Day: January 17, 2020

‘People who are emotionally adept – who know and manage their feelings well, and who read and deal effectively with other people’s feelings – are at an advantage in any domain of life’.

‘People with well-developed emotional skills are also more likely to be content and effective in their lives, mastering the habits of mind that foster their own productivity; people who cannot marshal some control over their emotional life fight inner battles that sabotage their ability for focused work and clear thought’.

 

Daniel Goleman, 1995. Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books. Page 38-39.

Academic intelligence offers virtually no preparation for the turmoil – or opportunity – life’s vicissitudes bring.  Yet even though a high IQ is no guarantee of prosperity, prestige, or happiness in life, our schools and our culture fixate on academic abilities, ignoring emotional intelligence, a set of traits – some might call it character – that also matters immensely for our personal destiny.

Daniel Goleman, 1995. Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books. Page 38.

In a sense we have two brains, two minds – and two different kinds of intelligence: rational and emotional.  How we do in life is determined by both – it is not just IQ, but emotional intelligence that matters.  Indeed, intellect cannot work at its best without emotional intelligence.

Daniel Goleman, 1995. Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books. Page 32.

‘Emotion is so crucial to effective thought, both in making wise decisions and in simply allowing us to think clearly’ and ‘that is why when we are emotionally upset and we say we just can’t think straight’- and why continual emotional distress can create deficits in child’s intellectual abilities, crippling the capacity to learn’.

Daniel Goleman, 1995. Emotional Intelligence. New York:  Bantam  Books. Page 30