How to 'shift' your emotions

This Life Kit podcast episode interviews Ethan Kross, a psychology professor, about his book "Shift," which focuses on managing emotions. The interview explores the myth that confronting emotions directly is always best, suggesting that strategic avoidance and distraction can be beneficial. Kross introduces a framework for deciding whether to approach or avoid emotions, emphasizing the importance of reframing negative comparisons and using the "W.O.O.P." method (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) for goal setting in emotional regulation. The episode also cautions against purely venting emotions to friends, suggesting that offering a new perspective is more helpful. Listeners gain practical tools for managing their emotional responses, including environmental changes and reframing negative self-comparisons.