Dr. Susan David's TedTalk: 'The Gift and Power of Emotional Agility.'

The One Video and Book that I consistently recommend to everyone.

Susan David’s TED Talk and book, ‘Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life’, offer a fresh mindset and approach that empowers us.

Susan David and Christina Congleton published their article ‘Emotional Agility’ in the Harvard Business Review (HBR) in November 2013.

There are numerous books that I would consider recommending as ‘Must Reads’ in life. However, Viktor E Frankl's ‘Mans Search for Meaning’ and Susan David's ‘Emotional Agility’ are anchored, will never be removed, from the list. I find new meaning and ways to apply the thinking, as life shifts and changes every year.

Summary:

Psychologist Susan David shares how we deal with our emotions shapes everything that matters: our actions, careers, relationships, health and happiness. In this deeply moving, humorous and potentially life-changing talk, she challenges a culture that prizes positivity over emotional truth and discusses the powerful strategies of emotional agility. A talk to share. TEDWomen 2017 | November 2017

She is a highly articulate speaker, and her talks are content-rich. So, I’ve summarised the insights and learnings that made the biggest impact on me. I hope you will find her work as inspiring as I have.

Here are a few takeaways which hit home for me:

• Emotional rigidity is toxic. Emotional agility can enable true resilience and help us to thrive.

• Show up authentically to my emotions and have a safe, secure correspondence with myself.

• Life’s beauty is inseparable from its fragility.

• Don’t brood or bottle up emotions; they will resurface.

• Avoid false positivity. Positivity has become a moral correctness. It belittles the full spectrum and diversity of emotions

• Rigid denial is unsustainable.

• Suspension of emotions results in amplification, and they will control you.

• We are losing the capability of being able to deal with Real emotions

“Only dead people never get inconvenienced by their emotions - failure, disappointment, pressures.”

• Emotions are our contract for having a full and meaningful life.

• Accuracy and acceptance of feelings. Emotions are data. Not ‘I am’ but ‘I notice that I’m feeling’.

• Emotions are NOT directives; they are signposts

Her ‘Emotional Agility’ book has been one of my Top 10 Books every year since 2017. (Published 3rd of August 2017). Clicking on my Top 10 Books or the image below will take you to my affiliate-linked Bookshop site.

Simply put, this is the number 1 Video and Book I recommend. This book ranks higher than all other books, especially as a caregiver, because it’s content continues to serve me as a tool. It acts as part of my compass to navigate my way forward through challenges.

'Sawubona'.

A picture of the Book’s Table of Contents

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The original Harvard Business Review (HBR) Video and link to the article.

An Introduction to 'Emotional Agility'

Other Enabling tools and articles:

Resources: 'Managing the Mental Load'

Recommendation: 'Dr Brené Brown's Unlocking Us Podcast with Emily and Amelia Nagoski'

Inspiration: 'The Timeline Exercise' for an up-to-date Frame of Reference.