On Emotions and Empathy

Procrastination

Are You a Procrastinator? That's Not a Bad Thing

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on December 29, 2025

Contrary to popular opinion, procrastination is a valid strategy that can help us access our motivation and our creativity.

Contrary to popular opinion, procrastination is a valid strategy that can help us access our motivation and our creativity.

Anxiety

The Secret Life of Anxiety

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on September 11, 2025

Most of us have learned deeply unhelpful things about anxiety, to the extent that we may not even know what this emotion does, how it works, or how to work with it.

Most of us have learned deeply unhelpful things about anxiety, to the extent that we may not even know what this emotion does, how it works, or how to work with it.

Anxiety

Two Serious Emotional Errors to Avoid

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on June 12, 2025

Many people have learned two serious errors about emotions, but luckily, both of them can be corrected.

Many people have learned two serious errors about emotions, but luckily, both of them can be corrected.

Shame

The Necessary Genius of Shame

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on March 4, 2025

Most of us have been chased away from shame or taught to treat it as toxic. But what if what we know about this essential social emotion is dead wrong?

Most of us have been chased away from shame or taught to treat it as toxic. But what if what we know about this essential social emotion is dead wrong?

Shame

The Real Difference Between Guilt and Shame

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on January 9, 2025

Shame has been branded as a toxic emotion while guilt has been widely perceived as preferable. Here's the problem: Avoiding shame means avoiding growth.

Shame has been branded as a toxic emotion while guilt has been widely perceived as preferable. Here's the problem: Avoiding shame means avoiding growth.

Empathy

How Can You Know if Your Empathy Is Correct?

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on October 24, 2024

Our ability to read, understand, and respond to emotional states in ourselves and others is the key to empathy. However, many things can get in our way.

Our ability to read, understand, and respond to emotional states in ourselves and others is the key to empathy. However, many things can get in our way.

Empathy

The 6 Essential Aspects of Empathy

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on July 1, 2024

Most models of empathy focus on grading people on a scale from empathic to unempathic, but this grading harms us all. Luckily, a truly empathic model of empathy exists.

Most models of empathy focus on grading people on a scale from empathic to unempathic, but this grading harms us all. Luckily, a truly empathic model of empathy exists.

Empathy

Why Trait Empathy Is the Wrong Measure

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on April 1, 2024

There is an unfortunate tendency to assume that empathy is an individual trait, but this ignores the way that empathy works (and fails) in interactions.

There is an unfortunate tendency to assume that empathy is an individual trait, but this ignores the way that empathy works (and fails) in interactions.

Jealousy

The Surprising Benefits of Jealousy and Envy

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on February 22, 2024

We've been taught to repress, distrust, and even despise jealousy and envy, but these two emotions can in fact be essential to our social health and well-being.

We've been taught to repress, distrust, and even despise jealousy and envy, but these two emotions can in fact be essential to our social health and well-being.

Workplace Dynamics

How Hierarchies Damage Even Those at the Top

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on October 27, 2023

When empathy suffers, narcissism flourishes.

When empathy suffers, narcissism flourishes.

Empathy

Why Asking for More Empathy From Workers Is a Bad Idea

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on September 5, 2023

Many workers are being asked for more empathy at work. If workplaces don't support this important form of labor, burnout may occur.

Many workers are being asked for more empathy at work. If workplaces don't support this important form of labor, burnout may occur.

Anger

The Emotional Labor of Leaving Twitter

Karla McLaren M.Ed. on August 10, 2023

For some people, leaving Twitter was an easy decision. But for many of us, leaving means confronting complex emotions such as anger, rage, grief, sadness, and despair.

For some people, leaving Twitter was an easy decision. But for many of us, leaving means confronting complex emotions such as anger, rage, grief, sadness, and despair.