Emotional Intelligence

Dr. Brene Brown describes emotional intelligence as the ability to manage ourselves and take other people’s perspectives into account while not being blinded by what we are feeling at that moment. The Four Components of Empathy include:
1. Perspective Taking – the ability to take the perspective of another person or recognize their perspective as their truth
2. Staying Out of Judgement
3. Recognizing Emotion in Other People
4. Communicating Your Recognition of Their Emotions

What Empathy isn’t:
– Trying to add a silver lining
– Trying to make things better
Example: Replying to “I had a miscarriage.” with “At least you know you can get pregnant.”

Rarely can a response make something better. What makes something better is a connection.

Empathy Video (Brene Brown)