Search Results

When values clash, presence is the tone that keeps the partnership in tune. Every coach eventually meets this inner edge: What do I do when a client’s values clash with my own? Maybe your client celebrates “tough love” leadership while you prize kindness. Maybe they equate success with domination, while you define it as collaboration. Or perhaps, as one coach recently wondered, “How would I coach an executive who boasts about bringing staff to tears during performance reviews—and feels proud of it?” This question is not about them. It’s about us—the coaches—and how we hold our seat when empathy meets dissonance. The Tuning Fork of Presence Imagine yourself as a tuning fork. When your client strikes a note that clashes with your own frequency, you feel the vibration. It’s the sound of awareness—not agreement or disagreement. The art of coaching isn’t to mute the vibration but to notice it without letting it distort how you are showing up in the session. Presence is the stabilizing tone that keeps you from reacting to dissonance. It’s what allows you to stay with  the client, even when their worldview clashes with yours.

Like the lotus, emotional well-being rises through life’s murky waters—steady, rooted, and full of quiet strength. A lotus doesn’t wait for perfect water. It roots in the mud, rises through murk, and blooms anyway—clean, luminous, alive. Emotional well-being grows the same way. It isn’t the absence of stress or struggle; it’s the quiet strength that lets you find balance even when life feels cloudy. The petals open not because the world is calm, but because the roots are steady. True well-being is cultivated, not caught. It’s a daily tending of thoughts, habits, and relationships—a living system of renewal. This post is a pause to gather what you’ve grown so far in the Emotional Intelligence Series , to strengthen the roots that keep you blooming even when the waters get murky.

Purpose doesn’t strike once—it lights up your path over time. Let’s talk about one of the most loaded questions out there: “What’s your life purpose?” Cue the existential dread. Cue the sneaky suspicion that everyone else got a cosmic memo you somehow missed. Here’s the truth: Your purpose isn’t a job title, a perfectly crafted mission statement, or a thunderbolt of destiny. It’s not a fixed destination you’re supposed to arrive at once and for all. It’s a through-line —a pattern of meaning that runs through everything you do. Something you live into, not figure out. And guess what? You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re not lazy. If you haven’t “nailed your purpose” yet, you’re in excellent company. If you’ve ever wondered whether purpose is something you’re supposed to chase, choose, or already know, keep reading. You’re probably closer than you think. ⚡

Your values are your spine—the structure that keeps you standing tall when life bends and twists. Let’s be honest: “core values” can sound like something from a company handbook collecting dust on a shelf. Words like integrity  and excellence  that nobody actually lives by but everyone feels obligated to list. But when we’re talking about personal fulfillment—the kind that grounds you, guides you, and helps you stand tall through the noise? Core values are everything. They’re the internal compass behind every decision you make (or avoid), every boundary you set (or don’t), and every goal that lights you up (or leaves you cold).

Where thought and feeling meet, wisdom begins. In a world powered by deadlines, data, and doing more with less, one advantage quietly outperforms them all: the ability to navigate emotion — your own and others’ — with clarity, empathy, and intention. That’s emotional intelligence , also known as your emotional quotient (EQ). And in our increasingly complex, connected, and yes—stressful—world, it’s more than a “nice-to-have.” It’s the foundation of strong leadership, healthy teams, and long-term resilience. Whether you're leading a company, mentoring clients, managing a classroom, or simply wanting to show up more powerfully in your own life—EQ is the skill that supports every other skill you’ve got. This article is your on-ramp to understanding and applying emotional intelligence using the EQ-i 2.0 ® model —a scientifically validated framework trusted by coaches, educators, and Fortune 500 leaders worldwide.

Emotional intelligence starts with one brave look in the mirror. If emotional intelligence were a building, Self-Perception  would be the foundation. But unlike bricks and concrete, this foundation is personal. It’s built through self-awareness, self-respect, and a commitment to your internal truth. Think of it like standing in front of a mirror—not to fix what’s out of place, but to see what’s true . Do you know this person? Do you trust them? Are you showing up for them? Self-perception is the intersection of clarity and compassion. It’s the ongoing practice of knowing your emotions, accepting who you are, and pursuing what matters most. It’s not always comfortable—but it’s essential. This article in the Emotional Intelligence Series explores what self-perception really means and why it matters in everyday life.

Even the smallest pause can change what we reach for. Contrary to the old “leave your feelings at the door” mantra, emotions aren’t roadblocks to good decisions—they’re signposts. Your values, fears, and priorities often show up as emotions first. When you understand and manage them, you don’t just make faster decisions—you make wiser ones. This article in the Emotional Intelligence Series explores how to use emotions as data to make informed decisions.

Self-Expression is the bridge between who you are inside and how you show up in the world. Self-Expression is where emotional intelligence meets action — the moment your inner truth steps into daylight. It’s the bridge between self-awareness and self-presence, between knowing who you are and showing it without fear or apology. When it’s strong, you speak from confidence instead of caution. When it’s low, you might find yourself editing your truth until it disappears. This article is part of the Emotional Intelligence Series , exploring how to lead and live more intentionally. Keep reading to see how expressing yourself with clarity and courage can transform not just how you communicate — but how you connect.

Emotional intelligence comes alive through connection—it’s the heartbeat of how we relate, lead, and belong. Emotional intelligence finds its fullest expression in relationship. It’s not only how we understand ourselves, but how that understanding shapes the way we connect—with colleagues, friends, and the wider world. Interpersonal intelligence is the heartbeat of that connection. It shows up in how we listen, collaborate, and create trust. It’s the space between people where empathy grows, misunderstandings soften, and genuine partnership takes root. It’s where trust takes root, collaboration grows, and real intimacy—whether in leadership or love—becomes possible. You can have brilliant insight and strong boundaries, but without connection, empathy, and shared purpose, emotional intelligence remains unfinished. This article is part of the Emotional Intelligence Series , exploring how to lead and live more intentionally. Keep reading to see how Interpersonal connection supports the way you relate, respond, contribute, and belong.

Resilience isn’t about resistance—it’s the stretch and recovery that keeps you steady under pressure. Pressure is inevitable—how you handle it isn’t. Deadlines. Uncertainty. Conflict. Even good change—new roles, big moves, bold opportunities—can bring stress along for the ride. But here’s the key: It’s not whether you feel stress. It’s how you respond to it that defines your resilience. Emotionally intelligent stress management doesn’t mean never feeling rattled. It means knowing how to stay centered when the heat is on —to bend without breaking, to stretch instead of snap, to meet intensity with intention. This article in the Emotional Intelligence Series explores how to strengthen your stress management skills to build resilience and the capacity to stay steady under pressure.