Leave the Mind Out of It: SQ Spiritual Intelligence

Leave the Mind Out of It: 
Why IQ, EQ & SQ Are Separate Domains

"Has anyone else noticed this need for the linear mind and the collective left brain to
categorically lump all personal development under the guise of the intellect?"
Heads up, I'm coining, Spiritual Intelligence. 

We’re a society of left brain linear thinkers, processors, analytical intelligencia. As a result we’ve gotten ourselves into a state of massive spiritual and emotional unwellness.

The popular phrase and Daniel Goleman book title ‘Emotional Intelligence’ is a safe invitation for left brain linear thinkers to give themselves permission to feel into their emotions and learn about other’s challenges through an intellectual process. It’s brilliant. And still, I wonder why we are unable to be vulnerable and just say, “Emotional Heart.”

The biggest opportunity we have as a collective right now is to expand spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. Our capacity for each gives us vision into what’s happening in our world, our community, our relationships, and most importantly ourselves.

Why would we want more vision? So we can use our new tools of MINDFULLNESS and EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE and respond in kind to the huge transformation our world is experiencing while handling our own frustration, confusion, grief, engagement and personal growth.

And the truth is, this topic cannot be intellectualized. Embodiment is the only true form of growth. When we dish out emotional healing and spirituality through a mental construct, it stays in the mind- home of the mental. The magic is in the embodiment.

Why do we as a society- ie. corporations, government and big institutions that pave the game, need to intellectualize the unintelligent?

Awareness, intuition, empathy, insight, connection –these are all expanded through spiritual practice, connecting with the unknown unknown, the unseen world and trusting there is an invisible force available beyond what we mentally think or know. Why must we make this palatable as a mental thing?  
How does ‘Spiritfullness’ land as the title of a corporate workshop? It doesn’t so we bring in the mind and sell Mindfullness. It worked.

Emotional needs, for love, connection, security, acknowledgement, to feel heard and seen- these are not really welcome in the institutional setting. They’re soft, feminine and matters of the heart and not so much the feel good message welcome at a law firm management retreat. BUT, bring in the word intelligence or fitness and bang- they’re open, will read the book and make the workshop required.

Has anyone else noticed this need for the linear mind and the collective left brain to categorically lump all personal development under the guise of the intellect?

The truth is some things you just can’t intellectualize. It’s not a mind thing. Emotions are a heart thing and spirituality and awareness- (mindfulness) is a spirit energy thing. I recently read an article in the ABA Journal about a firm in Big Law leading ‘Emotional Fitness’ workshops. “One of the nation’s top corporate law firms is embracing its softer side.”  It's a start.

I’m a proponent of getting this stuff in no matter what so I’m not knocking this. I think it’s awesome. However, the softer side is to call a spade a spade. Emotional fitness sounds like bootcamp for the heart.  I do it too, sell them what they want, give them what they need. The irony of it all is the game we play around semantics.

What I am suggesting is we expand our vocabulary and not shame what is. Emotions are emotions. They’re not body (fitness) –though they do impact the body. They’re not the mind (intelligence) though they do impact and are impacted by the mind. And Spirituality is not Mind- (mindfulness) though it is impacted by the mind and does impact the mind.

What will be interesting is the continued marketization of spirituality, the heart and emotions over the next four years as the real bold transformational need hits our society.

I invite law firms, accounting firms, all firms, corporations, institutions, non-profit organizations and government to welcome the healers- the real healers offering up their mojo- even if it’s not in a title with a palatable conjunct to the mind or body. How much more intelligent, full of mind, and fitness can we be if we just call it as it is and embody the truth. We all need to evolve.

Mr. and Mrs. C-Suite, how open are you to SQ- Spiritual Intelligence workshops? Connect with me here.

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Stephanie Trager, Esq.
Intentional Paradigms Coaching & Consulting
Leadership & Personal Coach
Business Strategist
 s@stephanietrager.com
 www.stephanietrager.com
 Request a Coaching Session Here  ~

There is No Limit to Your Potential - UNLEASH THE REAL YOU!

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