Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett

There are these experiments where they train people to experience anxiety, but as determination. Because exactly the same physical state could be experienced completely different. And what they discovered is that at first it's really hard, but you practice, practice, practice, and then eventually it becomes really automatic. So the first thing to understand is that

There are these experiments where they train people to experience anxiety, but as determination. Because exactly the same physical state could be experienced completely different. And what they discovered is that at first it's really hard, but you practice, practice, practice, and then eventually it becomes really automatic. So the first thing to understand is that

The story is that you're born with these innate emotion circuits, but you're not born with the ability to control them. That's false. Really what's happening is that your brain is not reacting, it's predicting. And every action you take, every emotion you have is a combination of the remembered past, including any trauma.

The story is that you're born with these innate emotion circuits, but you're not born with the ability to control them. That's false. Really what's happening is that your brain is not reacting, it's predicting. And every action you take, every emotion you have is a combination of the remembered past, including any trauma.

And so you don't have a sense of agency about it because it happens really automatically, faster than you can blink your eyes.

And so you don't have a sense of agency about it because it happens really automatically, faster than you can blink your eyes.

Sometimes in life, you are responsible for changing something, not because you're to blame, but because you're the only person who can. I mean, I had a daughter who was clinically depressed, was getting D's in school, she wasn't sleeping, she was miserable. At first, she was so resistant, but then she made the decision that she wanted to be helped.

Sometimes in life, you are responsible for changing something, not because you're to blame, but because you're the only person who can. I mean, I had a daughter who was clinically depressed, was getting D's in school, she wasn't sleeping, she was miserable. At first, she was so resistant, but then she made the decision that she wanted to be helped.

Yes, she did. So if you want to change who you are, you feel understanding these basic operating principles is the key to living a meaningful life.

Yes, she did. So if you want to change who you are, you feel understanding these basic operating principles is the key to living a meaningful life.

My goal is, as a science communicator, is to try to take really complicated science and present it in a way that people can use. Maybe they use it to entertain their friends at a dinner party. Maybe they use it to help their kid who's struggling with depression. That was certainly, in my case, something that I had to deal with.

My goal is, as a science communicator, is to try to take really complicated science and present it in a way that people can use. Maybe they use it to entertain their friends at a dinner party. Maybe they use it to help their kid who's struggling with depression. That was certainly, in my case, something that I had to deal with.

Maybe they're using it to improve their workplace or improve the productivity of their peeps or whatever. The point being that that's ultimately, that's what science is for. It's for, you know, living a better life. And average everyday people without PhDs can do that if they have the right information.

Maybe they're using it to improve their workplace or improve the productivity of their peeps or whatever. The point being that that's ultimately, that's what science is for. It's for, you know, living a better life. And average everyday people without PhDs can do that if they have the right information.

It is that a brain like ours, that is attached to a body like ours, that is pickled in a world like ours, produces a mind. What is it? What is happening that allows you to have thoughts and feelings and memories and actions, and somebody from another country, another culture, also has a mental life which looks nothing like yours. How is it that the same kind of brain plan

It is that a brain like ours, that is attached to a body like ours, that is pickled in a world like ours, produces a mind. What is it? What is happening that allows you to have thoughts and feelings and memories and actions, and somebody from another country, another culture, also has a mental life which looks nothing like yours. How is it that the same kind of brain plan

with the same general kind of body plan, can produce such different types of minds when those brains are wired, in a sense, finish wiring themselves in cultural and physical contexts that are so widely different.

with the same general kind of body plan, can produce such different types of minds when those brains are wired, in a sense, finish wiring themselves in cultural and physical contexts that are so widely different.

Oh, my God. It offers you the opportunity to have more agency in your life.

Oh, my God. It offers you the opportunity to have more agency in your life.