The older you get, the smarter you get. Right? Wrong.

The older you become, the wiser you are, and you recognize that not all brains rank the same.

This was when I discovered E.Q./emotional intelligence. A perfect example of someone who is factually brainy but lacks E.Q. is a doctor, graduated with honors from a top Ivy League medical school, is pursuing his Ph.D. on the theory of "" and positively lacks the emotional empathy of proper bedside manners. Not that anyone is bad- just when it comes to "dealing with people," there is a chip missing—a lack of emotional intelligence.

I've had Uber driver conversations where I gleaned more about human nature than I have listening to professors in school. Why are some speakers so successful? Because they are relatable and know how to tap into that emotional connection- they know how to speak your language, get inside your brain most unobtrusively, and make you feel heard.

e·mo·tion·al in·tel·li·gence

noun

The capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions and handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.
"emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success."

Not always is the literal translation so apropos. Think of the most diplomatic successful people you know- not getting political but even our former president, Donald J. Trump, had a tremendous level of emotional intelligence and warmth. This is why love him or hate him- he was relatable and resonated. He knew how to speak our language and make himself all the more so understood-

E.Q. is tremendous quality in leadership; I'm not surprised that when I googled "leaders who exhibit emotional intelligence," Princess Diana comes up. She was called "The Peoples Princess," this makes so much sense.

There's a growth process in learning about oneself; I used to equate intelligence with education, ambition, career choice, and eloquence of speech.

This article from Psychology Today breaks down Emotional Intelligence so well; you can recognize someone with E.Q. instantly; they're self-aware, the first to announce they are feeling frustrated, underappreciated, or #hangry.

They are empathetic and know how to recognize other's emotions as well. More often than not, they have that charismatic yet humble je ne sais quoi.

People are attracted to them because they "just get it," and you know you'll be understood as well as won't have to try so hard to decipher them as well. They are seemingly safe in the most attuned way.

E.Q. can definitely be learned. Most people are afraid of their feelings- but if you learn to recalibrate and recognize your feels, this will lead to a greater depth in Emotional Intelligence and e.q. Depth towards others.

🎼“Who runs the world? Girls”🎶 Wrong. Empathetic, humble, diplomatic people do.