Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life

by Susan David

Just as we’re wired to explore, we’re also wired to keep ourselves safe, and our brains confuse safety with comfort, a comfort that can get us hooked. If something feels comfortable—as in familiar, accessible, and coherent—our brains signal that we’re just fine where we are, thank you very much. And if something feels new, difficult, or even slightly incoherent, fear kicks in. And while fear comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes it appears in disguise (as procrastination, perfection, shutting down, unassertiveness, or excuses), it speaks only one word: no, as in “No, I’ll just screw it up.” “Nah, I won’t know anyone there.” “Nope, that will look awful on me.” “Nuh-uh, thanks; I’ll sit this one out.”