How we're not at the mercy of our emotions

In this thought-provoking TED Talk, Psychology professor Lisa Feldman Barrett challenges us to consider how we are responsible for our emotions and not at their mercy.

Barrett argues that emotions are not fixed reactions to events, but rather constructed by the brain using past experiences and bodily sensations to make predictive sense of the world.

Far from being universal or automatic, emotions are shaped by the brain’s awareness of the body's internal state, conceptual knowledge and our cultural context.

The fascinating takeaway? We’re not at the mercy of our emotions, we play an active role in shaping them.

So what does this mean for us?

Lisa recommends expanding our emotional vocabulary - moving beyond “happy” or “sad” toward more precise terms like “ecstatic”, “wistful”, “irritated” or “nostalgic.” This precision helps our brains construct more nuanced emotions and respond to situations more adaptively.

She also suggests reframing how we label our emotional experience can transform our reaction. For example, labeling pre-performance nerves as “excited anticipation” instead of “anxiety” can enhance performance with fewer stress-related effects.

To hear more from Lisa's 25 years' of research, take some time to watch her TED Talk below...