How to work with your emotions
When faced with rousing emotions, it’s common to become reactive. Author and researcher Karla McLaren says our typical pattern is: SITUATION —> EMOTION —> ACTION. This lends itself to issues and, not infrequently, regrets. Kneejerk reactions often require apologies and repairs in their aftermath; they always have consequences. Reactivity isn’t efficient or effective, and it […]
How to complain with care
One thing a lot of us could do more: complain. Or, complain consciously, that is. This is a concept I learned from Karla McLaren, an author and emotions researcher, who has fascinating things to say about how to cope with our feelings. She says complaining, when done properly, can keep us from getting stuck in […]
Understand your emotions to grow and heal
The pandemic has elevated everyone’s baseline stress and brought many underlying issues to the surface. So this seemed like a good time to talk to an emotions expert. Karla McLaren is an author and researcher who believes our emotional intelligence tends to be chronically underdeveloped. In her book, “The Language of Emotions,” she says turning […]