The way we handle our everyday thoughts, emotions, and self-stories is the most important factor in our life success.
That is the thesis of Susan David’s book “Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life.”
David is a psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School; co-founder and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital; and CEO of Evidence Based Psychology.
David maintains that the way we navigate self-doubts, failings, shame, fear, or anger can either hold us back, or give us the strength to forge ahead.
Just as importantly, it is emotional agility that can give us the insight and courage to recognize goals that are misaligned and need to be changed.
Emotional agility allows us to meet life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind. It’s about holding those emotions loosely, facing them compassionately, and then moving past them.
In her book, David shares four key concepts of emotional agility:
- Show Up: Instead of ignoring difficult thoughts and emotions or overemphasizing ‘positive thinking’, face into your thoughts, emotions and behaviors willingly.
- Step Out: Detach from, and observe your thoughts and emotions to see them for what they are—just thoughts, just emotions. Learn to see yourself as the chessboard, rather than as any one piece on the board, confined to certain preordained moves.
- Walk Your Why: Your core values provide the compass that keeps you moving in the right direction. These values are the true path to willpower, resilience and effectiveness.
- Move On: Small deliberate tweaks to your mindset, motivation, and habits – infused with your values – can make a powerful difference. The idea is to find the balance between challenge and competence.
Emotional agility allows us to turn trouble into opportunity, roadblocks into solutions, and fear into courage.
Stay loose, nimble, and lively in your thinking to be emotionally fit for anything.
Sign up for The Sunday Snippet!
Good ideas to help you prosper delivered fresh each Sunday morning.