Stress and WellnessThe EQ Perspective

Liz Moseley Ph.D.

Wellness is a dynamic process that requires integration of

change

…and a return to balanceThroughout life’s many cycles

Change is usually stressful, and there are two kinds of stress

Eustress

Change that is stimulating can bring us to a new, higher level

Distress

Change that is not integrated can lead to many illness such as high blood pressure, digestive troubles, headaches, and depression

There are also two kinds of change

Change by choiceSometimes we recognize a need to change

Change by necessitySometimes life imposes changes

Emotional intelligence is a set of tools…

….to support the dynamic process of change for the best positive outcome

Know Yourself

Choose Yourself

Give Yourself

6seconds model of Emotional Intelligence

Know Yourself: Enhance Emotional Literacy, Recognize Patterns

Choose Yourself: Engage Intrinsic Motivation, Exercise Optimism, Apply Consequential Thinking, Navigate Emotions

Give Yourself: Increase Empathy, Pursue Noble Goals

Choosing change

Prochaska describes change by choice as movement through

stages:

PrecontemplationContemplation

PreparationAction

Maintenance

With moments of recycling previous steps Liz’s adaptation of Prochaska’s model

Moving from Precontemplatio

n to ContemplationExamples of EQ tools:

Enhance Emotional Literacy

How am I feeling?

Is the status quo harmful for me?

Recognize Patterns

Have I been here before?

How would I feel if this pattern changed?

Moving from Contemplation to Preparation

Examples of EQ tools:

Exercise Optimism I can do this

Others have made this change, so can I

Engage Intrinsic Motivation

I am responsible for myself

It will be worth it

Cycles of Preparation and Action

Examples of EQ Tools:Apply Consequential Thinking

This change will open up new opportunities for meNavigate Emotions

This is scary, but kind of exciting, too

Anchoring Action into MaintenanceExamples of EQ Tools:Increase EmpathyI understand what it’s like to go through changesPursue Noble goalsHow can I be more of the change that I want to see in the world?

Recycling through the

stepsExamples of EQ tools:

Recognize PatternsI remember this feeling

I know how to move forward

Exercise OptimismI can do it again

It gets better

Navigate EmotionsSadness is not depressionFrustration is not defeat

The cycles of change never really come to an end, they just transform into new choices and

the next change process

Change can also come without invitation

Selye described the universal response to any stressor as the General Adaptation Syndrome

Liz’s adaptation of Selye’s model

Emotional Intelligence Competencies support positive integration of imposed changes, for example:

Resilience from shock

Enhance Emotional Literacy

It’s normal to feel out of balance

I can allow myself to grieve for the loss of status quo

Exercise Optimism

I know there is a way through this

This is going to be a transformative experience for me

Connecting to Coping

Apply Consequential Thinking

One day at a time

Increase Empathy

If I help someone else I will also be helping myself

Recognize Patterns

It is natural to have ups and downs through this process

HardinessExamples of EQ Tools:

Pursue Noble Goals

There is a higher meaning in this for myself and for others

Navigate Emotions

I can focus on all that is positive

Engage Intrinsic Motivation

I want to be a better person as a result of this

Kobasa identified three qualities that enable

people to live through stressful events without succumbing to burnout:

Commitment

Control

Challenge

Change is a constant factor in life. Cultivating Emotional Intelligence competencies empowers us to turn the distress of change into the eustress of transformation

Fortunately, Emotional Intelligence skills can be cultivated by anyone at any time

6seconds model of EQ

Know YourselfEnhance Emotional

LiteracyRecognize Patterns

Choose YourselfExercise Optimism

Engage Intrinsic Motivation

Navigate EmotionsApply Consequential

Thinking

Give YourselfIncrease Empathy

Pursue Noble Goals

Thank you

Liz’s favorite Stop sign in Findhorn, Scotland

References

Anonymous. (2007). Today is under construction. Retrieved from http://www.engrish.com/2007/08/its-still-early/

Freedman, J. (2007). At the Heart of Leadership. San Mateo, CA: Six Seconds.

Kobasa, S.C. (1979). Stressful life events, personality, and health: An inquiry into hardiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1-11.

Prochaska, J. DiClemente, C., & Norcross, J. C. (1992). In search of how people change. American Psychologist, 47, 1102-1114.

Selye, H. (1976). The stress of life. (Rev. ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Watterson, B. (n.d.). Calvin and Hobbes. Retrieved from http://bestofcalvinandhobbes.com/2011/10/a-swifty-kick-in-the-butt-is-for-sale

Photos by Liz Moseley and Bronwen Gerber

Hi, I’m Liz Moseley

Thank you for coming to my presentation today. I am a Health

Psychologist, with special interests in emotional intelligence, stress

management and palliative care.

After finishing my doctoral studies at the University of Miami, I moved to

Switzerland, where I lived for 20 years, teaching and consulting. In 2011, I moved back to Florida, this time in the panhandle on the beautiful Gulf

Coast. I currently teach at Pensacola State College, Walden University and Northcentral University. I also give

workshops and presentations on Stress Management, EQ and Health, and I

coach private individuals and groups on site or by the internet and telephone.

When I am not working, I enjoy gardening, geocaching, practicing yoga or T’ai Chi, and training my new baby

sugar glider.

You can contact me at: liz.moseley@6seconds.org