How to Manage Your Emotions
from SOLVED with Mark Manson
by
Published: Tue Jul 01 2025
Show Notes
What are emotions? Why do we feel anything at all? And more importantly — can we actually get better at feeling?
In this episode, Drew and I dive headfirst into what might be the hardest question in all of psychology: what the actual f**k are emotions? We break down the biology, neuroscience, evolution, culture, and even language that shape how we feel — and why we often don’t understand what the hell is going on inside us. From ancient philosophy to brain scans, this is a deep (and occasionally weird) look into the emotional chaos that makes us human.
We unpack everything from the origins of emotional intelligence (spoiler: it might be BS) to the science of emotional regulation, attachment styles, and the sneaky ways your culture wires your emotional defaults. Along the way, we explore why some relationships make you feel like a better person while others drain the life out of you, and how trauma, genetics, and childhood with your ability to keep it together.
But this episode isn’t just about understanding emotions — it’s about learning how to work with them. And we give you a full emotional toolkit: a set of evidence-based tools to help you manage your emotions, build better relationships, feel more motivated, and yes — even feel more confident in yourself in the process.
We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/emotions
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Chapters:
Introduction
Chapter 1: What Are Emotions?
The Emotional Brain
Neurotransmitters
Evolution of Emotions
How Life Experiences Shape Emotional Regulation
Conclusion on What are Emotions
Chapter 2: How Culture Influences Our Emotions
Vietnam Bike Story
Your Culture Trains You to Want Certain Feelings
Culture Decides Whether Suppression is a Superpower or a Liability
Paradox of Emotional Conformity
How Language Shapes What You Feel
Emotional Complexity
Your Emotions Are Social Currency
Conclusion to Culture defines our emotions
Chapter 3: Historical and Philosophical Traditions on Emotions
Modern Culture
Chapter 4: The Four Schools of Emotional Regulation
The Heart
The Head
The Soul
The Body
The Integrated Toolkit
Chapter 5: Brilliant or Bullshit: Emotional Intelligence
Chapter 6: Relationships and Emotional Regulation
Attachment Theory
Toxic Relationship
Building Emotional Compatibility
Conclusion Relationships
Chapter 7: 80/20
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