Emotional Intelligence

Knowing what’s important, what you feel and who you are.

EQ is the Answer!

For kids, teens and adults — in schools, homes and at work — EQ can save our world!

WE MUST WAKE UP!!

There’s a Sense of Urgency missing from our message! The basis for the problems in our society today is that: We as a People are Emotionally Clueless! We talk about Feelings ’cause it makes us Feel better, but people are DYING, quite literally and figuratively, because they don’t know what we know… EVERY Suicide is [...]

DEPRESSION, Illness or Symptom

  Have you ever found yourself “trapped” in a job or school situation where the work really wasn’t that hard, but after two hours at work or school, you felt as if you had put in ten. By the end of the day, it seemed that it was all you could do to make it [...]

ANGER For Better or For Worse

  There has been much debate, over the years, about whether anger is good or bad. All sorts of remedies have been offered by those who see anger as destructive. Try counting to ten. Think before you speak. Nice girls don’t get angry; pretty is as pretty does. Stay away from people who make you [...]

Are you Bored?

Shutting down feelings leads to boredom, irritability, grumpiness and depression.  Allowing ourselves to feel leads to passion, excitement, fun and love. Let’s open our hearts to Feel, and Live! “Anyone who is bored with life has probably forgotten his or her dreams.“ – David Schwartz

Who are your Role Models?

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being.  Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.  – Albert Schweitzer We can find role models anywhere –- friends, family, famous people, infamous people, movies, stories, our imagination – literally, [...]

IQ + EQ = LOL !!

In schools, they teach us the 3 R’s: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. But that’s only teach HALF of what we need! Our feelings, heart and soul (EQ) is at least as important as our brains, knowledge and logic (IQ).  Everything we do, and everything we are, is based on our Feelings and Emotions.  We can’t [...]

Need Something Bigger to Believe In?

Dramatic increase in Americans declaring “No religion” AP HARTFORD, CT – A new report finds that American adults who claim “no religious affiliation” increased from 14 million in 1990 to 34 million in 2008. It says most of the religiously unaffiliated in the U.S. are not atheists, but "embrace philosophical and theological beliefs that reflect [...]

I’m Amazed … and Proud!

Hello Everyone, this is Cheryl Montgomery-Nolan posting from New Zealand. We just facilitated our version of "Class" this past weekend, and I am truly astounded by the courage I saw. It can be difficult to talk about, much less to actually feel the feelings that we want to ignore, can't it? But once again those [...]

Stop and Smell the Roses

“We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget that the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it’s all about.”     – Joseph Campbell "Learn to pause… or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you." – Doug King

Attitude is Everything!

“Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”  – Viktor Frankl Our attitude is one of those wonderful things in life that we have 100% control over!  We can always [...]

Playing the Victim

"People are only a victim the first time.  After that they are a volunteer!" – Thomas Leonard (the late, great coach t) Ouch, but true.  If we don’t know what’s going on inside of us, and around us, we can end up playing the victim a LOT! — Sign up for Cheryl’s daily Quotes-4-Life series… [...]

EQ Answers

These are some of the situations where EQ can help. Are you feeling the Downs, but not the Ups? Are your feelings kinda Flat or Tamped down? Would you like to experience more Highs in your life? Want to find out how Choose your Feelings better? Do you feel that you are a Victim to [...]

love

what indeed is love? a warm and tender feeling in the pit of your stomach? a feeling of compassion for another? all the above and much much more . from the rays of sunshine on your face to the breaching of a whale and the sound of a baby cooing and laughing . it is [...]

emotional intelligence test

Here’s a quick, 7-question quiz, to determine your basic level of EQ. How well do you deal with your Feelings and Emotions? Rate yourself between 1 and 5 in each of the following seven areas. 1: not at all          3: so-so         5: totally and completely 1. Awareness When your body feels something (fear, anger, sadness, [...]

Great Quotes

“BITTERNESS is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But ANGER is like fire. It burns all clean.” – Maya Angelou   “Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we might as well DANCE!” – Maya Angelou   “The honorary duty of a human being is to love.” – [...]

We Are The World

Here’s one of the greatest songs ever recorded!  I just found this link on Twitter yesterday, but I’ve now listened to it about 10x, REALLY LOUD… and it still gives me chills (with all those amazing artists, it’s Cyndy Lauper’s climax that always gets me!). I saved it as a Favorite, for an instant pick-me-up [...]

It’s about us!

To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” – Robert Muller Forgiveness is for US, not so much for the person we’re forgiving! Love is for US, not as much for the person we’re loving! Giving is for US, not as much for the [...]

Feel It to Heal It.

We’ve found ways to safely & profoundly Feel & Release big negative feelings, both past and present, to bring Relief (often permanently). These concepts were first developed by Alfred Adler, Sigmund Freud‘s partner.  Adler found babies are born "clean" – happy, powerful, totally in touch with emotions – but pain builds as we grow and [...]

Blogging, the Blog Squad Way

I went to a presentation this morning at the Mendocino Coast Writer’s Conference where Denise Wakeman described how to effectively manage Social Media. “If you can’t be found online, you don’t exist.” Main Points: Make the Blog the main focal point of our “platform”. Use Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn as tools to drive traffic to [...]

How to ‘Process’ out Negative Feelings

Step 1.  Awareness Step 2.  Acceptance Step 3.  Feel and Release Step 4. Refresh and Rejoice! "We gotta Feel it to Heal it!" To ‘really’ get into your Feelings, ask yourself these 3 questions (slowly). 1.  Who or what are Hurt you the most? 2.  Who or what are you most Afraid of? 3.  Who [...]

EQ is the Bomb!!

If we wanna be Happy, we HAVE to get in touch with our feelings and emotions!  (no matter how uncomfortable it can be at times.) If we wanna be Successful, we HAVE to get in touch with our feelings and emotions!  (or we can’t be Real, even with ourselves.) If we wanna be Powerful, we [...]

Happy Birthday to the Late Great "coach t”

"I decided that my work (as a coach and writer) was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And enjoying my 3 best friends. Having a dog, (currently a Maltese named Fringe). Being a nice person forever, no matter what someone says or does. Constantly experimenting with new ideas and [...]

Self-Acceptance

I must learn to love the fool in me.  The one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes & loses often, lacks self-control, loves & hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises & breaks promises, laughs and cries.  It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I [...]

Emotional Awareness Gives Us Choices!

"I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become." – Carl Jung We all have had bad stuff happen to us, and events that cause us emotional pain and anger.  HOWEVER, we get to CHOOSE what we DO with our feelings, emotions and belief systems! We can: Generalize Victimize Blame [...]

It’s Up to You

To the question of your life, you are the only answer. To the problems of your life, you are the only solution. Nobody can fix you but you. Nobody can make you happy but you. Nobody can even help you but you. It’s up to you. What if everything that happened to you, and even [...]

2 Kinds of Guilt: Punishing vs. Productive

Guilt can be Good or Bad. There are Two (2) Kinds of Guilt: 1. Punishing Guilt — when you're Trashing yourself and beating yourself up for something you did, or didn't do. 2. Productive Guilt – when you are Learning your lesson, taking the consequences of your actions boldly and maturely, and vowing inside yourself [...]

Dr. Phil’s Neighborhood

@DrPhil “We live right down the street from MJ’s house. Big crowds very somber. Cops all over. Family must be in such shock and pain.” We owe Dr. Phil as he single-handedly brought therapy and emotional intelligence to the masses!

WHAT ARE YOUR 3 MAIN POINTS?

Last week, I asked our ND grads: “If you had a chance to teach the world only 3 of the most vital concepts about emotional intelligence, the 3 most important things you’ve learned/realized, what would they be?” Valerie 1.  "The past is not dead, it's not even the past." – William Faulkner 2.  "Your are [...]

Positive Emotions

When Needs and Desires are Fulfilled, One Tends to Feel:  from http://SuccessWithDepression.com/positive-emotions/ Absorbed Encouraged Jubilant Adventurous Energetic Longing Affectionate Engrossed Loving Alert Enlivened Mellow Alive Enthusiastic Merry Amazed Exalted Mirthful Amused Excited Moved Animated Exhilarated Open Appreciated Expansive Optimistic Aroused Expectant Overjoyed Astonished Exuberant Overwhelmed Blissful Fascinated Peaceful Buoyant Friendly Proud Breathless Fulfilled Radiant Calm [...]

We Have More Control Than We Think

"Nothing is good or bad but by comparison." – Thomas Fuller We have 100% CONTROL over our Judgments, Attitudes and Belief Systems.  Therefore, it is 100% our RESPONSIBILITY to manage these areas of our lives.

Living In “Learning Mode”

The Talmud says that the wisest among people are the ones who learn from all. There are spiritual and emotional lessons to be learned from everything and everybody.  An open heart and an open mind can collect great experiences and wonderful knowings.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For [...]

Who Makes You Happy?

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.     – Marcel Proust

2GetHelp Lives!

We just changed the name of our non-profit to 2GetHelp, Inc.  Our purpose is to show the world the wonder and joy of mental health and emotional intelligence education. Our IRS application for a 501(c)(3) non-profit status is complete and we hope to have that in place very soon. I am very excited about moving [...]

Types of Emotion

Emotion, without content, or resolution = DRAMA Emotion, in order to release, and heal = VENTING Emotion, for the purpose of hurting others, getting them to ‘like’ you or for emotional blackmail = MANIPULATION Emotion, for the purpose of making things happen and changing the world = PASSION Emotion, for the purpose of loving, giving, [...]

I Wish You Happiness

My wish for you is that you succeed beyond your wildest imagination. And that you find love in places that astound you.   That you have friends who call you "just because."  I dream that you go barefoot more than you wear shoes. That you play as hard as you work.  And that you laugh more [...]

Conquering Fear

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined!”     – Thoreau   “The best way out is always through.”     – Robert Frost "Action conquers fear."     – Peter Nivio Zarlenga

Choosing to Care

We are different because we Choose to Care. We open our hearts to others… why? because it’s fun, it increases the LOVE in our lives, and because we know that the People in our lives are pretty much THE most important thing to us. So we open ourselves to love… we open our hearts to [...]

Notice What you Feel. Not how, but WHAT, specifically.

Awareness that we Feel What are you feeling right now?  happy, sad, calm, afraid, angry, worried, depressed? (stop reading for a sec, close your eyes and feel.  just Notice what your body is feeling right now…. go) Were you able to notice some things about how you feel?  Were you able to Identify which your [...]

It’s not just how Smart you are, anymore.

“Since Daniel Goleman published his landmark book " IQ for predicting success" Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ" in 1995, the focus in psychology has shifted away from measuring IQ alone to evaluating what is known as Emotional Quotient, or EQ.  While emotional intelligence cannot be measured as good, bad, right or [...]

Powerful vs. Powerless

We are absolutely powerless to change others. But we are absolutely powerful to change ourselves. – M.K. Doc Downing, Ph.D, LMFT

Love is a Decision

Yesterday we talked about Love or Fear, Take your Pick.  Well, it turns out that there are whole schools of personal growth who believe that there are ONLY 2 emotions:  Love and Fear. One of the books that helped change my life was Gerald Jampolsky’s "LOVE IS LETTING GO OF FEAR".  This book described in [...]

Love or Fear – take your pick

There are 2 basic ways to live your life… FEAR-Based:  Afraid of what MIGHT happen, and what other people MIGHT think of you. – or – LOVE-Based: Full of life, with people around you, and oodles of love for yourself and others. You are TOTALLY in control of which way you choose to live. Are [...]

Where is your Focus?

Here’s a new one… Guilt is about the Past. Shame is about the Present. Fear is about the Future. * We might feel Guilty about something we DID, or DIDn’t do, in the past. * We might feel Shame about who we are, in the moment. * And we experience Fear of things that MIGHT [...]

I’m not showing off, here

I’ve been out there in the Feeling trenches for over 20 years now — digging through anguish, pain, rage, sorrow, grief, guilt and shame. The good news is that we do it in a way that encourages the positive and manages the negative, where I am doing my part to help people feel better about [...]

when my body needs to scream… I let it.

we have found some amazingly simple, practical, common-sencicle ways of being happy… it’s called Dealing with your Feelings.  directly and maturely. that’s it, bottom line. it’s not much more complicated than that. when our body needs to go to the bathroom, we don’t fight it. when our body wants to rest, we let it (well, [...]

Speaking of Maslow…

… and speaking of Maslow, let’s take a look at his: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs. 1.  Food, Water & Air 2.  Personal Safety, Shelter & Security 3.  Belonging & Emotional Safety 4.  Self-Esteem 5.  Self-Actualization or per the Learning Fountain… PHYSIOLOGICAL – Basic living needs, such as food, water, oxygen and sex. SAFETY – [...]

Self-Actualization

I believe I have met people who are truly Self-Actualization, in maslow’s context.  in fact, i believe i am one. it’s about being as happy as you can possibly be, given your circumstances. it’s about feeling fully expressed and fully present, pretty much all the time. it’s about knowing ourselves, accepting ourselves, and enjoying ourselves, [...]

i love who I am now

i love who I am now (didn’t used to).     I love who I have become.     no, I’m not perfect, far from it.     but even better than perfect, I am Accepting of me.     If i do good, i praise me.  if i don’t, i reprimand me (but not too harshly).   We: there’s [...]

$3.3M Club

I am planning to amass $3.3 Million, and I will not stop until I do. I believe that will be enough money to handle all my family’s needs now and in the future.  I will not stop there, but the rest I will give away. I just officially started a $3.3M Club for all of [...]

If you had a non-profit, without budgetary limitations, what would you have it do?

we will be applying for a 501c3 within the next month. help me word it correctly. help me dream it correctly. if YOU had a non-profit, without any budgetary limitations, what would you have it do? I don’t want to focus on just 1 county or city, I want this to be National. All americans [...]

EQ can work at work!

"Now in order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: 1. They must be fit for it. 2. They must not do too much of it. 3. They must have a sense of success in it — not a doubtful sense, such as needs some testimony of others for [...]

Awareness, however, is NOT the last Key to change !!

Ok, now that we know, we have the responsibility to Do. those who know, lead those who do not. those who can, lead. leaders lead and leaders follow other leaders. …and we teach each others to be leaders. that is the point here.  it’s all about us, and it’s not, at the same time. we [...]

EQ is the bomb

Emotional intelligence (EQ), can matter as much as IQ in determining a person’s well-being and effectiveness in life. – Dr. Claude Steiner "Emotional Literacy; Intelligence with a Heart" (free online book) I used to say that EQ > IQ, but now I say: IQ + EQ = Happiness and Success in Life. (and it’s not [...]

Anger Management

Managing Anger by Seeing the Unseen Cause by Mike C. Powers http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Managing_Anger_by_Seeing_the_Unseen_Cause.html Read this really good article about what’s “beneath” our anger… what drives it… what underlying intentions we may have that can “fuel” our anger. here’s another on: Managing Anger by Understanding the Different Ways People Express Anger http://www.selfmadeeasy.com/managing_anger.cfm see also: Anger Management Tips [...]

Why bother?

I am writing this because it’s fun for me. I am writing this because it needs to be said.   I am writing this because I have a ton of Love inside me, that wants to come out… so it’s spewn everywhere.    I am writing this because i care. I am writing this because [...]

I’m an EQ junkie, here’s why…

can we change our IQ?     maybe a touch. can we change our physical health?     sometimes. can we improve our Emotional health and well-being?     Heck Yeah !! can we get better Results, and feel more Successful in life?     Yep, whenever we Decide to. can we change our Spiritual awakening?     yes.   [...]

Giving = Love !!

"It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."     – Mother Teresa Yes!  The Giving is really for Us, not as much Them.     it’s about US enjoying it, letting it fill us up, to Believe, to Care, to open up, to connect. Giving = Love !!   and [...]

Using Anger Wisely

i can let some anger in, as long as I manage it.     I have to ensure that it doesn’t control my life, and it doesn’t get to take over my life.   but there does need to be a sense of it.  the knowledge and acceptance of it.     and the ability to focus it. [...]

US -– us, Us, US, USA !!

us – closer to an “I”, but with an us-attitude.   It’s about knowing ourselves, understanding our strengths and weaknesses, being clear on how and where we fit into the world, and how we can, and do, affect others.  Keywords:  Consciously Competent.  Awake and Aware.  Personally Responsible.  eyes-wide-open.  Team-player.  good guy.  dude.    Us – 2 [...]

Know what I want?

Do you know what I want?  I want you to listen to me. I want you to follow my lead. I want you to buy into the concept enough to promote it to others. OUR Feelings ARE THE KEY to intelligent, aware, and moderated behaviours. Those of us who know, become responsible for the rest. [...]

We Continuously Learn, Learn, Learn!

We are constantly in, what we call, “Learning Mode”, where we are open to new ideas, concepts and experiences. “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."     – Malcolm X “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education." [...]

Emotional Intelligence for all!

I just learned that over 80% of all prisoners in CA were once foster kids.  80%, damn !! … and I believe that some 50-70% of all crimes could be considered to be Emotion-based (drugs, violence, theft, etc.). Let’s:     Educate prisoners     Educate foster kids     Educate parents and single moms     Educate couples [...]

Love with your whole heart!

It’s better to love and feel ALL the emotions rather than not love for fear of the loss. – NS You can’t really feel the highs, if you can’t or won’t feel the lows. You’re living only half an existence.         – Cheryl Montgomery-Nolan Fall seven times; stand up eight. – unknown

Advanced Relationship Training

Ok, so this weekend, we’re teaching the 5th in our year-long, 6-weekend series on Advanced Relationship Trainings (ART class). The subjects are: Leadership (quiz) What Story are you Living?  Personal Commitment Among other things, we’ll all be doing a 15-minute presentation, to be encouraged and critiqued by the group.  We’re striving to become the most [...]

Happiness is up to Me

Giving is all about me. Loving is all about me. Being nice is all about me. Being a good guy is all about me. it’s all all about me. I do good things, and I’m nice to people, and I give, and I’m trying to change the world – why? – ‘cause it’s fun.  and [...]

Happiness is about Deciding

know why people have so much fun when they’re at a party or bar and/or drinkin’?     because they decide to.  they make a group decision, and personal decisions, to HAVE FUN, so they do.     period.  yes, the alcohol plays a factor in it, but still,     they just Decide to have fun… so [...]

Happiness is about Facing ourselves

"I’ve finally come to understand that whatever happens, all those stumbling blocks, all these problems, have nothing to do with real happiness. Happiness is facing yourself and learning to love what you see, flaws and all. It’s taking enjoyment just from the process of being human."       – Kelsey Grammar I keep saying that “it’s [...]

Happiness is about Understanding Fears our own and others, too.

Sometimes, understanding their fears helps me understand and accept their actions, as well as their pain.   and Sometimes, understanding their fears helps me to understand, and accept, and conquer, my own.

Emotional Intelligence is only a thought away.

"It takes six seconds to manage anger. It takes six seconds to create compassion. It takes six seconds to change the world." Most of all, we want you to know that emotional intelligence is right there inside you — everyone has it, and everyone can learn to use it more effectively. While we deliver powerful [...]

What are you feeling?

Click the pic above to pick What are you feeling? graphic and make your own banner. … at the largest Emotional Intelligence network on the planet…  Josh Freedman’s 6Seconds.org  – Matt hint:  wanna bump your friends’ heads?  instead of greeting people with “Hi, how are you?”, ask “Hi, What are you feeling?”… people often pause, [...]

It really is “All About Me” !!

Our generation has been criticized for having an "All About Me" attitude. Well, I say we’re not Enuf "All About Me". or not in the right ways, at least. All About Me means that I take responsibility for my actions, and my behaviours, and my thots. All About Me shows that someone is home — [...]

New Blogger in Town!

Hello!  I am Cheryl Montgmery-Nolan.  My adopted spiritual brother Matt invited me to write a Guest Blog – so here I am. I thought I'd talk about excitement, and how important it is in our lives.  Right now I'm extremely excited because I will be getting on a plane in 2 days and flying from [...]

I Despise Judgmental People!

It takes no strength to be judgmental.    it takes no courage, either.it takes no class.    it takes no style.it takes no brains.    it takes no muscle. the only positive purpose I can see for Judging, is to educate yourself — to know how you do NOT want to be / do / have.  It doesn’t [...]

Our fears are not walls, only warnings!

“Your fears are not walls, but hurdles. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquering of it.”     – Dan Millman “Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them.”     – Brendan Francis

Processing Feelings

Here’s how they say to do therapy: 1. Listen attentively and nonjudgmentally2. Reassure about doubts and misgivings3. Restructure any associated negative thoughts4. Help to normalize reactions through acknowledgement and validation but, imho, there are a few steps missing here, namely the FEELING part. here’s how we “process” our feelings: 1. We make it safe and [...]

Asking for Help

Ever have trouble asking others to help you out? “Asking for help doesn’t mean that we are weak or incompetent. It usually indicates an advanced level of honesty and intelligence.”     – Anne Wilson Schaef “The healthy, the strong individual, is the one who asks for help when he needs it. Whether he has an [...]

Happy or Rich?

“Would you like to be happy, or rich?” Happiness and monetary wealth seem to be polar opposites to a lot of people, particularly those of fundamentalist religious backgrounds who believe that you “cannot serve God and mammon both” or eastern philosophies that urge “detachment to material things”. I’ve looked at both ideas from inside out [...]

Empty Tanks / Full Tanks

Emotional stuff to get rid of… the tanks we want to be empty:    anger    resentment    protest    guilt    shame    powerlessness Emotional stuff to bring to us (manufacture, create, allow)… the tanks we want to be Full!    joy    peace    security    peace    love    self-esteem    cool-nicity … and the best part, is that whether our Tanks are empty or [...]

Emotional Intelligence can be learned!

We have made some real breakthroughs in emotional intelligence training, and have found that this 1 skill, alone, can make a Hugely Profound impact on people’s lives. Using simple, basic techniques we have successfully healed: Depression Out-of-control Anger, Sadness and Victim-nicity Debilitating Fear Life-trashing Guilt and Shame Low, and even self-abusive, Self-esteem Hopelessness, Powerlessness and [...]

So, what are we “selling”?

I'm sorry… I seem to always come across too salesy.    like I'm "selling" ND and EQ… I try to tone it down a bit, 'cause I don't like it when others push their product on me.  but the truth is that I really am selling… However,I'm not selling me or us 2u… I'm selling You [...]

New Directions Workshop Dates, 2009

ND's Feb. 22 Apr. 24 June 26 Aug. 21 Nov. 6 The most impactful emotional training you can get in just 1 weekend.

Happiness

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.     – Denis Waitley — Stop living life for what’s around the corner and start enjoying the walk down the street.      – Grant L. Miller

Emotional Decision Time

“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”     – Audre Lorde Which is more important – our Fear or our Results?  With emotional intelligence, we get to decide.

Ultimate Selfishness: The art of getting everything you want, and everyone wins!

Ultimate Selfishness (aka U.S. or us — both good concepts, ey?!?) is about how to make YOUR life look, and more importantly FEEL, as Great as you want it to.  It's about going inside yourself and finding what's truly Important, and Passionate, and Essential to you, and making that happen.  It's about understanding and Accepting [...]

Happy Christmas, Everyone!

Ever wonder how we say Happy Birthday, Happy Halloween, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Valentine’s Day, Happy New Year, but we say “Merry Christmas”?  I have, but I have no idea why.  Do you? In Europe, they say Happy Christmas, too. Anyway, I like the word Happy, and that’s what I wish for [...]

Why some men are more aggressive than others

Article:Genes plus environment during childhood may help explain bad behavior The study findings imply that even though a child may have a genetically related increased susceptibility for conduct problems, affectionate and loving parents can negate this increased susceptibility, Manuck said. “We can’t change our genes, but perhaps we can change our rearing environment. Full Article:  [...]

NEW! Emotional Support Network

Hi. Join us! We just started a new and exciting online Emotional Support Network on ning.com. SueW has already posted hundreds of helpful resources, articles, quotes, etc. all about Emotional Intelligence, and people are gathering to talk, chat and share. Join us!  It’s free and easy, and it could become one of the most powerful [...]

Improving Character

In attempts to improve your character, know what is in your power and what is beyond it. – Francis Thompson The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none. – Thomas Carlyle “Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, [...]

Thankfullness

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.     – Cicero If the only prayer you said in your whole life was “thank you,” that would suffice.     – Meister Eckhart   When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.     – Anthony Robbins

Intimacy and Communication Skills

The 5 Steps to Intimacy as taught at our ND workshop. Appreciate the Importance of Feelings Know / Identify your Feelings Accept your Feelings Express your Feelings in Positive Ways Help Others with their Feelings – Communication and Intimacy Yes, it’s all about ME, but we can get kinda lonely without a WE.So, WE can [...]

EQ begets Success!

   From The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence By: Cary Cherniss     http://www.eiconsortium.org/reports/business_case_for_ei.html For 515 senior executives analyzed by the search firm Egon Zehnder International, those managers who were primarily strong in emotional intelligence were more likely to succeed than those who were strongest in either relevant previous experience or IQ. In other words, emotional [...]

It’s in your Feelings!

want enlightenment and self-actualiation?  it's in your feelings.want to find the meaning of life?  it's in your feelings.want your relationships to work?  it's in your feelings.want peace, serenity and joy?  it's in your feelings.want success and financial abundance?  it's in your feelings.want self-esteem, self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-mastery?  it's in your feelings.want to feel brave, powerful, [...]

< Matt's Stuff

Choose a feeling. It returns a face and name. Just takes a sec. http://www.6seconds.org/feel/ – Matt

The Last Great Adventure on Earth – the Journey Inside Ourselves!

Of course, anger can always be justified. But then, so can forgiveness. Just depends on how much more you want from the adventure.

Tune In!

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only will tune in. – George Washington Carver

Bring soul into the world

“We live in a culture that is greatly biased against the imagination, because our culture is very materialistic, objective and literal. Our culture lacks soul, and doesn’t know it, although it experiences the consequences. When you don’t know what’s missing, then of course you don’t know what to bring in, even though you feel something [...]

Kindness and Wisdom

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate. – Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965, Alsatian Theologian/Musician/Medical Missionary A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German-born American Physicist It doesn’t take any time or money to be kind. – [...]

Cool Quote, again

Manifesting dreams has never been easier, not once in all eternity, than it will be during the rest of your life. Nor has it been easier for anyone who’s ever lived, than it now is for you. – The Universe | www.Tut.com

Compassion

"Compassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and deepest reach in his or her search for self-fulfillment." – Arthur Jersild

Purpose Brings Joy

"There is no more important step you can take than to define your life’s purpose. It develops your sense of belonging to our universe." – Arnold Patent We ALL need some sense of belonging… with each other, with ourselves, with the earth.  Who are you and what do you bring to the world? So, what’s [...]

Loving Yourself

"It is not selfish or narcissistic to love yourself. It is your first and foremost responsibility." – Alan Cohen

Facing Fear

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of [...]

Feelings are the Key!

"With just a little education and practice on how to manage your emotions, you can move into a new experience of life so rewarding that you will be motivated to keep on managing your emotional nature in order to sustain it. The payoff is delicious in terms of improved quality of life." – Doc Childre

Forgiveness

Forgiveness IS NOT: 1) A sense of false humility that makes us better than somebody else 2) Condoning ignorant or harmful behavior 3) Any one specific set of "right" behaviors 4) A "spiritual" evasion of real grief work. Forgiveness IS: 1) A deep psycho-spiritual process capable of honing our wisdom 2) An attitude that sets [...]

Feeling Verbs

Here’s some of the verbs I’ve heard about what we do with our Feelings & Emotions: Get in touch with your feelings Manage your emotions Get a handle on your feelings Get a grip on yourself Calm down Mellow out Chill, take a chill pill Relax and enjoy Take a break Find inner peace Deal [...]

Emotional Intelligence is the key to Happiness and Success!

If you know what to Expect from yourself, you’re in control. If you have no idea what you’re gonna do next, you’re Out of Control. If you don’t Understand yourself, don’t Know yourself, don’t know what to Expect from yourself, how can you be successful at anything?!?  How can anyone count on you?  How can [...]

Creatures of Emotion

"When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion." – Dale Carnegie

Feelings Toward Yourself

"It’s surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you’re not comfortable within yourself, you can’t be comfortable with others." – Sydney J. Harris Yep, it’s all about YOU!

Patience and perseverance

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." – John Quincy Adams

Playing your Heart out!

"I believe in playing with your heart, with every fiber in your body — fairly, squarely, by the rules–to win. And I believe that any man’s finest moment, the greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out and lies exhausted on the floor of battle — [...]

Free Yourself from Emotional Prison

"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us the ‘Universe’, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to [...]

Positive Feelings

"Heartfelt positive feelings create far more than a healthy psychological effect.  They fortify our internal energy systems and nourish the body right down to the cellular level.  For that reason, we like to think of these emotions as quantum nutrients." – Doc Childre and Howard Martin and, a good one for me… "Better to write [...]

Quotes

2 good ones… — "Happiness is a continuation of happenings which are not resisted." – R. Buckminster Fuller, 1895-1983, American Architect and Engineer — "I am not a genius. I’m just a tremendous bundle of experience." – Deepak Chopra, Indian-born Physician and Spiritual Author

At least I loved

=) : ^ )) "if it doesn’t last, it doesn’t last. f~ck it. at least I loved." – Lori Seargeant, 11.29.06 ===============================

What Counts?

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." – Albert Einstein

What is Love?

"Love is not only something you FEEL.  It is also something you DO." – David Wilkerson "The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the other…. The whole purpose of life is to live by love." – Thomas Merton

Sharing our Feelings

"Damn, I’m Hungry…. There, now I’ve talked about my feelings." – from a New Zealand ad for meat pies (thanks Cheryl!  LOL!!)

Freedom to Choose

"Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you." – Richard Bach

Enthusiasm

"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm." – Bruce Barton "The important thing to remember is that if you don’t have that inspired enthusiasm that is contagious whatever you do have is also contagious." – Danny Cox "Exaggerate Enthusiasm!!" – Dr. Tim Goulart "When we accept tough [...]

I cry.

I hurt. I cry. I smile. I dry. – Matt-atak

Emotional Beliefs

"It is hard to let old emotional beliefs go. They are familiar. We are comfortable with them and have spent years building systems and developing habits that depend on them. Like a man who has worn eyeglasses so long that he forgets he has them on, we forget that the world looks to us the [...]

Be Yourself!

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind." – Dr. Seuss “What you must dare is to be yourself.” [...]

Quotes on Self-Awareness

“Self-knowledge is the great power by which we comprehend and control our lives.” – Vernon Howard "It is not enough to have great qualities, we should also have the management of them." – Francois de La Rochefoucald "There isn’t a ruler, a yard stick or a measuring tape in the entire world long enough to [...]

Feeling Quotes

"The trouble with life isn’t that there is no answer, it’s that there are so many answers." – Ruth Benedict Did is a word of achievement,Won’t is a word of retreat,Might is a word of bereavement,Can’t is a word of defeat. Ought is a word of duty,Try is a word of each hour,Will is a [...]

Confidence

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face… The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it. You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do." [...]

Quotes on Success

"It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed." – Napoleon Hill History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. – Winston Churchill "The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what the man or woman is able [...]

Take Responsibility for your Life!

"The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next. The difference between the two is the difference between living fully and just existing." – Michael E. Gerber

Believe!

Believe in yourself and don’t give up on your ideas, squash your passions or discount your feelings. "A new idea is a delicate thing. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip; it can be worried to death by a frown on the right [...]

Loving Yourself

“At the heart of personality is the need to feel a sense of being lovable without having to qualify for that acceptance.” – Dr. Paul Tournier “You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha “Love really IS the answer!” – Matt Perelstein

Quote on Success

"If you have an OPEN HEART, you can articulate life.  If you have a CLOSED HEART, you can only get good at one thing, like a PhD, and that’s all you do. You suck at everything else. I think that if you stay open and have a flexible mind, you can learn from Buddist monks, [...]

People who Soar

"People who soar are those who refuse to sit back, sigh and wish things would change. They neither complain of their lot nor passively dream of some distant ship coming in. Rather, they visualize in their minds that they are not quitters; they will not allow life’s circumstances to push them down and hold them [...]

Not my job, man.

My job is NOT to get people to like me. Actually, it doesn’t really matter if they Like me or not. My job is to get people to like THEMSELVES better, because they were around me.   That’s the challenge, and that’s the goal. Yep. It’s not about me. It’s about you guys. Rock on.

Perserverance

STILL PERSEVERING It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.  Albert Einstein I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.  Author Unknown Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it.  I have [...]

Joy and Sorrow

"Life is the coexistence of all opposite values.  Joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, up and down, hot and cold, here and there, light and darkness, birth and death.  All experience is by contrast, and one would be meaningless without the other." – Deepak Chopra In other words, you must FEEL to have a complete [...]

Listening

“Listening frees me to rest in supporting another.” “Paraphrasing is one key to mind of another.” “To Accept, does NOT mean you Agree.” – Doc Downing, PhD, LMFT

Time Heals, Sometimes

"We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning; for what in the morning was true may in evening become a lie." – C.G. Jung In other words, feelings and beliefs and conclusions we made as a child may have served us well then, but they often do NOT serve [...]

Perserverance is Essential

"Courage to start and willingness to keep everlasting at it are the requisites for success." – Alonzo Newton Benn Same goes for dealing with our Feelings.  The courage to start is essential… but usually only comes after tons of Pain and Disappointment. Don’t wait until you’re a walking disaster.  Get some help today! Learn about [...]

Understand Myself

“When a man begins to understand himself he begins to live. When he begins to live he begins to understand his fellow men.” *Norvin McGranahan

Comfort and Luxury?

"We act as though comfort and luxurywere the chief requirements of life,when all we need to make us happy issomething to be enthusiastic about." – Charles Kingsley "… and to be in touch with our feelings enough to Allow ourselves to be enthusiastic and happy." – MCP

Ask Questions

"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question." – Decouvertes "To be in a healthy relationship, you have to be willing to ask the tough questions." – Dr. Phil "Reason can answer questions, but imagination has to ask them." – Ralph Gerard "You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things [...]

Know Yourself

“What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.” – Abraham H. Maslow “The true profession of man is to find his way to himself.” – Hermann Hesse “Knowing others is wisdom; knowing the self is enlightenment.” – Tao Te Ching http://www.HigherAwareness.com

What is Sacred?

"There are only 4 questions of value in life: What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for? and What is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love." – Don Juan DeMarco (Johnny Depp)

Your Essence cannot be Destroyed!

“No matter how painful our early experiences were, our Essence cannot be harmed. Our Essence is waiting for the opportunity to reveal itself. In a very true sense, we are waiting for the opportunity to become ourselves. Our spirit is yearning to break free, to express itself … “And yet, ironically, we always fear and [...]

Emotional Health

"Learning to let go of the ways we inadvertently and unconsciously contribute to our own pain is the key to finding radiant physical and emotional health." – Ingrid Bacci "We must overcome the notion that we must be normal . . . It robs us of the chance to be extraordinary and leads us to [...]

A Safe Place

"Ask God to lead you to a safe place to deal with your issues where you can share confidences. Find people who will listen without trying to control or fix you, or turn you away from God; people who will encourage you to keep going and who will speak lovingly yet honestly." from a newsletter [...]

Awareness is the 1st Key to Change

“Relative to the level of awareness that is possible for us, our ordinary state of consciousness is as far from a direct experience of reality as sleep is from waking consciousness.” – Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson Awareness is the 1st Key to Change. A person asked Buddha:“Are you a God?”Buddha’s reply was“No.”“Are you [...]

Loving Attitude

If a bug gets on my screen, or on my walls. I’ll try to shoe them gently away. (unless it’s a mosquito or a bee) and if they return, again, I say "Hello", smile and welcome them into my world.

Society Needs Soul

"We live in a culture that is greatly biased against the imagination, because our culture is very materialistic, objective and literal. Our culture lacks soul, and doesn’t know it, although it experiences the consequences. When you don’t know what’s missing, then of course you don’t know what to bring in, even though you feel something [...]

It is in your Power

“If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgment of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now.” – Marcus Aurelius

Wisdom

"The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect he becomes an adolescent; The day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; The day he forgives himself, he becomes wise." – Aiden Nowlan

Anger and Understanding

Anger and intolerance are the twin enemies of correct understanding. – Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948, Indian Political and Spiritual Leader

Great Emotions

"Disgust and resolve are two of the great emotions that lead to change." – Jim Rohn

Know What you Feel

If you know what you feel, you’ll know who you are and what you want!

Quotes on Safety

“Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are — chaff and grain together — certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath [...]

You can have it all!

You can have anything you want. You cannot have everything you want.

I’ve learned….

I’ve learned…..That love, not time, heals all wounds. I’ve learned….That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. I’ve learned….That we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for. I’ve learned….That money doesn’t buy class. I’ve learned….That it’s those small daily [...]

Life is a test!

This life is a test. It is only a test. If this had been an actual life, You would have been given further instructions on where to go and what to do. – something my dad used to say

Quotes on Purpose

"Our purpose is hidden in our joy, our inspiration, our excitement. As we act on what shows up in our life our purpose shows up." – James King "There is no more important step you can take than to define your life’s purpose. It develops your sense of belonging to our universe." – Arnold Patent [...]

Awareness is the 1st Key to change

"If you view all the things that happen to you, both good and bad, as opportunities, then you operate out of a higher level of consciousness."- Les Brown (Motivational Trainer) Awareness is the 1st Key to changeSo many of our beliefs, values and feelings come from our Unconscious mind. Learn whatever you can about what’s [...]

Thomas Leonard Quotes and Logos

Here is a collection of Thomas Leonard’s quotes and logos that he was playing with. They’re wonderful growth messages and show his sense of humor. Coach T was my hero, in a lot of ways.  taught me a ton before he left, and his work is still teaching and inspiring me. Below are the messages, [...]

Quotes on Intention

"As I grow older, I pay less attention to what people say. I just watch what they do." -Andrew Carnegie "Life does not happen to us, it happens from us." – Mike Wickett "When we know that the cause of something is in ourselves, and that we (ourselves) are one of the few things in [...]

Quotes on Love

"Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible, it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could." – Barbara DeAngelis "True Success:Doing what you love to do.With the people you love to do [...]

More Happiness Quotes

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy, we sow enormous benefits upon the world. – Robert Louis Stevenson ————————————————————- Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length. – Robert Frost

Quotes on Happiness

See here for LOTS of quotes on Happiness… like: Albert Schweitzer: Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. Albert Schweitzer: I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought [...]

Quotes on Feeling

"With just a little education and practice on how to manage your emotions, you can move into a new experience of life so rewarding that you will be motivated to keep on managing your emotional nature in order to sustain it. The payoff is delicious in terms of improved quality of life." – Doc Childre

Help me help you.

"Help me help you!"     (quick, what movie?   read on for answer) One of the biggest struggles we have is Getting People to Help Themselves. One of the places we are truly Powerless, is in dealing with other people’s Free Will.  We cannot make people want to learn.  We cannot make people want to heal.  [...]

Hide our Feelings Less

"Every day, we can hide our feelings less, so we can love each other more." – Barbra Streisand"Why Let it Go?"‘Til I Love You album

Blessings

"Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting." *Bernard Meltzer, American Law Professor

5 Steps to Healthy Living

The 5 Steps to Healing and Feeling K.A.E.R.R. :: 1. Know what you Feel. 2. Accept your Feelings. 3. Express your Feelings in positive ways. 4. Release the negative feelings that have been inside your body for so long. 5. Replace the negatives with positives. Turn your sadness to Joy, your anger to Love and [...]

Feelings are the BOSS

Your Feelings really are in charge. I hate to break it to you, but if you think your Head is in charge of your Heart, you’re DREAMIN’!

I’ll Stand by You

I’ll Stand by You Oh.Why you look so sad?the tears are in your eyescome on and come to me, now don’t be ashamed to crylet me see you through’cause I’ve seen the dark side, too. when the night falls on youdon’t know what to donothing you’d confesscan make me love you less. I’ll stand by [...]

Quotes on Lack

"Money cannot fill an empty soul." – Julia Cameron & Mark Bryan "Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend… when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance [...]

Clueless

"It’s surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you’re not comfortable within yourself, you can’t be comfortable with others." – Sydney J. Harris

Quotes on Success

"Too often, people focus only on results. But getting results without learning something or without having fun is incomplete. So is having fun without getting the results, or having fun without learning something new to help and empower you in the future. Accomplishment is all three: the Result, Personal Growth and having Fun!" – Peter [...]

Quote from Mother Theresa

Final Analysis People are often unreasonable,illogical, and self-centered;Forgive them anyway. If you are kind,People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;Be kind anyway. If you are successful,You will win some false friends and some true enemies;Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank,People may cheat you;Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building,Someone [...]

Quotes on Control

"As long as we are controlling things, the universe can’t." – Dave McPhail, New Directions

Quotes on Conformity

"I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself." – Rita Mae Brown "Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to." – Alan Keightley "To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to [...]

Quotes on Faith

"The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real estate, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith." – Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British Philosopher "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done [...]

Quotes on Anger

"Anger is that powerful internal force that can blow out the light of reason." – Ralph Waldo Emerson How does anger typically surface in your life? We usually get angry at someone, don’t we? We judge that someone has done something wrong and we want them to be punished. In truth, the actions of others [...]

Quotes on Guilt

Guilt “When guilt rears its ugly head confront it, discuss it and let it go. The past is over. It is time to ask what can we do right, not what did we do wrong. Forgive yourself and move on.” –Bernie S. Siegel “I have made it a rule of my life never to regret [...]

More Quotes…

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. The world needs people who have come alive.” – Harold Thurman Whitman “He who knows others is learned. He who knows himself is wise.” – Lao Tse “Less Crazy, More Sane. Less Different, More Same. More [...]

Quotes on Forgiveness

“To get to forgiveness, we first have to work through the painful experiences that require it.” – Christiane Northrup “We must let ourselves feel all the painful destruction we want to forgive rather than swallow it in denial. If we do not face it, we cannot forgive it.” – Kenneth McNoll Remember, Acceptance does not [...]