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Emotional Success

The Motivational Power of Gratitude, Compassion and Pride

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Emotional Success

By: David DeSteno
Narrated by: Dan Woren
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About this listen

“EMOTIONAL SUCCESS is as inspiring as it is practical. DeSteno shows us how to [...] improve our lives – and the world.” – Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive and The Sleep Revolution

“If you think the key to self-control is overriding your emotions, think again. Moral emotions can strengthen your willpower – and this fascinating book uses the latest social science to explain how.” – Adam Grant, author of GIVE AND TAKE, ORIGINALS, and OPTION B with Sheryl Sandberg

Gratitude, Compassion and pride - not willpower - hold the secret to achieving your goals.

Using cutting-edge research, world-leading psychologist David DeSteno shows you how positive emotions are far more powerful than willpower and self-denial in achieving your goals. Willpower is quickly depleted, but our prosocial emotions become stronger the more we use them. Even better, they’re contagious.

· Cultivating gratitude, compassion, and pride leads to better cardiovascular health, immune function and sleep
· Students who feel proud of their work will work 40% harder and longer than others
· Empathy and compassion are the best predictors of team success

Our prosocial emotions evolved specifically to help us resist immediate temptations in favour of long-term gains. But they can also be adapted to strengthen our bonds with our own future selves – who will benefit most from the grit we need to succeed in life.

 Career Success Decision-Making & Problem Solving Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Emotions Career Compassion

Critic reviews

Emotional Success is as inspiring as it is practical. DeSteno shows us how to use our feelings of gratitude, compassion, and authentic pride to improve our lives – and the world. (Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive and The Sleep Revolution)
Are high achievers simply blessed with more willpower than the rest of us? DeSteno's provocative argument is that the science of success is, in fact, very much the science of social emotions like gratitude and compassion. I, for one, am convinced! (Angela Duckworth, author of Grit)
One of the leading psychologists of our time has discovered the keys to success: our emotions. They give us strength, they help us stick to our goals, they make us better friends and better people. DeSteno shows how gratitude, compassion, and—surprisingly—pride are essential to the good life. Emotional Success is a beautifully written and very important book. (Paul Bloom, professor of Psychology at Yale University and author of Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion)
A revolutionary way to achieve our goals that promises to make us happier, healthier, and more resilient along the way. Using persuasive prose and cutting-edge science, DeSteno shows how we can attain grit and grace — the perseverance to succeed combined with the qualities that inspire others as well. (Chade-Meng Tan, author of Joy on Demand and Search Inside Yourself)
Anyone who hopes to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life should read this book. DeSteno reveals the hidden power of “prosocial emotions,” feelings like pride (but without hubris), gratitude, and compassion. He relies on research rather than anecdote to convince us that these emotions underlie grit and emotional intelligence. (Peter Salovey, Professor of Psychology and President, Yale University, and co-discoverer of emotional intelligence)
If you think the key to self-control is overriding your emotions, think again. Moral emotions can strengthen your willpower—and this fascinating book uses the latest social science to explain how. (Adam Grant, author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg)
All stars
Most relevant
I found this very thought provoking, at times challenging. There was a lot to digest, but I can see, also necessary. It will certainly impact how I live my life.

Thought Provoking

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I was quite surprised as some of the data in this book. Found it really interesting and also some good ideas on how to use this data to actually enhance your life and those of others simply by feeling and acting in a particular way. Worth listening to.

Great book. Lots of surprising info

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Some interesting ideas scattered through the book... A bit of a blinkered view of society at large. I would not recommend this book.

Mixed feelings on book.

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