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Fight or Flow Part Two: “Water Is Stronger”
This second half of “Fight or Flow” explores the alternative to the kinds of “hitting back first” reactions discussed in part one. To constructively engage with emotions requires reframing the way we...
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Exercise or Die? Emotional Intelligence and Health
For the past 20 years, my most rigorous exercise has been carrying my laptop around the world. Still, when I went to the doctor for a checkup (finally), I was surprised and dismayed by my blood...
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Getting Off the Trouble Train
Smarter About Feelings: Part Three (download a pdf version) Part One introduced the importance of emotional intelligence, and Part Two focused on understanding emotions and patterns (our typical...
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The Fog of Fear
Are we running scared? As a business leader, I’m afraid that I don’t know what’s happening even one quarter out. As a parent, I’m afraid I’m not doing what’s best for my kids – especially when so much...
View ArticleThree Essential Facts About Feelings
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View ArticleDiscerning our path—Emotions as an internal GPS
Despite all our technological advances, isn’t life still full of mystery? One enigma is our emotional inconsistency. Some days we are the essence of centeredness and calm. Then, out of seemingly...
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Spiky or Soft – Protection and Connection
Perhaps self evident: When people are hurt or scared, we often protect ourselves by becoming spiky or hard – creating a shell or a wall. As we shut down our feelings to prevent more distress, we shut...
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The Neuroscience of Chai: Overcoming My Own Obstinance
Wading upstream through cars and hawkers, past shops glowing with ornate 24 karat bling, we decided to take a risk on an unassuming little restaurant. Our table was just off the sidewalk, open to the...
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Exercise and Emotional Wellbeing
I was recently talking to a group about the fact that we can choose how we feel. “But didn’t you say emotions are an automatic biological response?” Yes, in fact, I did… but don’t we have choice...
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Thank you Betrayal…my gift, my teacher
Betrayal is a strong feeling that can be difficult to process. Why? Because the trauma of the betrayal creates fear, shame, secrets, and intensity. These feelings may even mix with love and longing...
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Before Your Meeting: A Profoundly Simple Question
One of the basic facts about emotion: Feelings motivate. Fear motivates protection. Anger motivates attack. Joy motivates connection. Disgust motivates rejection. Trust motivates stepping forward....
View ArticleWhat Are You Complaining About?
I was exercising this morning (yay) and thought: Why is it so $*@! hard to do this? Next thought: “This is such a #firstworldproblem.” (Yes, it’s a bad sign when your self-talk includes hashtags.)...
View ArticleEmotions and Climate Change
A Commonwealth Club of California Conversation Last year, Six Seconds’ CEO Josh Freedman joined a distinguished panel of guests for an hour-long conversation about how emotional intelligence...
View ArticleEQ Stories: Coaching a Career Change
EQ Stories are profiles of people whose lives have been helped by emotional intelligence and Six Seconds’ coaching model. My client (we’ll call him “Bill”) is in his mid-forties. He is an executive and...
View ArticleStressed for Good: Surprising New Science about Stress
Stress is getting a whole new look thanks to Kelly McGonigal in her latest book The Upside of Stress. How you think about stress matters. “When you change your mind about stress you can change your...
View ArticlePrecious Feelings (Or: “Max’s Nap”)
Like many of us, I learned to push feelings away. My 2-year-old "encouraged" me to find a new approach, and it "magically" changed our struggle into a beautiful connection. Now if I can just remember...
View ArticleHow Do I Control Emotions Better?
It’s one of the most frequent questions in emotional intelligence workshops worldwide. How can I get better at controlling my feelings? The language of this question reveals a bias that there are bad...
View ArticleStress is Killing Me! Time for Emotional Intelligence?
Stress is on the rise. Empathy on the decline. Maybe they are related - creating a downward spiral for health, the economy, and our planet. Is it time for emotional intelligence? The post Stress is...
View ArticleTips to Practice Emotional Intelligence: Choice
Emotional intelligence helps us make better choices; we can evaluate and respond rather than reacting unconsciously. Simple, but how to do it? 15 practical tips from our network members around the...
View ArticleEQ on TEDx: Meaning and Connection from the Brink of Chaos
With an onslaught of technology and accelerating complexity, we're at risk of become dehumanized as our brains are torn between competing priorities: Data versus People. The solution is surprising and...
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