Shift: Managing Your Emotions–So They Don’t Manage You

A science-based guide to managing your emotional life using tools you already possess, from the bestselling author of Chatter. Our emotions—whether anxiety, anger, or grief—often feel overwhelming. However, emotions function as information and a superpower. When activated appropriately, they alert us to our surroundings, guide our reactions, and help us make sound decisions. Acclaimed psychologist Dr. Ethan Kross addresses how to make emotions work for us rather than against us. He dispels common myths, such as the belief that avoidance is always harmful or that we should constantly live in the moment, and presents a framework for shifting emotions so they don't dominate our lives. The book weaves research with stories of people managing their emotions—including a mother whose fear led her to save her daughter's life mid-flight and a Navy SEAL who learned to embrace both joy and pain during intense training. Dr. Kross identifies tools available to us in our bodies and minds, relationships, cultures, and physical spaces, and explains how to use them to become healthier and more successful. Filled with actionable advice, research, and stories, Shift provides practical strategies for controlling your emotions rather than being controlled by them.