Emotional Intelligence, Personal Agency, and Your Wisdom Stories

In the face of adversity, people often discover their emotional intelligence and personal agency as they navigate their challenges. My friends’ stories exemplify this growth…

Several years ago five of my friends were diagnosed with serious, life-threatening illnesses around the same time.

Other friends were dealing with family problems and a constant state of anxiety wondering, “When is the other shoe going to drop?”

Each of these individuals are conscientious, hardworking and kind people. They were at a crossroads of continuing to do the same old thing to get by or allowing these happenings to be a wake-up call to do something different…

To slow down instead of pushing for results.

To be present instead of pushing away uncomfortable feelings.

To allow people to help instead of pushing people away.

Gratefully, each of these friends are now on the other side of the challenges they were once facing. They have what I refer to as “Wisdom Stories”; stories of life lessons learned by persevering through adversity. 

• Stories of resilience
• Stories of adapting to change
• Stories of growing closer to family and co-workers by working together through hard times
• Stories of strength by doing emotionally, mentally, and physically hard things that yielded unexpected benefits

One of the reasons to reflect on times of challenge is because it gives us the opportunity to learn. 

To tap into our emotional intelligence to recognize our capabilities and personal agency. Most people, including successful leaders, go through challenges that inspire growth.

What Stories of Resilience Helped Develop Your Emotional Intelligence and Personal Autonomy?

About the author 

Bonnie Artman Fox, MS, LMFT works with executive leaders who want to gain self-awareness about the impact of their words and actions and up-level their interpersonal skills. 

Drawing from decades as a psychiatric nurse and licensed family therapist, Bonnie brings a unique perspective to equip executive leaders with the roadmap to emotional intelligence that brings teams together. 

Bonnie’s leadership Turnaround coaching program has an 82% success rate in guiding leaders to replace abrasive behavior with tact, empathy, and consideration of others. The end result is a happy, healthy, and profitable workplace…sooner vs. later.