Resources for Emotional & Personal Growth

Videos:

A simple way to break a bad habit
A TED Talk by psychiatrist and neuroscientist Judson Brewer explaining how mindful curiosity about the triggers and sensations of bad habits can weaken their pull and help people break cycles like smoking, overeating, or compulsive phone checking without relying on sheer willpower.

Brené Brown: The Biggest Myth About Vulnerability | Inc. Magazine
Brené Brown debunks the common misconception about vulnerability and explains why embracing emotional exposure is crucial for personal and professional growth.

Brene Brown’s TedTalk “The Power of Vulnerability”
Brené Brown explores the power of vulnerability as the key to empathy, belonging, and meaningful human connection in a heartfelt and humorous TEDxHouston talk.

Brené Brown: Why Your Critics Aren’t The Ones Who Count
Vulnerability researcher and author Brené Brown explains how courage comes from acknowledging critics and self-doubt without letting them stop us, choosing authenticity over emotional armor when we share our ideas with the world.

Caroline Casey: Looking past limits
A TED Talk in which activist Caroline Casey shares her personal journey of discovering her legal blindness and reframing limits into possibility, inspiring viewers to look beyond perceived constraints.

David Kessler – How to Deal with Difficult Feelings – How to Find Meaning After Loss
Grief expert David Kessler introduces a sixth stage of grief, meaning, offering practical guidance on honoring loss while continuing to live fully in this TED conversation from the “How to Deal with Difficult Feelings” series.

Discovering Freedom Through Challenge – Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle explains how stillness and awareness, beyond the thinking mind, reveal the roots of unhappiness and open the door to deeper presence and spiritual awakening.

Emotional Mastery: The Gifted Wisdom of Unpleasant Feelings | Dr Joan Rosenberg | TEDxSantaBarbara
Psychologist Dr. Joan Rosenberg explains how learning to experience difficult emotions builds confidence, resilience, and stronger outcomes in life, health, relationships, and finances.

How compassion could save your strained relationships | Betty Hart
Actor Betty Hart shares how choosing compassion over distance when values clash can preserve relationships and open the door to growth, understanding, and meaningful reconnection.

How not to take things personally? | Frederik Imbo | TEDxMechelen
This TEDx talk by Frederik Imbo teaches how to stop taking things personally by shifting perspective, managing ego, and adopting practical strategies to reduce hurtful reactions and improve communication.

How to practice emotional first aid | Guy Winch
Guy Winch’s TED talk on How to Practice Emotional First Aid makes the case that we need to treat emotional wounds—like rejection, failure, loneliness, and guilt—with the same care we give physical injuries, using practical strategies to support psychological resilience and well-being.

Life is Messy: Let’s Stop Pretending it’s Not | Allison Garner | TEDxOshkosh
When confronted with challenge, it’s natural to try to hide our discomfort; this talk explores the benefits of doing the opposite, accepting and sharing discomfort as a pathway to resilience, connection, and growth.

My philosophy for a happy life | Sam Berns | TEDxMidAtlantic
Sam Berns shares his inspiring TEDx talk on My Philosophy for a Happy Life, explaining how accepting limitations, surrounding yourself with supportive people, and always looking forward helped him cultivate happiness despite living with progeria.

The gift and power of emotional courage | Susan David
Psychologist Susan David reveals how emotional agility, honoring our true feelings instead of forcing positivity, shapes our actions, relationships, health, and success in this impactful and relatable talk.

The messy truth about grief | Nora McInerny
In this TEDWomen talk, writer and podcaster Nora McInerny reframes grief with honesty and humor, reminding us that we don’t “move on” from loss, we learn how to move forward while carrying it.

The Profound Power of Gratitude and “Living Eulogies” | Andrea Driessen | TED
Andrea Driessen explains how expressing appreciation and writing eulogies for the living can deepen connection and reduce regret in relationships.

The Secret to a Happy Life — Lessons from 8 Decades of Research | Robert Waldinger | TED
Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger draws on decades of data from the Harvard Study of Adult Development to show that strong, warm relationships are the most powerful predictor of long-term happiness and health—and offers guidance on nurturing the connections that matter most.

There’s more to life than being happy | Emily Esfahani Smith
A TED Talk by Emily Esfahani Smith that argues a meaningful life built on belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling matters more than simply chasing happiness.

Articles & Other Resources:

7 Steps to Self-Forgiveness
A Psychology Today article outlines actionable steps for self-forgiveness, acknowledging mistakes without self-condemnation, treating yourself with compassion, learning from what happened, and releasing guilt so you can move forward with greater peace and growth.

36 Ways to Find a Silver Lining During Challenging Times
PositivePsychology.com’s guide to finding a silver lining offers practical tips and science-based strategies for reframing challenges to uncover positive outcomes, strengthen resilience, and foster an optimistic mindset during difficult times.

Accepting a Reality That Feels Unacceptable | Psychology Today
A Psychology Today article explains that accepting a reality that feels unbearable isn’t about liking it or giving up, but about honestly acknowledging what is happening so you stop wasting energy resisting the truth and can begin responding more wisely and effectively.

Brené Brown on vulnerability and courage
In a 60 Minutes interview, researcher and author Brené Brown explains how embracing vulnerability and naming our emotions can help individuals cope with pandemic-related anxiety, stay connected despite social distancing, and find courage in uncertainty.

Dan Griffin on The Man Rules
The Man Rules podcast by Dan Griffin, describing his explorations of the unconscious expectations that define modern masculinity and how men can live with more intention, connection, and authenticity.

David Kessler and Brené on Grief and Finding Meaning
In this podcast conversation, grief expert David Kessler explore how grief shows up in everyday life and how meaning can coexist with loss, even in prolonged uncertainty.

Harvard-trained psychologist: If you use any of these 9 phrases every day, ‘you’re more emotionally secure than most’
A Harvard-trained psychologist outlines nine everyday phrases that signal higher than average emotional security and resilience.

How to support yourself (and others) through grief | Nina Westbrook
Marriage and family therapist Nina Westbrook explains how acknowledging grief, from major losses to quiet endings, can support healing, resilience, and the ability to imagine new futures in this TED conversation on difficult feelings.

“Permission to Feel” with Dr. Marc Brackett on Brené Brown’s Unlocking Us Podcast
In this episode, psychologist and emotion researcher Dr. Marc Brackett explains how emotional literacy, recognizing, naming, and understanding feelings, shapes learning, decisions, creativity, relationships, health, and performance.

The Beginner’s Guide to Being Happy Alone
A Healthline article offering practical strategies for learning to enjoy your own company, build self-comfort, and seek support when needed to improve overall happiness while alone.

The Benefits of Gratitude Image
A detailed article outlining the science-backed physical, emotional, and relational benefits of practicing gratitude regularly to enhance overall well-being.

The Importance of Prioritizing Emotional Wellness over Academic Achievement
NAMI’s article explains why prioritizing emotional wellness over academic achievement is essential for individuals with bipolar and related disorders, emphasizing balanced self-care, mental health support, and sustainable success.

The Powerful Practice of Accepting Reality | Psychology Today
A Psychology Today article explains that accepting reality as it truly is, rather than resisting what we don’t want, reduces unnecessary suffering, frees emotional energy, and creates a clearer foundation for change and healthier responses to life’s challenges.

The Problem with Preaching Gratitude
A NAMI blog explains that pushing people to “just be grateful” ignores the real pain of mental illness and toxic positivity, and that genuine support comes from balancing optimism with realism, compassion, and respect for individuals’ emotional struggles rather than shaming them into feeling thankful.

There’s More To Life than being happy – Emily Esfahani Smith
Writer Emily Esfahani Smith explains why meaning, not constant happiness, creates a more resilient, fulfilling life, outlining four pillars that help people thrive through purpose, connection, and growth.

Three Lessons I Learned from a Decade in Therapy
A NAMI blog post shares three key lessons from a decade in therapy, learning rest and relaxation are possible, understanding that mental health recovery is a lifelong journey, and recognizing that openly sharing your story supports healing, reduces stigma, and connects you with others.

What Is Boundary Setting?
A Verywell Health guide explains that setting healthy boundaries means clearly defining what you are willing to accept in your relationships and daily life, communicating your needs assertively, and protecting your emotional and physical space to reduce stress and improve well-being.