From the thrill of a new car to the life-changing prospect of a lottery win, we often assume we know exactly how future events will make us feel.

But are we as good at predicting our emotions as we think?

This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to explore the psychology of affective forecasting — our ability to predict how we’ll feel in the future.

Together, they unpack what the research reveals about how we anticipate the impact of major life events, why we can overestimate how long feelings will last, and how our often-overlooked resilience shapes our emotional experiences.

James also shares practical advice for using these insights to make more informed choices and improve day-to-day wellbeing.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

References:

• Albrecht, G. L., & Devlieger, P. J. (1999). The disability paradox: High quality of life against all odds. Social Science & Medicine, 48(8), 977–988. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00411-0
• Brickman, P., Coates, D., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1978). Lottery winners and accident victims: Is happiness relative? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36(8), 917–927. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.36.8.917
• Wilson, T. D., & Gilbert, D. T. (2003). Affective forecasting. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 35, 345–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(03)01006-2