August Book of the Month

By Patricia McGuire, LPC-MHSP

8/22/2024

After a blog hiatus in July, I’m back with the August Book of the Month: Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. This book was originally published in 1995 and was groundbreaking in its research, theory and practicality. It introduced the world to the concept of emotional intelligence, which is an umbrella term that includes “self-awareness and impulse control, persistence, zeal and motivation, empathy and social deftness. These are the qualities that mark people who excel: whose relationships flourish, who are stars in the workplace” (from the back cover).

Goleman posits that emotional intelligence is just as important as one’s IQ in determining academic, social, and emotional success. Put simply, emotional intelligence is how you know and manage yourself and your relationship with others.

In Emotional Intelligence, Goleman discusses five tenets that enhance well-being, social functioning, and performance:

• stress management

• decision making

• interpersonal (relationships)

• self-expression

• self-perception

Goleman also dives into the common physiological responses with each emotion, how to apply emotional intelligence, and how to get unstuck from unhealthy emotional patterns.

Go deeper: https://www.danielgoleman.info/books/

If this resonated with you and you’d like to explore these ideas further, connect with Patricia McGuire Counseling here