The German’s have a word “Umwelt” which according to the Microsoft online dictionary means “the world as it is experienced by a particular organism.” A lot of meaning for so few letters. Let’s unpack that a little. We can look at a horse, a pig or any other animal, and […]
Emotional intelligence
17 posts
The world can be overwhelming. Period! Each of us has a can only take so much stimulation. We each have a mental “glass-ceiling”. This limit was recognised over 100 years ago by US psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dillingham Dodgson. Their model followed a classic bell curve. In plotting performance […]
“Ask yourself if you are happy and you cease to be so.” So said the nineteenth century philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill. Give it a go! As soon as we go to look for it, it proves illusive. Even if we were in some moment of real joy. How […]
When we learn to watch our mind, we see just how much distraction it offers us. It is like we are forever open to stumbling from the path as when we walk on unsafe ground. Loud noises, assertive others, physical sensation, bright shiny objects; the list is without end. Each […]
So what is choosing EI all about? I have often written about how Mindfulness lies at the heart of my work, well at the heart of the heart is Emotional Intelligence (EI). There is a great quote from Victor Frankl which outlines the intrinsic benefit within EI, “in between the […]
Outside-in or Inside-out is a reflection on how we see ourselves and our mind. And further, our relationship with what goes on there within. As someone delivering regularly around the topic of mindfulness I am frequently expressing the idea that we are not our thoughts, any more than we are […]
I was listening recently to a podcast by scholar Joseph Goldstein. He talks about the discourses of Buddha as being invitations not instructions, as a conversation not a philosophical exposition (“Insight Hour, episode 53). In more common parlance, “here is an idea, go and try it out”. This subtle distinction […]
I wanted to talk about The Path of The Mindful Horse, what is this? Well it brings together my learning and personal practice over the last 10 years. I have talked about this path before, but with a little more breathing space I realise that this path is also my […]
I guess we are all seeking the authentic. But would we know it if we found it? Those of us who deliver Equine Assisted or Facilitated work often talk about the horse seeing us as our authentic selves. Not the titles or positions, not our qualifications or religions, not our […]
What did I do? This week I wanted to get back to my roots - blog-wise. I wanted to reflect on emotional intelligence (EI). Not the theory, but the practical. The learning and the lived experience. I have been an advocate of Daniel Goleman’s work for many years. I am […]