Emotional Intelligence

Storied Feelings: When a Feeling Carries a Story

What is the difference between a feeling and a judgment? Explore the concept of storied feelings and learn how words like disrespected, betrayed, and ignored can serve as gateways to emotional awareness, empathy, and unmet needs.

Beyond the Horn: What Road Rage Reveals About the Terrain of the Body

Road rage is rarely just about the other driver. Discover how stress, dysregulation, and the stories we tell ourselves can turn a minor frustration into a major reaction, and learn five simple practices for bringing more calm to your daily commute.

Navigating the Ocean of Emotions: Understanding Alexithymia and Emotional Literacy

Why do some people struggle to identify and express their emotions? Explore the concept of alexithymia, the neuroscience of emotional awareness, and practical ways to strengthen emotional literacy, deepen self-understanding, and build more connected relationships.

Harnessing Emotional Energy to Transform Conflict In Mediation

Conflict is fueled by emotion, yet emotions are often treated as obstacles to resolution rather than sources of insight. Discover how skilled mediators can work with emotional energy, uncover underlying needs, and transform conflict into an opportunity for understanding, healing, and lasting agreement.

Emotional Avoidance: The Hidden Crisis in Our Lives

Why do so many of us struggle to face our emotions directly? This article explores the hidden costs of emotional avoidance, how it shapes our relationships and conflicts, and why developing greater emotional awareness is essential for personal growth and genuine connection.

Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast!

I recently joined Andrea Samadi on the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast to explore the intersection of neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution. We discuss practical tools for navigating workplace conflict, building trust, strengthening communication, and developing the emotional skills needed for healthier relationships and more effective collaboration.

Reflections on Inside Out 2

In these reflections on Inside Out 2, renowned psychologist Dr. Paul Ekman explores the film's portrayal of anxiety, embarrassment, envy, and identity formation. Drawing on decades of emotion research, he examines what the movie gets right, where it departs from the science, and why emotional awareness matters during adolescence.

What Inside Out 2 Reveals About the Diversity of Emotions

What does Inside Out 2 reveal about the science of emotions, and what might it have left out? Drawing on emotion science, sociology, and the humanities, Demond Hill Jr. explores the film's portrayal of adolescence, anxiety, identity, and belonging while making a compelling case for the importance of love, grace, and empathy in emotional well-being.

Five Practices for a Healthier Emotional Life

What can Inside Out 2 teach us about living well with our emotions? Drawing on insights from leading emotion scientists including Dacher Keltner and Marc Brackett, this article explores five evidence-based practices—self-compassion, awe, gratitude, connection, and kindness—that can help us embrace the full spectrum of human emotions and cultivate greater well-being.

What are your Unfelts costing you?

What Are Your Unfelt Emotions Costing You? explores the relationship between emotional literacy, emotional intelligence, and leadership effectiveness. Drawing on the work of the Conscious Leadership Group, the article argues that emotions contain valuable information and that leaders who suppress or ignore their feelings may pay a price in resilience, decision-making, authenticity, trust, and overall effectiveness.

The State of the Heart Report

The 2024 State of the Heart Report from Six Seconds paints a sobering picture of global emotional wellbeing. Drawing on emotional intelligence assessments completed by tens of thousands of people worldwide, the report highlights declining emotional intelligence scores, increasing burnout, growing loneliness among younger generations, and the challenges facing individuals and organizations in a rapidly changing world.

On Fear and being Afraid

In this excerpt from the Atlas of Emotions, Dr. Paul Ekman explores fear as one of the universal human emotions. He examines fear's triggers, physical sensations, facial expressions, vocal cues, and evolutionary purpose, while highlighting the important role fear plays in protecting us from harm and helping us respond to danger.

Good News about Emotional Intelligence (as it relates to AI)

As artificial intelligence transforms the workplace, what uniquely human skills will become more valuable? Drawing on research from Microsoft, the BBC, and a large meta-analysis of emotional intelligence studies, Daniel Goleman argues that emotional intelligence, adaptability, and self-awareness will remain essential for career success in an AI-powered world.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

What is emotional intelligence, and how is it different from emotional literacy? Drawing on Daniel Goleman's influential definition, this article explores the relationship between emotional intelligence, emotional literacy, empathy, self-awareness, and relationship skills, and why developing emotional literacy is often the first step toward greater emotional intelligence.