Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg Ep. 268 – Anxiety Series: Emma Seppälä
Jul 23, 2025
Emma Seppälä, a best-selling author and Yale lecturer, joins the discussion on navigating anxiety with compassion and emotional intelligence. They delve into the mental health crisis among university students and effective interventions like mindfulness. Emma emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, sharing techniques like the Reflective Best-Self Exercise and breathing practices. She also explores the concept of sovereignty, advocating for awareness and courage in confronting emotions. The conversation wraps up with a guided breathing exercise to help manage anxiety.
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Dalai Lama's Laugh at Mistake
- Dalai Lama laughing at his public mistake revealed the power of vulnerability and imperfection.
- Authenticity like this invites connection and eases the ego’s need for perfection.
Sovereignty Frees Emotional Power
- Sovereignty means inner freedom through awareness, courage, and energy.
- Suppressing emotions, common in the US, strengthens negativity and blocks personal power.
Meditation Halted My Eating Disorder
- Emma battled an eating disorder triggered by emotional suppression in her youth.
- Meditation sparked self-awareness that ended her addictive cycle and restored emotional sovereignty.
