The Tera Transformation Times - September 2024

Since the pandemic, I’ve embarked on a journey to educate myself in emotional intelligence and, more recently, in positive intelligence. This knowledge has been life-changing and incredibly liberating. Every day presents new lessons, and here are the ones I’ve found most profound.

Feel the emotion and let it run its course. By resisting emotions, I unintentionally created additional layers of feelings that compounded the original one. Now, I offer no resistance and let the emotion run its natural course.

Describe what I am feeling. I've noticed that verbalizing what’s happening in my body and mind weakens the emotion, and it helps me return to a neutral state faster.

Identify the trigger. What exactly caused me to feel sad, angry, happy, etc.? Once I identify the trigger—especially for catabolic emotions—it starts to lose its power. Was it something someone said or did, that pushed my buttons? The next time the trigger is activated, it has less influence. We become more prepared to manage emotions we anticipate.

Talk it out. Engaging with a therapist, coach, or emotionally intelligent friend or family member is invaluable. I’m realizing how helpful this process can be when done with the right person.

Stop asking if feeling one way or another is normal. What is ‘normal,’ anyway? I’ve often found myself caught in the ‘Is this normal?’ loop. Now, I focus on noticing what’s new or unusual within me, regardless of whether others experience it. We all process emotions uniquely, using different tools, coping mechanisms, and acceptable expressions. The key is to not intentionally hurt others or the environment. And if we offend someone, we apologize.

Actively look for the gift or opportunity. Everything in life is or can be converted into a gift or opportunity. From minor annoyances like being stuck in traffic to significant hardships, those who have the agency to imagine and realize the gift or opportunity develop stronger resilience. I wish I had had this knowledge four years ago when I started working with a new manager whose style clashed with mine. A potential gift could have been the chance to practice awareness every time this person said something that irritated me. By now, I might have been much closer to Nirvana!

Published and Upcoming Articles

Last month I wrote about intentional learning and ways to experience human connection for happiness and fulfillment. I invite you to experiment with the tips and tools proposed in each article and modify them to fit your needs.

Both are also available on video

Intentional Learning: A Guide to Shifting Towards Growth and Success

6 Ways to Experience Human Connection for Happiness and Fulfillment

In October I will be talking about how to effectively ask for help and how to better manage your impulse control.

To receive them directly in your inbox, join our email list and receive helpful articles, humor, and the latest articles by completing this form with your name and email. In gratitude, we will send you a free e-book on how to become an emotionally intelligent leader.

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Quote of the Month

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Laughter is the best medicine

Background of the month

I’ve visited Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada twice—once in winter and once in early summer—and loved it both times. For me, Vancouver offers the perfect blend of nature and city life.

Here are some fun facts:

• The city is named after Captain George Vancouver, who explored the inner harbour of Burrard Inlet in 1792 and gave various places British names.
• Archaeological records indicate that Indigenous People were already living in the “Vancouver” area from 8,000 to 10,000 years ago.
• The Skybridge over the Fraser River connects New West and Surrey commuters and is the world’s longest cable-supported transit-only bridge.
• Vancouver is nicknamed “Hollywood of the North”. In North America, the city comes second after Los Angeles in TV production and third in feature film production (after Los Angeles and New York).
• All of the grey squirrels found in Stanley Park are descendants of eight pairs of grey squirrels gifted to Vancouver by New York City in 1909.
• In 1947, Vancouver passed a law that made it illegal to sell stoves on a Wednesday within city limits. This law, aimed at conserving resources during WWII, was eventually repealed after nearly 40 years.

One Last Thing Before You Go

It would be immensely helpful to know what type of content you want to receive in this newsletter. Please post your feedback in the comments section or contact me directly via LinkedIn.

For more content, join our email list and receive helpful articles, humor, and the latest articles by completing this form with your name and email. In gratitude, we will send you a free e-book on how to become an emotionally intelligent leader.

Si deseas recibir contenido en espa?ol, únete a nuestra lista de correo electrónico. Completa esta forma con tu nombre y correo electrónico y, en agradecimiento, te enviaremos un libro electrónico gratuito sobre cómo convertirte en líder emocionalmente inteligente.

See you next month!