CALM OVER EXCITEMENT

 we value high-intensity positive emotions like excitement (as opposed to low-intensity emotions like calm). Why? Because we believe such emotions will make us more influential. In a study in which we assigned participants to be either leaders or followers, we found that those in leadership roles automatically wanted to feel more high-intensity positive emotions. However, emotions like excitement—despite being positive—activate our physiology’s stress response due to their intensity. In other words, even the positive emotions that we want to feel in order to be successful are inherently stress-inducing and taxing on the body.