Why Bad Feelings Stick

Why do bad feelings have such staying power? In The Opposite of Happiness: How Bad Feelings Make and Break Us, behavioral economist George Loewenstein explores how evolution shaped our emotional lives—and why sadness, anxiety, and regret so often crowd out pleasure. Psychotherapist Whitney Goodman takes on our response to those feelings in Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy, examining when well-meant encouragement becomes pressure to pretend we’re fine. Together, they invite us to understand difficult emotions rather than rush to erase them—and reconsider what it really means to support someone who’s struggling.⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎁 Save 20% on a Next Big Idea Club membership when you use code PODCAST at⁠ ⁠nextbigideaclub.com⁠⁠

✉️ Get big ideas in your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe at⁠ ⁠bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com⁠⁠

Sponsored By:Notion — Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at ⁠⁠notion.com/daily⁠⁠Quince — Make your summer wardrobe easier. Go to ⁠⁠quince.com/nbid⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returnsKeeper — Right now, Keeper's offering podcast listeners! 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/DAILY.