Neuroscience shows: Desperately wanting something blocks you from getting it | What to do instead

Neuroscience shows: Desperately wanting something blocks you from getting it | What to do instead

From Emonthebrain by Emily McDonald

April 27, 2026 · 16 min · Episode 25

About this episode

This episode discusses how desperately wanting something can hinder achieving it and offers three solutions based on neuroscience research.

Neuroscience shows that desperately wanting something actually blocks you from getting it. Here are the 3 solutions. Reference: Fredrickson, B.L. & Branigan, C. (2005). Positive emotions broaden the scope of attention and thought-action repertoires. Cognition and Emotion, 19(3), 313–332. Sign up for the free masterclass: https://learn.emonthebrain.com/masterclassRSVP to future tour: https://laylo.com/emonthebrain/m/2jAoUd?utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emonthebrain?igsh=aG1wNDY0OXZ1c3pi

People in this episode

Host: Emily McDonald

Topics covered

  • neuroscience
  • desire
  • solutions
  • positive emotions
  • attention
  • thought-action repertoires

Keywords

  • neuroscience
  • desire
  • positive emotions
  • attention
  • solutions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cognition and Emotion

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