Unlocking the Genius of Emotions: A Deep Dive with Karla McLaren

What if the emotions we’ve been taught to suppress are actually the keys to our deepest wisdom? Today, we delve into this provocative idea with Karla McLaren, M.Ed., an award-winning author and researcher whose empathic approach to emotions revalues even the most “negative” emotions and opens startling new pathways into self-awareness, effective communication, and healthy empathy.

Karen’s acclaimed book, The Language of Emotions: What Your Feelings Are Trying to Tell You, challenges us to embrace our full emotional spectrum. Karla is also the developer of the EmpathyAcademy.org learning site, where you can learn robust emotional skills and healthy empathy in a welcoming online community.

In this conversation Karla shares how honoring our emotions can lead to profound personal transformation.

Episode highlights:

01:38 Karla’s Grand Unified Theory of Emotions

04:16 Understanding and Engaging with Anger

08:10 Decoding Jealousy and Its Messages

14:46 Exploring Envy: Cultural Perspectives and Social Justice

21:09 Anxiety: A Valuable and Necessary Emotion

26:57 Valuing the Unsheltered and Elderly

28:08 The Nuclear Family and Community Care

29:55 Understanding Anxiety and Panic

31:27 Task-Oriented vs. Deadline-Oriented

34:23 Procrastination and Creativity