Is a person who lacks emotional intensity close to being a sociopath, or the embodiment of controlled cool?
Life that lacks the violence wrought by anger, hate, or rage might seem like the ideal, but looking closely, you'll realize it isn't quite possible. The paleocircuitry that makes up our ancient brain is responsible for these ancient emotions. They also help insure our survival! Emotion developed as we evolved; the more beneficent ones like love, kindness, and empathy deepened with the blossoms of humanity.
If we find ourselves embroiled in these ancient feelings it's only when we understand what's going on--when we realize it is our reptilian brain overriding our rational brain --that we can claim emotional intelligence. Then we can reach toward the innate wisdom we all have.
Emotion's growth spans aeons.
Raw, reptilian emotions explode
like dynamite, rage like wildfires.
Emotion balanced by reason,
graced with insight,
brilliantly colors an integrated life.
Understanding these powerful energies,
we can pause, poised on possibilities,
seeking greater depths of emotional wisdom.
Emotional intelligence
is our soul's poetry,
the algebra of a well-lived life.
