You know, the more we practice emotional intelligence… it really does stop feeling like a skill. It becomes something deeper, a fundamental part of who you are and how you move through the world.
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Meaning
At its core, this means that emotional intelligence (EQ) transitions from being a conscious effort to an automatic, ingrained part of your personality.
Explanation
Okay, let me break this down. Think about learning to drive a car. At first, it’s all checklists and clumsy movements—mirror, signal, maneuver, clutch, brake. It’s a defined skill set. But after years of driving? You just *do* it. You’re not thinking about the steps; you’re just navigating the road, anticipating other drivers, feeling the flow of traffic. That’s what Goleman is talking about. With consistent practice, EQ shifts from a toolkit you consciously open to your default operating system. It’s the difference between *doing* empathy and *being* empathetic. It becomes who you are, not just what you do.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | emotion general (105), growth (413), habits (85) |
| Literary Style | balanced (59), reflective (255) |
| Emotion / Mood | encouraging (304), hopeful (357) |
| Overall Quote Score | 80 (256) |
Origin & Factcheck
This insight comes straight from Daniel Goleman’s 1995 book, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, which really kicked off the mainstream conversation about EQ. While the core ideas about social and emotional learning have older roots, this specific phrasing is Goleman’s, crystallizing a powerful concept for a global audience.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr Daniel Goleman (50) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (54) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and bestselling author whose journalism at The New York Times brought brain and behavior science to a wide audience. He earned a BA from Amherst and a PhD in psychology from Harvard, and studied in India on a Harvard fellowship. Goleman’s research and writing helped mainstream emotional intelligence, leadership competencies, attention, and contemplative science. He co-founded CASEL and a leading research consortium on EI at work. The Daniel Goleman book list includes Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, Primal Leadership, Social Intelligence, Focus, and Altered Traits.
| Official Website
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The more we practice emotional intelligence, the more it becomes a way of life rather than a skill set |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 1995; ISBN: 978-0553375060; Last edition: 2005; Number of pages: 352 |
| Where is it? | Chapter: Developing Emotional Intelligence, Approximate page 317 from 2005 edition |