Look up ↑ Breathe ↑ Release
One quick glance to inner peace.
Related Post: Always Looking Up.
Category: Emotional Intelligence
Reading People: Lesson #1 Self Awareness
“The simple act of paying attention can take you a long, long way.”
Intrapersonal Intelligence ⇔ Interpersonal Intelligence
The first lesson in reading people, using the principles of emotional intelligence, is to understand yourself more deeply.
What motivates you. What excites you. What angers you. What lifts you up!
As self-awareness is essential for both personal and relationship success.
If you can’t comprehend your own emotions and motivations, how will you ever understand the behaviour of others?
Understanding Yourself ⇔ Understanding Others
Self-awareness as a daily practice.
Notice how your emotions ebb and flow throughout the day.
One way of doing this is to schedule time at the end or beginning of your day for quiet contemplation and self-reflection.
Find your favourite place to relax and unwind. Perhaps in the garden or in a cozy chair by the window. Or on a walk by the trees.
Alternatively, enjoy a 2 minute “Self Check In” at the top of each hour.
Pause. Reflect. Breathe Deeply.
Journal. Meditate. Create.
What you will find is the more consistently you pay attention to your own drives and desires, the better you will understand the emotions and motivations of others.
Simple self-awareness exercise.
In the video below, I share the simple exercise I use to enhance self-awareness in myself and others. Can you guess the EQ questions I ask students?
Your Turn:
How would you describe yourself in one word?
To hear my “one word” — check out the 1 min video above. 📌🎥
Coming Soon!
Reading People: Lesson #2
Managing Your Emotions
First impressions.
I met a delightful group of people at a dinner party this past Saturday night. Which of course (like all social occasions) got my psychologist mind percolating.
Particularly when one of the guests leaned in halfway through dinner and stated “Andrea, you seem like the kind of person who never worries”. At which point my husband (laughed) chimed in and said “Oh she worries. Plenty”.
The surface of the iceberg is a glimpse of what lies below.
This conversation brings up three important points. One, how truly multifaceted we are. Two, how those closest to us know us best. And finally, how we (write) teach what we ultimately need to learn.
I am a worrier. I’m also brave. I dream. I overwork. I ruminate. I relax. I overachieve. I doubt. I believe.
I am not one thing. And neither are you. We are all multifaceted. Equally.
Related Post: Who are you?
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Fear is an illusion.
Don’t be fooled by fear.
Look it directly in the eye.
Fear distorts reality.
Fear exaggerates the truth.
Step back. Take a pause.
Remember who you are.
You have overcome great adversity.
You have faced this phantom before.
This wolf is a mirage.
Only your strength, your courage, and your untapped powers are real.
Resources to help you break free from the illusion of fear:
Understanding Fear: Identifying Cognitive Distortions
Overcoming Fear: Fixing Cognitive Distortions
Repost from October 2017 — Click Here.
Free yourself.
“Go 24 hours without complaining and watch your life start changing.”
The next time you’re tempted to complain about the same thing over and over again, direct that same frustrated energy into your highest, loftiest goals. Consciously swap one complaint for one baby step towards your dreams. Same energy required. Magically different results.
To view the full version of my TEDx Talk — click here. 🎥
What habit do you want to break free of? What changes are you willing to make?
Change the world. One compliment at a time.
Celebrate their strengths.
Today I encourage you to notice the little things in everyone you meet. Their smile. What lifts them up. What makes their heart sing. How hard they work. How they get through a day.
Show them you care.
Acknowledge them. Notice them. Lean in. Listen completely. Praise their hard work. Compliment their positive attitude. Encourage their dreams. Thank them for their service.
It only takes a moment to change a life.
Never forget how good it feels to hear something positive about yourself. Pass the good vibes on.💛💫
Surrender.
Surrender is not giving up.
Surrender is not giving in.
It’s trusting in something so much bigger than yourself.
Something you can’t quite see.
Slowly unfolding.
Quietly expanding.
One peaceful, surrendering moment at a time.
Face it – You’re Strong!
Everything you’re afraid of – you’ve already experienced.
Afraid of commitment?
(You’ve been dumped.)
Afraid of failure?
(You’ve failed.)
Afraid of rejection?
(You’ve been rejected.)
Afraid of being broke?
(You’ve been without money.)
Fill in the blanks for me..
Afraid of being _________?
(You’ve been _________.)
And then vow to erase that fear in your life.
By facing your fears head on.
Remember – you have been here before.
You have more knowledge and experience than you recognize.
You are braver than you realize.
You have faced this fear before.
You have survived this fear before.
And you have thrived because of it.
(You may not realize it – but you have.)
Face it – you’re strong!
And you have the power to kick this fear right to the curb.
Once and for all!
Your final challenge is to embrace your power.
Full on!
Fear is an illusion.
Don’t be fooled by fear.
Look it directly in the eye.
Fear distorts reality.
Fear exaggerates the truth.
Step back. Take a pause.
Remember who you are.
You have overcome great adversity.
You have faced this phantom before.
This wolf is a mirage.
Only your strength, your courage, and your untapped powers are real.
Resources to help you break free from the illusion of fear:
Understanding Fear: Identifying Cognitive Distortions
Overcoming Fear: Fixing Cognitive Distortions
Rest in Truth.
Truth is truth.
Let them gossip. Let them chatter. Let them say what they choose to say.
Because at the end of the day truth is truth.
And nothing can stand in it’s way.
Rest. Relax. Sit back. Breathe in deep.
Stop trying to convince anybody and everybody of anything and everything.
At the end of the day time will tell.
Rest. Relax. Sit back. Breathe in deep.
When the dust settles and the sun sets truth is truth.
