Maria Connolly, LPC
In the quiet moments before dawn, while most of the world sleeps, Warren Buffett is already awake, not reviewing financial statements, but immersed in a book. This isn’t occasional leisure; it’s a deliberate daily practice consuming 80% of his working hours. What does one of the world’s wealthiest individuals know that many aspiring leaders miss? Never stop learning!
When people talk about basic survival skills, they usually mean foraging, hunting, fire-starting, or shelter-building. But in the 21st century, we need additional kinds of survival skills.
Thinking back on my childhood, I see how my parents prepared me in some important ways for life in the 21st century. My parents taught me basic survival skills: how to adapt, deal with change, and be prepared to face any challenge. Yet there were other key skills I had to learn the hard way.
Intelligent people? What does that mean? From my point of view, intelligent people are fully aware of their entire spectrum of intelligence and continually work to make the mind-body-spirit connections stronger. So far we’ve explored different facets of my EMERGE method based on Embody: Somatic and Energetic Intelligence, Mindset: Cognitive and Experiential Intelligence, and Engage: Emotional and Relationship Intelligence. Today we’re exploring R for Resilience: Spiritual and Intuitive Intelligence.
Success in business and life is not achieved solely from the techniques or strategies you use or the way you execute them. That approach leaves out a vital component: the very core of success revolves around connection and keeping yourself and other people engaged. Whether in business, leadership, or personal life, when you engage others you captivate their attention and keep them emotionally invested in your projects.
Understanding and managing emotions (both yours and others’) is key to being engaging and this is what will set you apart. Emotional and relational intelligence aren’t just buzzwords; they are the foundation of deeper, more authentic relationships and sustainable success. So the second E of my EMERGE method stands for Engage: Emotional & Relational Intelligence.
Let’s break down how to build deeper connections with those around you. Counterintuitively, it starts with strengthening self-awareness…
Improving quality of life depends on change. Because if nothing changes in your life…nothing changes! The most impactful changes are often very small like making your bed, as Karen discovered. You’ll get a peek into her story below.
We all hear the reports that the rate of health problems such as obesity, depression, and heart disease are increasing. I believe many are in crisis. They just don’t know how to get started and stay on track.
Perhaps you’d like to exercise more, eat healthfully, or develop more resilience. But you just can’t maintain your good intentions. Rather than be in a “let life happen mode”, a “take charge of life” mode will be more helpful. Something as simple as making your bed can help.