Photo by Pilar Gonzalez Prieto on Unsplash
Free The Mind For Emotional Intelligence Growth
Success Gets You Half Way
Success gets you half way to freedom in life. Emotional intelligence, to learn compassion for yourself and others, is the second half. This is the journey to greatness and emotional freedom. This is why I coach.
Have you ever felt the way Jennifer Moss, author in a Harvard Business Review Series on Emotional Intelligence, describes here, “Happiness feels intolerably elusive for many of us. Like fog, you can see it from afar, dense and full of shape. But upon approach, its particles loosen, and suddenly it becomes out of reach, even though it’s all around you.
I used to feel this way too.
Miami to Malibu
My daughter sent an early morning photo of her enjoying the sunrise on the beach. Yesterday Miami. Today Malibu. While that might be the success story, the real joy is how she feels. She has a generous income yet sees she could live on $2 tacos a day. Her real interest in life is discovering freedom within.
Bootstrapped
Her story reminded me of my days of eating peanut butter and bread on my first journey to freedom based on success. I told her so. She called me a bootstrapper. I smiled.
I remember the day while still in college I landed a position as an investment banker. The joy. The freedom. The peace that still all I needed were my sunglasses, a book and my running shoes.
Success was no longer elusive but I had no need to depend on material freedom. Yet, there was still something missing.
How Stories of Success Mislead You
The day I landed my dream job I thought I had life all figured out. I thought I had found freedom in success. I thought I had made it to the mountaintop in a way others had not. Little did I know that was only part of the story. No amount of grit and perseverance can earn emotional intelligence.
I am grateful that my daughter has curiosity for emotional intelligence.
I said to my husband Saturday, “Wouldn’t this have been nice to know early on for the two of us. This would have made life easier, much more quickly”.
Success, wealth and children are incredible. Emotional intelligence and the beauty to feel fulfilled is the cherry on top. The second mountain of success.
We are deeply moved our daughter has a twenty year head start.
Plant Your Seeds Now
This brings to mind one of my favorite stories. The best time to have planted a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now. Ditto for emotional intelligence. Plant your seeds now. Let them take deep root. Leave a legacy.
Freedom rushes in when you let go of a story you have held about yourself. A limiting belief that earned you love and attention when you were young but causes you conflict now. Emotional freedom allows for deep connection in life.
Playing It Safe Is The Worst Thing To Do
Many are fearful to let go of the story that once happened and keeps you trapped. You use the story as a lifeline to get what you feel like you need.
This story lets you play it safe. Playing it safe is the worst thing to do. Playing it safe leads to an mediocre emotional life.
Yet, dropping the story seems full of danger. You may have many good reasons why you are right to believe what you do. In all my years as a coach, letting go of being right has provided a path of prosperity for growth and freedom.
Courage Wins
You may be fearful of the first step in letting go of any story or problem you struggle with. Take the step anyways.
Fail. Fall flat on your face to learn to let go and set yourself free. Then get up. Brush yourself off and prepare to fail again. This is the journey to emotional freedom and ultimate success.
Try. Fail. Try something different. Be curious. Ask questions. Try. Fail again.
The courageous one to fail most on the journey to Free The Mind finds joy.
I coach for inner awareness and freedom If you want to learn more email me. Brenyammon@gmail.com.
