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September 2025 Staff Wellness Newsletter

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September 2025 Staff Wellness Newsletter

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Stop Bullying on the Spot

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time.

Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.

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StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on bullying, cyberbullying, prevention and response.

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The likelihood that an American will be a centenarian is today twice what it was two decades ago. The numbers are still small-about 90,000 in 2020, up from 50,000 in 2000-but they're definitely on an upward trajectory. Credit, at least in part, a growing awareness of disease risk factors- smoking being the most notable one-especially for cardiovascular disease, still the single largest cause of death (33 percent) among the aging.

The prevalence of age-related dementia is declining among Americans as well. And for the same reason, apparently- education; awareness encourages people to protect their health. But before you break out the champagne, consider a sobering statistic from the Alzheimer's Association: One in three seniors still dies with some form of dementia.

Age, of course, is the strongest risk factor for neurodegenerative conditions. The brain normally shrinks with age, starting at midlife, and there are changes at every level, from molecules to memory: loss of neurons; contraction of dendrites; reduced synaptic plasticity; and degeneration of the myelin sheath that covers the axons (which together make up the brain's white matter), disrupting the transmission of nerve signals. Decline starts in the cognitively critical frontal cortex-last to mature, first to go-but it winds up being most pronounced in the cortex, the movement-necessary cerebellum, and the hippocampus, the brain's learning center and memory storage site.

But not everyone succumbs. The New England Centenarian Study suggests there are "escapers," who have no clinically detectable disease of any kind at 100, and "delayers," who show no signs of any age-related disease until 80 or older. For these lucky folks, it is thought, morbidity gets compressed at the tippy end of the life span.

One of the most notable features of the brain is its furious consumption of energy. Although it accounts for 2 percent of body weight, it is so metabolically active that it burns 20 percent of the body's fuel.

A great deal of evidence suggests that cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease, may be a metabolic disorder, a disturbance in fuel operations by the brain. This process loses efficiency with age and is inherently influenced by what we eat. The very earliest changes caused by Alzheimer's disease are those affecting glucose, the brain's primary fuel, researchers find.

The raging metabolic furnace of the brain spews out highly unstable free radicals of oxygen that damage the machinery of cells and their protective membranes, the cumulative effects of which show up as slowing of functions and memory problems. A vigorous antioxidant defense is an essential way of buttressing the brain against neurodegeneration.

This likely explains why studies link the Mediterranean diet to longevity in general and to protection against dementia specifically-low rates of brain atrophy, reduced rates of Alzheimer's disease, and improved cognitive function. Compared to the standard Western diet, the Mediterranean diet features less meat, especially less red and processed meat, in favor of fish; fewer simple carbohydrates; greater amounts of monounsaturated fats, notably olive oil; and significantly more plant-based foods, not just fruits and vegetables but whole grains and nuts.

The shift to plant-based foods ensures that a steady supply of agents is available to disarm free radicals, stimulate the removal of any damaged biomolecules before they gum up cellular operations, and maintain brain function. Fruits and vegetables are naturally rich in substances that act as antioxidants, notably polyphenols. Thousands of them are produced in plants to limit the damage done by adverse environmental conditions, from poor soil and drought to excess sun and infestation by bugs.

Consumed by humans, plant-based polyphenols can cross the blood-brain barrier, reduce oxidative stress, and ameliorate inflammation. They can also increase cerebral blood flow, induce neurogenesis and plasticity in the hippocampus, and maintain the integrity of the white matter.

Good as the Mediterranean diet is, could its effects be even further amplified? A team of researchers from Harvard, the University of Leipzig in Germany, and Ben Gurion University, led by Israel's Iris Shai, has tweaked the standard Mediterranean diet by nearly tripling the amount of polyphenols it supplies, creating the Green Mediterranean diet.

In a study of 284 people, all with abdominal obesity, the team randomly assigned participants to follow either healthy dietary guidelines, the standard Med diet, or the Green Med version for 18 months. The participants were middle-aged, averaging 50 years-just when brain atrophy accelerates. And all engaged in similar levels of physical activity, provided on-site.

The researchers found that the Green Med diet significantly attenuated brain atrophy, specifically hippocampal loss, as measured by MRI. The effect was correlated with other improvements as well-improved blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity, weight loss, and decreased blood pressure. White matter integrity improved, too.

Both Med diet groups consumed 28 grams a day of walnuts, providing 440 mg/day of polyphenols. What distinguishes the Green Med diet is further provision of 1,240 mg/day of polyphenols: three to four cups daily of green tea, rich in the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate; and 100 grams of duckweed, an aquatic plant traditionally consumed as a vegetable in Southeast Asia. It grows all over the world in still waters, and ducks and geese normally feed on it. It contains not only 200 polyphenols (among them kaempferol, quercetin, and catechin) but, unusual for a plant, complete protein, with all nine essential amino acids. It's also rich in fiber, B vitamins, and minerals.

The study incorporated a strain of duckweed called mankai, specially developed to be protein rich. Participants drank a green duckweed shake a day. The plant allows the Green Med diet to be as distinguishable for what's not in it-red and processed meat-as what it includes. The less meat participants consumed, the less brain atrophy they had.

The researchers believe that long-term polyphenol enhancement potentiates the effects of a healthy lifestyle (physical activity and a Mediterranean diet). They deem it "a powerful strategy to halt or even reverse the progression" of both cognitive and cardiometabolic decline.

Polyphenols are especially abundant in cocoa, berries, and spices such as cloves, as well as red wine, black olives, and green tea. They are also widely available as supplements.
Dementia Data

In 2021, about 6.2 million U.S. adults aged 65 or older lived with dementia.

Among men, the prevalence of dementia is 7.0 percent; among women, 9.7 percent.

Age-related brain atrophy is more pronounced in males than females and starts earlier.

Hippocampal atrophy accelerates around age 55.

Hippocampal atrophy begins years before there are clinical manifestations of cognitive decline.

Mental processing speed is one of the earliest cognitive abilities to decline.

Physical activity is neuroprotective because it is cognitively stimulating, requiring multitasking, navigation, and spatial memory.

While rates of age-related dementia are generally declining in the U.S., rates of early-onset dementia (before age 65) are increasing.

Facebook/LinkedIn image: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

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A Mediterranean diet pumped up with plant polyphenols could delay brain aging.

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Key points

A strong sense of purpose helps individuals navigate life's challenges.

Knowing your "why" clarifies goals, fuels motivation, and fosters continuous learning.

Addressing the amygdala's fear responses is crucial for overcoming procrastination and self-doubt.

What drives you when you wake up each morning? For many, it's a strong sense of purpose that provides meaning, direction, and motivation.

Recently, I had the chance to speak with Nick Koumalatsos, a leading expert in helping individuals discover and live out their sense of purpose.

Nick's own journey-from overcoming significant personal challenges to achieving success as an entrepreneur and motivational speaker-serves as a powerful example of how embracing purpose can transform one's life. Through his coaching work and personal experiences, Nick provides invaluable insights into how a strong sense of purpose can positively impact mental health, wellness, and personal development.

Purpose and Mental Resilience

Having a sense of purpose is more than just a philosophical concept-it's a critical factor in mental health. Research shows that having a clear purpose profoundly influences how we navigate life's challenges.

Studies have consistently demonstrated that individuals with a strong sense of purpose experience lower levels of anxiety and depression. For instance, research reveals that purpose-driven people are more resilient and better equipped to manage stress. This resilience stems from the fact that purpose acts as a buffer against life's inevitable difficulties, helping individuals stay focused on what truly matters, even during tough times. It provides a stable foundation that enables people to cope more effectively with adversity, contributing to greater emotional stability and a more optimistic outlook on life.

Personal Development Through Purpose

A deep sense of purpose can be a powerful catalyst for personal growth. Understanding your " why" clarifies your goals, fuels motivation, and lays the foundation for long-term success. Purpose-driven individuals are more likely to pursue continuous learning and self-improvement, which enhances their overall fulfillment and productivity.

Studies show that individuals with a strong sense of purpose experience greater personal growth and are more likely to engage in activities that foster long-term development. Purpose-driven individuals often pursue learning opportunities and tackle challenging goals that expand their skills and knowledge. This focused mindset not only enhances resilience, helping people navigate setbacks more effectively, but also fuels continuous self-improvement by encouraging them to seek out and embrace new experiences and challenges.

Nick underscores the impact of the amygdala, the brain's fear center, on achieving significant personal milestones like starting a business or writing a book. This part of the brain can trigger procrastination and self-doubt, creating obstacles that impede our progress and potential. By addressing and overcoming these fear responses, individuals can enhance their ability to persevere through challenges and stay committed to their long-term goals.

Actionable Tips for Embracing Purpose

To effectively harness this power, consider implementing these actionable steps that can guide you toward a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
1. Identify Your Core Values
Understanding what truly matters to you is the first step in finding your purpose. Reflect on your core values and passions. Consider what activities make you feel fulfilled and energized. Aligning your actions with your values creates a more purposeful life. If you're feeling stressed or anxious, it might indicate a misalignment with your priorities. Realigning with your core values can help alleviate these feelings.
2. Set Meaningful Goals
Once you've identified your values, set specific, achievable goals that align with them. Break these goals into smaller, manageable steps to maintain motivation and track progress. Remember, the journey is as important as the destination. Periodically reassess and realign your goals to reflect your growth and evolving mindset.
3. Overcome Distractions
Eliminating distractions is crucial for progress. Whether it's social media, unhealthy habits, or negative influences, removing these distractions helps you focus on what truly matters. To achieve this, create a dedicated workspace that is free from interruptions and establish specific times for checking social media or engaging in leisure activities. Using tools such as website blockers or apps designed to limit screen time can further help you maintain focus during critical work or study periods, significantly reducing anxiety and stress while boosting your productivity.
4. Embrace Challenges
Stepping out of your comfort zone is crucial for growth. Nick highlights how the amygdala often holds us back from taking risks, but confronting these fears can lead to significant personal development. Engaging in challenging activities, such as participating in intense leadership retreats or adventure-based team-building exercises, can help you develop a clearer vision for your future. These experiences encourage you to overcome obstacles, fostering personal growth and strengthening your sense of purpose and direction.

Motivation Essential Reads

Additionally, incorporating smaller, incremental challenges into your routine can gradually expand your comfort zone, making it easier to tackle larger goals over time. This approach not only enhances your resilience but also fosters a proactive mindset, preparing you to face future obstacles with greater confidence and determination.
5. Optimize Hormone Levels
Maintaining balanced hormone levels is essential for overall wellness and personal development. Research indicates that balanced hormones are crucial for physical health, mental clarity, and emotional stability. Hormone imbalances can impact mood, energy, and cognitive function. Comprehensive hormone optimization services offer thorough evaluations and treatments. These programs can enhance energy levels, improve mood, and boost overall performance, contributing to a more productive and fulfilling life.
6. Build a Supportive Community
Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who share your values and goals fosters encouragement, accountability, and a sense of belonging. Engaging in group activities, joining clubs, or participating in online forums can help build these connections and provide valuable support. Additionally, these interactions offer diverse perspectives and constructive feedback, which can further enhance your personal growth. Regular reassessments and group activities ensure that you stay aligned with your objectives, promote continuous development, and sustain motivation.

Bottom Line

Embracing a sense of purpose can deeply influence your mental health, wellness, and personal development. By understanding your core values, setting meaningful goals, overcoming distractions, embracing challenges, optimizing hormone levels, and building a supportive community, you lay the foundation for a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Integrating these actionable steps and leveraging supportive services can guide you toward lasting success and well-being.
© 2024 Ryan C. Warner, Ph.D.

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Unlock the power of your "why" to supercharge your mental resilience and personal growth.

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US Department of Health and Human Services

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Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)

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Bullying can negatively impact mental health and well-being.

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Worrying Coping Skills for Kids (Elementary)

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Worrying Coping Skills for Kids (Elementary)

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Helping Students Heal: Observations of Trauma Informed Practices in Schools

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Helping Students Heal: Observations of Trauma Informed Practices in Schools

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What to Do in a Crisis (Youth Warning Signs)

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What to Do in a Crisis (Youth Warning Signs)

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PART 1

A Brief History of Emotional Intelligence
Everyone values EI, but actually learning the component skills is another matter entirely.
By Marc Brackett, Ph.D., and Robin Stern, Ph.D.

Thirty-four years ago, in a world still debating whether emotions were a disruptive or adaptive force, two research psychologists proposed the concept of emotional intelligence. Peter Salovey and John Mayer contended that there is "a set of skills contributing to the accurate appraisal of emotions in self and others and the effective regulation of emotion in self and others" and that feelings could be harnessed to motivate oneself and to achieve in life. So unorthodox was the notion that people could benefit from their emotions that their article could find a home only in an obscure journal. Five years later, psychologist-writer Daniel Goleman, unconstrained by scholarly review processes, penned Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, which widely popularized the idea.

Decades later, there exists a general understanding that emotions matter and can serve people's goals; emotions have a seat at the table. From gaslighting to rizz, recent words of the year, people have adopted the language of emotions. Parents want their children to have emotional intelligence, and the new field of social and emotional learning is helping teachers bring it into classrooms. Adults understand the importance of EI in relationships and consider it a desirable quality in a partner. CEOs see it as essential to the 21st-century workplace, a requirement for good decision-making, inspiring others, team functioning, and general productivity; headhunters pose interview questions to assess it.

Further, we know from theory and some preliminary research that the skills of emotional intelligence actually matter. People who have them are healthier, happier, more effective, and more productive. EI predicts things of importance for children and adults. And if the worth of EI wasn't clear before 2020, the pandemic halted so much social interaction-the growth medium of EI-that just about everyone hungered for human contact and stumbled in their social and emotional well-being.

However chastened the world is about the value of understanding yourself, maintaining friendships, and mastering daily frustrations, it's inescapable that mental health in the U.S. has been declining in recent decades, especially among the young. If EI contributes to mental health and offers tools to address disappointments and uncertainties, how could that be?

As we see it, the number-one problem is implementation. People give lip service to wanting EI but don't necessarily devote effort to gaining the skills. You can't hold a one-hour workshop or put kids in a circle to talk about their feelings and call it EI. Emotional intelligence consists of a set of skills that advance developmentally, as people do, and their teaching has to be aligned with social and cognitive development. Just being aware of emotions is not enough. And you can't teach EI to children unless you teach adults first; parents have to live it at home, teachers have to model it in school.

Becoming emotionally healthy and emotionally intelligent is hard work. That's a hard sell in a culture that, over the past 30 years, has promoted the idea that you can gain mental health by taking a pill. Effort must go not only into gaining mental health but also maintaining it.

Emotional intelligence supports mental health, but it isn't the whole of mental health. People get anxious or depressed for many reasons: Their biology may incline them to it. A partner suffers a debilitating experience. A breadwinner gets laid off. The more readily a person can recognize and label their emotional responses to life's roller coaster, the better able they are to address those feelings while experiencing them, so as not to be overwhelmed by them.

Another major factor eroding the mental health of the population is that the world is exponentially more complicated today than even 30 years ago. There are more reasons for kids and adults to be anxious and overwhelmed. Climate change is an existential threat. There are school shootings. The governance of the country has been openly roiling for close to a decade, with a new level of uncertainty accompanying elections.

You can't talk about mental health today without talking about technology. Digital technology was becoming available globally just as the concept of EI was introduced. When you are staring at a screen much of the day versus interacting with a live person, you miss out on important emotional currency.

At the same time, algorithms are keeping people in a state of emotional upheaval. Social media in particular have deliberately built into their platforms mechanisms to activate the nervous system. Research has shown a correlation between anxiety and time spent on social media.

It's not impossible to course correct. The world has moved beyond the Freudian idea that emotions sit in a cauldron of the unconscious, driving us to do things we don't want to do. We have an emotion system for a reason. Emotions are helpful. Happiness tells you that you are achieving your goals. Fear alerts you to prepare for danger. All emotions are data and information. There are skills that can help people use them wisely, but every one of them has to be learned.
Marc Brackett, Ph.D., is the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Child Study Center. Robin Stern, Ph.D., is the associate director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and an associate research scientist in the Child Study Center.
PART 2

Why You Should Expand Your Emotional Vocabulary
Emotional granularity, or the ability to precisely name a wide range of emotions, plays a critical role in psychological wellness. Here's how to cultivate it.
By Katrina McCoy, Ph.D.

We've all felt it-the nagging of an unpleasant emotion that is difficult to name or explain. Maybe you chalk it up to feeling "off" or "upset."

But finding more precise labels for our emotions can help us feel better-both in the moment and over the long term. This precise labeling of emotions is called emotional granularity.

The Benefits of Emotional Granularity
Emotional granularity is a skill, and researchers have demonstrated its important role in psychological well-being for decades. For example, a 2015 review of the research on emotional granularity found that folks who could differentiate their emotions while experiencing intense distress were less likely to engage in potentially harmful coping strategies, such as binge drinking, lashing out at others, and hurting themselves.

This means a person who describes feeling "angry," "disappointed," "sad," or "ashamed" in the context of, let's say, a conflict with a friend is likely to cope more effectively with those feelings than a person who uses vague descriptions, such as feeling "bad" or "upset."

Impressively, the benefits of emotional granularity extend beyond any specific moment of distress. That same 2015 review found that people who describe and label their emotions more specifically have less severe episodes of anxiety and depression.

How Emotional Granularity Works
How does using more specific language to describe unpleasant experiences reduce distress? A straightforward answer is this: The more accurately we can describe our emotional experience and the context in which the experience is happening, the more information we have to decide what will help. Neuroscience even suggests that labeling our emotions can decrease activity in brain areas associated with negative emotions.

Yet a more nuanced answer requires us to take a step back and look at the components from which our emotions are made.
Start by answering a simple question: What are emotions?

Neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett succinctly sums up emotion as "your brain's creation of what your bodily sensations mean about what is going on around you in the world." Imagine this: Your heart is racing, your palms are sweaty, and you're short of breath. If you are walking down a dark street alone at night, you might label your experience as fear. Now, imagine you are experiencing those same physical sensations while enjoying a candle-lit meal with a romantic interest. In that case, you might label the experience as attraction.

Thus, the same constellation of physiologic experiences organizes us around different actions depending on the context. In the first example, our fear functions to keep us safe and readies us to fight, flee, or freeze. In the second example, our attraction functions to focus our attention on our love interest, thus increasing our connectedness (and therefore regulation and well-being).

Importantly, our personal histories determine what predictions and needs we might have in any specific context. Throughout our lives, we collect diverse emotional experiences, typically first labeled by our early caregivers, which help us categorize and form our emotion concepts-the diverse collection of physical sensations, thoughts, and situations we learn to associate with a particular emotion.

Our concept of anger, for example, may include a flushed face, muscle tension, and being cut off in traffic. Our concept of anger may also have a racing heart, the urge to speak loudly, and thoughts of being taken for granted by a relationship partner. These categorizations help us to navigate our physiology in the context of the specific situation, to figure out if we should take a breath and focus on a podcast-if, say, we were cut off in traffic-or use communication skills to improve our relationship if we're feeling taken for granted.

More precise language leads to more tailored responses ("mild annoyance" cues letting it go, whereas "outrage" cues advocating for change). Not only that, more precise language can allow us to incorporate details that create a different emotion category altogether. For example, if you home in to notice and describe hunger during a relational conflict, you may save yourself from experiencing anger.

How to Strengthen Emotional Granularity
Precisely labeling your emotional experiences, then, is likely to improve your quality of life. But how should you go about developing this skill? Experts recommend creating new emotion concepts and examining our existing concepts more closely.

In her book How Emotions Are Made, Feldman Barrett suggests that one of the easiest ways to build new emotion concepts is to learn new words. She also suggests we can add to our emotion concepts by being "collector(s) of experiences" through perspective-taking (e.g., reading books, watching movies) and trying new things.

To start, explore the emotion words collected in the list below. Find one or two words you don't typically use and ask yourself if they describe your recent experiences. Perhaps when you next notice that nagging, nameless emotion, you will skim this list of emotion words to find the ones that resonate.
Katrina McCoy, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, educator, consultant, and scholar with a private practice based in Westchester, New York.
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Name That Feeling

Happy, sad, and angry are useful terms but aren't enough to describe the full range of our emotional experience. Explore this list to identify emotion words that better capture your feelings.

PART 3

You've Named Your Emotions-What Now?
Being aware of your emotions isn't enough; you also have to manage them. These four strategies can help you master this second pillar of emotional intelligence.
By Michael Wiederman, Ph.D.

Awareness of your and others' emotions is the foundation on which emotional intelligence rests. But awareness, in itself, is not enough. Here, let's consider four ways you can develop another critical pillar of EI: emotional self- management.

1. Pause to mentally distance.
In an emotionally charged situation, the path of least resistance is to follow your feelings. Instead, take conscious control of your attention and shift from allowing your limbic system to guide your behavior (reacting) to engaging your cerebral cortex (responding). Doing so lets you choose how to act.

Of course, mentally stepping out of a whirlwind of emotion is easier said than done. As a first step, it can be helpful to note the particular physical experiences that accompany troublesome emotions. Then, when a situation arises that triggers those physical responses, take a moment to mentally step out of your immediate experience. Asking yourself a question, or imagining what you might look like to others, often does the trick. At that point, although still physiologically keyed up, you'll be able to more calmly consider the best course of action. In other words, you won't be just reacting; you'll be choosing how to act.

2. Take control of your self-talk.
We're frequently unaware of how much chatter goes on in the background of our minds. Such self-talk might not be in fully articulated phrases but just flashes of thought about what's happening, what should be, or how right we are and how wrong someone else is.

Becoming aware of your self-talk is an important skill because it is those background beliefs that fuel our emotional responses. To genuinely defuse a strong negative emotion requires examining the underlying belief and how accurate or useful it is.

You may be tempted to justify the belief (This situation should not be so difficult!) but, instead, recognize that the situation is the way it is, no matter how much you wish otherwise. Ask yourself: How useful is it to me to keep clinging to this belief? You might also flex your conscious awareness to focus on asking: Over what parts of this situation do I have some degree of control? What do I need to do to exercise that control?

3. Enlist partners.
Ask others you trust to help you recognize when your emotions seem to be getting the best of you. Agree on a gesture or word to serve as a signal that your trusted individual wonders whether you're riding the led-by-your-limbic-system train.

Of course, they may get it wrong-and even when they're right, it can feel irritating to be called out when you're already keyed up. But instead of responding defensively, focus on the fact that this person is offering a gift-one that you asked for!-and is taking a risk. Respond with grace and gratitude.

4. Cultivate curiosity.
Our brains are wired to draw conclusions quickly. These judgments are not necessarily accurate but often feel as if they are, and they are responsible for many of our negative emotional states. Working to be more curious about other peoples' experiences, including their interpretation of events and their own motives for their behavior, helps inhibit such hasty judgments.

To be able to apply the brakes on your strong emotional reaction when triggered, practicing curiosity in situations that are not nearly as charged is a good way to build that skill for when it's most important. A side benefit of cultivating curiosity is that it also promotes a sense of empathy and deeper connection with those you better try to understand.

A common thread across these strategies is the ability to recognize an emotional storm and decide to shift to conscious intentionality rather than reaction. Like any skill, it requires practice, and there will be lapses along the way. However, the benefits, both professional and personal, can be immense. How might your life be enhanced by greater emotional self-control?
Michael Wiederman, Ph.D., is a former clinical psychology professor who now works full-time applying psychology to the workplace.
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Emotional Intelligence Is a Skill Set

Peter Salovey, a co-author of the original paper on EI, clears up some widespread misunderstandings.

In the late 1980s, John Mayer and I noticed that there were separate groups studying facial expressions, emotion vocabulary, and emotion self-management, all independently. We thought there was a framework under which all those topics fit-an arsenal of skills that describe abilities having to do with the emotions. We called it "emotional intelligence."

The skills form four basic clusters. The first is identifying emotions in yourself and in others, through verbal and nonverbal means.

A second is understanding how emotion vocabulary gets used, how emotions transition over time, what the consequences are of an emotional arousal-for example, why shame often leads to anger, why jealousy often contains a component of envy.

A third area is emotion management, which includes managing not only one's own emotions but also the emotions of others.

The fourth is the use of emotions, such as in cognitive activities like solving a problem and making a decision.

Once we had a way to measure emotional intelligence, we realized that we had to demonstrate that EI matters above and beyond standard features of personality, such as the Big Five personality traits ( openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and extraversion) and beyond traditional intelligence as measured by an IQ test. Only if emotional intelligence still accounted for variance in important outcomes could we claim that it has validity.

Over the next 20 years, we showed that, in fact, it did predict outcomes in school, at work, and in relationships. It predicted who would receive positive performance evaluations and get recommended for raises, who would be viewed as contributing the most creative ideas and leading a group. It correlated with aspects of friendship and positive social relations-less aggression, less use of illicit substances, more friends, greater satisfaction in relationships with friends. In lab experiments, EI predicted subjects' behavior with a stranger: Those with EI were more able to elicit information, and strangers rated the interaction as more pleasant. People viewing films of the interactions rated those with EI as more empathic.

There has been a lot of playing with the construct of emotional intelligence-for example, regarding the features as traits. But that does not yield any unique information. I think it's best to stick to a definition of EI based on skills and abilities.
Peter Salovey, Ph.D., is the president of Yale University. Submit your response to this story to letters@psychologytoday.com. Pick up a copy of Psychology Today on newsstands now or subscribe to read the rest of this issue.

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For those who have it, it predicts success in many ways.

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Anger Coping Skills for Kids (Elementary)

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Anger Coping Skills for Kids (Elementary)

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Professional Self-care - Fit your own mask first

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Professional Self-care - Fit your own mask first

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Childhood Depression (info for caregivers)

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Childhood Depression (info for caregivers)

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It’s a harmful behavior that impacts 1 in 5 students in the US.