A Conversation with Mel Robbins: Tips for Navigating an Emotional World

By Susan David

It’s enough of a challenge to learn to deal with our own feelings, so where do we even begin when it comes to helping others with theirs? I had an incredible and fun conversation on The Mel Robbins Podcast about exactly this. We discussed how to ground ourselves in an emotional world, important techniques for navigating emotions within our relationships, and many other essential tools for home, the workplace, and beyond. This conversation is more important than ever right now: for many, it’s become really hard to “human.” 

Here’s a 1-2-3 sneak peek into our conversation and a link to listen to the full episode!

  1. The number one emotional agility tool that provides us with a strong foundation for success:
  • Our ability to label our emotions accurately, in other words, emotional granularity. There’s a world of difference between “I’m stressed.” and “I’m feeling frustrated.” This is a core skill that can be taught to children from a young age that will prove crucial throughout their lives. 
  1. Two powerful techniques for being emotionally effective with ourselves and others:
  • Go to the emotion—be willing to acknowledge difficult emotions without judgment.
  • Go through emotions—ask yourself what the emotion is signposting about needs and values.   
  1. Three steps for creating boundaries with others that enable you to be supportive and protect you from compassion fatigue:
  • State the other person’s need as you have understood it.
  • Empathize with that need.
  • Gently explain what you can and cannot do to help.

We discuss these ideas in depth and so much more, including how we can help our children be with their most persistent tough emotions, the problem with trying to solve, fix, and control our way to perfection, and the connection between emotions and people-pleasing behavior.

​You can listen to the full podcast to explore all of this and more. 

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Susan David

Susan David, Ph.D. is one of the world’s leading management thinkers and an award-winning Harvard Medical School psychologist. Her TED Talk on the topic of emotional agility has been seen by more than 10 million people. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal and often appears on national radio and television. Learn more.

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