Susan Cain is the #1 bestselling author of Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Her TED talks have been viewed over 40 million times, and LinkedIn named her the Top 6th Influencer in the World (just behind Richard Branson and Melinda French Gates). Susan partners with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, and Dan Pink to curate the Next Big Idea Club, and all of their proceeds are donated to children’s literacy programs.
What you'll learn from this episode:
The concept of bittersweetness, and how can leaning into painful, beautiful moments make you more appreciative and joyful.
How toxic positivity, capitalism, and social media contribute to our inability to express our emotions and share our genuine selves with others.
The meaning of the Portuguese word Saudade, why we love sad songs, and how melancholy can actually make you more creative.
What acceptance and commitment therapy is, and what your pain can reveal to you about your most treasured values and beliefs.
How we may be able to heal the divide in our culture simply by our innate ability to empathize with others when they share stories of their sorrows and hardships.
And so much more!
Resources from this episode:
Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain | Amazon
Bittersweet Quiz | Susan Cain's Website
Susan Cain's Bittersweet Playlist | Spotify
Are You Highly Sensitive? Quiz | The Highly Sensitive Person
Anthem by Leonard Cohen | YouTube
Toxic Positivity | Psychology Today
The Odyssey by Homer | The Internet Classics Archive
Love Dogs by Rumi | The MERI Center at UCSF
Saudade: An Untranslatable, Undeniably Potent Word | NPR
Darwin's Compassionate View of Human Nature | JAMA via Paul Ekman
Stream Weather Advisory by Max Lugavere | SoundCloud
Feeling Sad Makes Us More Creative | WIRED
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain | Amazon
Like the Intro/Outro Music? Check out Aaron Tap's Website!
The Genius Life: Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary by Max Lugavere
Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life by Max Lugavere and Paul Grewal M.D.
Join my mailing list and get access to the free PDF of 10 supplements that can help boost your brain function!
If you live in the US or Canada, you can now text me at (310) 299-9401 with any questions or feedback! I read them all and will respond to as many as I can!