Emotional Intelligence is like a theory on the brink of stardom. Over the past two and a half decades, the social theory has become one of the biggest buzzwords in fields like psychology, children’s education and business. From McDonald’s to the Dalai Lama and Harvard Business Review, organizations across the political and economic spectrum are diving into Emotional Intelligence (aka Emotional Intelligence Quotient; EQ for short). The history of emotional intelligence is less known but nonetheless fascinating.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Not every couple will struggle with glitchy Skype connections during months apart, the U.S. Government interrupting dinner, or the strain Top Secret secrets place on two people in love. Military relationships are subject to a laundry list of struggles—and joys—that others don’t have. But at the heart of military relationship challenges are the same human issues that every couple navigates.

These seven tips for strengthening a military relationship are based on the principles of Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Hopefully they will help with deployment, reunion and the everyday challenges of [...]

"Whether or not parents should try to be friends with their children—especially in the early developmental and teen years—is a hot-button issue in a lot of parenting circles. On one side of the debate are the hard-line parenting advocates, who believe befriending your child is detrimental to their development. But is it?Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The benefits of creativity are easy to identify but difficult to harness. We all want to feel engaged in our work, inspired to innovate and grow, and satisfied with our jobs. Tapping into creativity can give you and your company those things and much more.

The trick? Like most secret ingredients in every successful endeavor—creativity is hidden in plain sight but overlooked.

Estimated reading: 4 minutes

The way we move our bodies has a profound impact on our brains—our moods, sleep, interpersonal communication, and emotional intelligence. MRI scans show that yoga in particular can make your brain more calm and self-aware.

Out of the hundreds of yoga poses, some are naturally calming for the parasympathetic nervous system more than others, which take the body from fight-or-flight mode into rest-and-digest. Especially in stressful times, grounding and centering ourselves are vital! See what poses will help the most.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes ♥ A yoga practice: a lifetime endeavor

Remember how EQ is the new IQ? It is becoming increasingly more acceptable to think, and thrive, outside the box. Gone are the days where productivity was ranked only by earnings spreadsheets or boxes checked...or at least those days are becoming fewer and further between.

Objective measures of success are important for businesses, but honoring the diverse and unique work styles of workers often means looking beyond the usual standards. In most cases, allowing individuals’ unique business talents to thrive actually creates more success for everyone in the end.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Willpower is an unruly topic, to say the least. Whether some people are inherently “better” at self-control is still a topic of debate. What’s more important is how you exercise your willpower.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve shown you how to “spring clean” old habits from your brain. Using four achievable steps, we’ve presented mindfulness and neuroscience research to for re-patterning your thoughts, reaching your goals and freeing your mind from old habits that were impeding your success. First, we focused on a goal. Then we visualized a plan. Third, we explained the neuroscience behind [...]

Spring is time to take action, change old habits and train your brain for success. It is a cleansing for your brain, using neuroscience and mindfulness to transform your life from the mind first.

So far, we’ve covered how to dream big and start small and how to make a powerful plan. These are the building-blocks for healthy brain changes. Now comes the action piece.

Earlier this week, we brought you the first of four steps for re-patterning your brain. Throughout this process of “spring cleaning” your brain, the goal is to use mindfulness and neuroscience to build healthy brain habits. Re-training your brain is vital for achieving goals successfully and transforming your life. Since actions and habits originate in the brain, the brain has to be the source of change too.

Each Spring, when the annual trend of cleaning closets and windows rolls around, why not use the fresh season’s regenerative energy to re-energize your brain? While three-quarters of Americans report cleaning their homes each spring, it is also a prime time to scrub old mental patterns and lay ground for new neural pathways.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes