THE EMOTION DOCTOR: Control Your Difficult Feelings & STOP Negative Thoughts | Dr. Ethan Kross

Rich Roll

Mar 3, 2025

Episode description

Dr. Ethan Kross is a renowned psychologist, bestselling author, and expert on controlling the conscious mind. We discuss his innovative approach to mental fitness using psychological jujitsu, the purpose of negative emotions, and how to master your inner dialogue. READ MORE👉🏾 (link)
✌🏼🌱- Rich

This Episode Is Brought To You By…

Squarespace: Use code RichRoll to save 10% off👉https://bit.ly/squarespace2025
Bon Charge: Save 15% on my favorite wellness products👉 https://bit.ly/boncharge2025
Momentous: 20% OFF all of my favorite products👉https://bit.ly/LiveMomentous2025

Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/rrpsponsors

LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/rrpitunes
Spotify: http://bit.ly/rrpspotify
Google: http://bit.ly/rrpgooglepods

Meal Planner: http://meals.richroll.com
Voicing Change Book: http://richroll.com/vc
Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichRollPodcastClips
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/rollcallemail

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:21 Emotional Complexity of Humans
00:03:53 Understanding Emotional Tools
00:04:26 The Functionality of Emotions
00:09:54 Self-Acceptance and Negative Emotions
00:13:36 Understanding Negative Emotions
00:14:32 Reframing Experiences and Intrusive Thoughts
00:17:32 Agency Over Thoughts
00:18:47 Philosophical Questions
00:20:53 Automatic vs. Controlled Responses
00:22:05 Teenage Emotional Control
00:23:43 Emotional Triggers
00:24:15 Tools for Emotion Regulation
00:29:55 Ad Break
00:31:33 Sensation as a Tool
00:33:31 Music and Emotion Regulation
00:37:16 Awareness of Sensory Influence
00:39:43 Worry and Its Impact
00:40:55 Experimenting with Emotions
00:42:07 Problem-Solving and Uncertainty
00:44:18 Emotional Responses and History
00:46:38 The Nature of Negative Emotions
00:47:43 Physical Pain as a Metaphor
00:48:03 Healthy Relationships with Emotions
00:49:28 Coping with Anxiety
00:50:32 Effective Emotional Conversations
00:53:05 Cultural Shifts in Emotional Processing
00:54:50 Flexibility in Emotional Responses
00:55:50 Grandparents' Coping Mechanism
00:58:42 Consequences of Chronic Avoidance
00:59:35 Using Avoidance as a Tool
01:01:54 Combining Coping Strategies
01:03:07 Ad Break
01:04:48 Understanding Emotional Processing
01:05:55 Diverse Pathways to Wellness
01:06:35 Judgment and Emotional Solutions
01:07:39 Responsibility for Emotions
01:09:33 Triggers vs. Trajectories
01:10:48 Historical Context of Emotions
01:12:56 Mindfulness vs. Emotional Agency
01:13:59 Personal History with Meditation
01:15:17 Mindfulness as One Tool
01:16:35 Perspective Shifters
01:17:56 The Challenge of Perspective Shifts
01:18:46 Psychological Jujitsu
01:20:58 Mental Time Travel
01:23:58 Temporal Distancing
01:26:19 Perspective from the Past
01:27:17 Humility in Emotional Challenges
01:28:53 Broadening perspective through emotions
01:29:59 Science of awe and shrinking the self
01:32:21 Cultural influences on emotion regulation
01:33:18 Addressing root causes of negative emotions
01:34:04 Tools for emotional resilience
01:36:01 Avoidance and emotional dysfunction
01:38:59 Transforming the inner monologue
01:42:51 Alter egos and distancing techniques
01:44:28 Jill Bolte Taylor's experience with silence
01:47:22 Inner Voice and Meaning
01:48:23 The impact of the inner monologue
01:49:09 Tools for Positive Self-Talk
01:51:51 Nature's Restorative Effects
01:52:54 Distance and Perspective
01:54:55 Universal View in Communication
02:00:31 The Power of Rituals
02:01:43 No One-Size-Fits-All Solutions
02:04:24 Complex Dynamics of Emotion Regulation
02:06:04 Ultimate Human Trial Concept
02:09:49 Importance of Emotional Well-Being
02:11:51 Gains in Health and Wellbeing
02:12:59 Communication of Emotional Insights
02:14:34 Closing Remarks


CONNECT WITH RICH
✩ Website - http://richroll.com​
✩ Rich Roll Podcast - https://richroll.com/all-episodes/
✩ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richroll/
✩ Twitter - https://twitter.com/richroll
✩ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richrollfans
✩ Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/14443?oq=rich
✩ Memoir: Finding Ultra - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/finding-ultra/
✩ Meals - http://meals.richroll.com​
✩ Cook - The Plantpower Way - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-signed/
✩ Italian! - The Plantpower Way: Italia - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-italia-signed/
✩ Support - https://www.patreon.com/richroll

FILMED AND EDITED BY DAN DRAKE
https://www.dandrake333.com/

* * * * *

NEW TO RICH?
Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
http://bit.ly/otillonyt
http://bit.ly/vegansglam

I LOVE MAIL! SEND IT HERE:
2630 Conejo Spectrum St.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

#richroll #richrollpodcast

Episode description

Dr. Ethan Kross is a renowned psychologist, bestselling author, and expert on controlling the conscious mind. We discuss his innovative approach to mental fitness using psychological jujitsu, the purpose of negative emotions, and how to master your inner dialogue. READ MORE👉🏾 (link)
✌🏼🌱- Rich

This Episode Is Brought To You By…

Squarespace: Use code RichRoll to save 10% off👉https://bit.ly/squarespace2025
Bon Charge: Save 15% on my favorite wellness products👉 https://bit.ly/boncharge2025
Momentous: 20% OFF all of my favorite products👉https://bit.ly/LiveMomentous2025

Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/rrpsponsors

LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/rrpitunes
Spotify: http://bit.ly/rrpspotify
Google: http://bit.ly/rrpgooglepods

Meal Planner: http://meals.richroll.com
Voicing Change Book: http://richroll.com/vc
Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichRollPodcastClips
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/rollcallemail

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:21 Emotional Complexity of Humans
00:03:53 Understanding Emotional Tools
00:04:26 The Functionality of Emotions
00:09:54 Self-Acceptance and Negative Emotions
00:13:36 Understanding Negative Emotions
00:14:32 Reframing Experiences and Intrusive Thoughts
00:17:32 Agency Over Thoughts
00:18:47 Philosophical Questions
00:20:53 Automatic vs. Controlled Responses
00:22:05 Teenage Emotional Control
00:23:43 Emotional Triggers
00:24:15 Tools for Emotion Regulation
00:29:55 Ad Break
00:31:33 Sensation as a Tool
00:33:31 Music and Emotion Regulation
00:37:16 Awareness of Sensory Influence
00:39:43 Worry and Its Impact
00:40:55 Experimenting with Emotions
00:42:07 Problem-Solving and Uncertainty
00:44:18 Emotional Responses and History
00:46:38 The Nature of Negative Emotions
00:47:43 Physical Pain as a Metaphor
00:48:03 Healthy Relationships with Emotions
00:49:28 Coping with Anxiety
00:50:32 Effective Emotional Conversations
00:53:05 Cultural Shifts in Emotional Processing
00:54:50 Flexibility in Emotional Responses
00:55:50 Grandparents' Coping Mechanism
00:58:42 Consequences of Chronic Avoidance
00:59:35 Using Avoidance as a Tool
01:01:54 Combining Coping Strategies
01:03:07 Ad Break
01:04:48 Understanding Emotional Processing
01:05:55 Diverse Pathways to Wellness
01:06:35 Judgment and Emotional Solutions
01:07:39 Responsibility for Emotions
01:09:33 Triggers vs. Trajectories
01:10:48 Historical Context of Emotions
01:12:56 Mindfulness vs. Emotional Agency
01:13:59 Personal History with Meditation
01:15:17 Mindfulness as One Tool
01:16:35 Perspective Shifters
01:17:56 The Challenge of Perspective Shifts
01:18:46 Psychological Jujitsu
01:20:58 Mental Time Travel
01:23:58 Temporal Distancing
01:26:19 Perspective from the Past
01:27:17 Humility in Emotional Challenges
01:28:53 Broadening perspective through emotions
01:29:59 Science of awe and shrinking the self
01:32:21 Cultural influences on emotion regulation
01:33:18 Addressing root causes of negative emotions
01:34:04 Tools for emotional resilience
01:36:01 Avoidance and emotional dysfunction
01:38:59 Transforming the inner monologue
01:42:51 Alter egos and distancing techniques
01:44:28 Jill Bolte Taylor's experience with silence
01:47:22 Inner Voice and Meaning
01:48:23 The impact of the inner monologue
01:49:09 Tools for Positive Self-Talk
01:51:51 Nature's Restorative Effects
01:52:54 Distance and Perspective
01:54:55 Universal View in Communication
02:00:31 The Power of Rituals
02:01:43 No One-Size-Fits-All Solutions
02:04:24 Complex Dynamics of Emotion Regulation
02:06:04 Ultimate Human Trial Concept
02:09:49 Importance of Emotional Well-Being
02:11:51 Gains in Health and Wellbeing
02:12:59 Communication of Emotional Insights
02:14:34 Closing Remarks


CONNECT WITH RICH
✩ Website - http://richroll.com​
✩ Rich Roll Podcast - https://richroll.com/all-episodes/
✩ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richroll/
✩ Twitter - https://twitter.com/richroll
✩ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richrollfans
✩ Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/14443?oq=rich
✩ Memoir: Finding Ultra - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/finding-ultra/
✩ Meals - http://meals.richroll.com​
✩ Cook - The Plantpower Way - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-signed/
✩ Italian! - The Plantpower Way: Italia - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-italia-signed/
✩ Support - https://www.patreon.com/richroll

FILMED AND EDITED BY DAN DRAKE
https://www.dandrake333.com/

* * * * *

NEW TO RICH?
Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
http://bit.ly/otillonyt
http://bit.ly/vegansglam

I LOVE MAIL! SEND IT HERE:
2630 Conejo Spectrum St.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

#richroll #richrollpodcast

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Replenish mental energy with nature walks

Going for a walk in nature restores the limited attentional resources that are consumed by worry and mental chatter, leaving you cognitively replenished.

Shift perspective to 'universal you' for shared understanding of struggles

When making sense of a difficult experience, shifting from 'I' to the 'universal you' (e.g., 'when you get rejected...') provides distance and creates a sense of shared human experience.

Utilize rituals to regain control during stress

Performing a rigid ritual, like cleaning or organizing, can help you compensate for a lack of internal control when you feel overwhelmed by stress or chatter.

Curate a board of advisors for personal and professional support

Instead of talking to everyone about your struggles, create a curated 'board of advisors' of specific people you go to for personal and professional problems.

Coach yourself with your name for objective wisdom

Silently coaching yourself through a problem using your own name or the pronoun 'you' helps you access the same objective wisdom you would offer a friend.

Utilize mental time travel to diminish negative emotions

To reduce the intensity of a negative emotion, mentally time travel to the future to realize it's temporary, or to the past to gain perspective on its significance.

Utilize strategic avoidance as a healthy coping mechanism

Unlike chronic avoidance, strategically avoiding a problem to let time temper the emotional response can be a healthy and useful coping mechanism.

Utilize negative emotions as tools for personal growth

Negative emotional experiences are not only functional but are actually desirable tools that have helped you progress and get better.

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