Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of, control, and express our emotions appropriately, as well as the capacity to handle relationships, which, of course, are chock-full of intense emotions and require the ability to communicate about them effectively. Without this, we are fundamentally emotionally immature people who cannot take responsibility for ourselves or our relationships. Imagine dealing with someone with the maturity of a tempestuous adolescent or a sullen child—that’s no foundation for a healthy relationship! Now, none of this is to say that someone with low emotional intelligence is necessarily a bad person or someone to avoid spending time with at all costs. I think of New York Times bestselling author Robert Greene’s advice to see the world for what it is. Fundamentally, it means to accept human nature for what it is: There are people we’ll get along with and people we won’t. Even when we come across the latter, see every interaction as intel on what you want in your life and how you can become a better and wiser person. She has been featured in Elle, Forbes, and Business Insider and has previously worked with Olympians, business professionals, and individuals seeking to master their psychological capital. She works globally in English and Mandarin-Chinese via Skype and Facetime, blending cutting-edge neuroscience, psychology, and ancient wisdom.
