Why Forced Positivity Is Making You Miserable | Susan David

2026-08-07 · 90 min · episode 1964 · 17 entities

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Asserted relationships

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've been avoiding. Susan David, the psychologist and researcher behind the book Emotional Agility, has spent over two decades studying why some people bend under pressure and ot
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Entities found in this episode

concepts 6

mentioned Education concept

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Feed category: Education
mentioned Health & Fitness concept

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mentioned Self-Improvement concept

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Feed category: Self-Improvement
discusses Education concept

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Feed category: Education
discusses Health & Fitness concept

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Feed category: Health & Fitness
discusses Self-Improvement concept

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Feed category: Self-Improvement

persons 5

mentioned Lewis Howes person

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Feed author/publisher: Lewis Howes
hosted by Lewis Howes person

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mentioned Mental Health person

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mentioned Susan David person

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Why Forced Positivity Is Making You Miserable | Susan David
discusses Mental Health person

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Feed category: Mental Health

books 2

mentioned Emotional Agility book

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evidence rules-v5
've been avoiding. Susan David, the psychologist and researcher behind the book Emotional Agility, has spent over two decades studying why some people bend under pressure and ot
references Emotional Agility book

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evidence rules-v5
've been avoiding. Susan David, the psychologist and researcher behind the book Emotional Agility, has spent over two decades studying why some people bend under pressure and ot

companys 2

mentioned Business company

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discusses Business company

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websites 2

mentioned Entrepreneurship website

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Entrepreneurship

Episode description as stored

Some feelings get labeled good. Others get labeled bad. That single belief might be running your entire life. You'll hear why chasing happiness on command wears you down instead of building you up, and why the fastest path to resilience runs straight through the emotions you've been avoiding. Susan David, the psychologist and researcher behind the book Emotional Agility, has spent over two decades studying why some people bend under pressure and others don't. She breaks down the difference between having an emotion and being owned by it, using a simple image you'll carry into your next hard day. You'll hear about the notebook she started writing in as a teenager that nobody else could read, and how her father answered the one question she couldn't stop asking him. Susan and Lewis get into why negativity isn't always the enemy, how self bias quietly convinces you that other people were right about your limits, and what it actually takes to stop reacting and start responding. You are not the feeling that showed up today. You are the whole sky it's passing through. Get a copy of Susan's book: Emotional Agility Susan on Instagram Ted Talk: The gift and power of emotional courage In this episode you will: Learn why forced positivity and "good vibes only" culture quietly increases anxiety, depression, and burnout Discover emotion granularity, the practice of naming what you actually feel instead of defaulting to broad labels like stressed or overwhelmed Recognize the difference between being hooked by an emotion and simply having one Overcome self-limiting beliefs rooted in self bias by reconnecting with your own values Build real emotional agility by treating your emotions as data, not directives For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1964 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.