the nervous system from threat to possibility

About the guest: Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a psychologist, author, and host of The Psychology Podcast. His work focuses on creativity, personality, and human potenrtial

Website: https://scottbarrykaufman.com

Rise Above: https://scottbarrykaufman.com/books/rise-above/

Connect with Marc:

Website: https://marcbrackett.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marc.brackett

X: https://x.com/drmarcbrackett

Facebook: https://facebook.com/drmarcbrackett

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drmarcbrackett

Dr. Marc Brackett's Books

• Permission to Feel
• Dealing with Feeling

Explore Marc Brackett's work at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, where he serves as founding director, and learn more about RULER—an evidence-based, systemic approach to SEL developed at Yale that supports leaders, educators, students, and families in building emotional intelligence and creating healthier school climates.

A special thank you to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence for supporting this webcast. I also want to thank Oji Life Lab for their generous support. Visit https://ojilifelab.com and use promo code DEALINGWITHFEELINGS to save 25%.