The Healing Power of Emotional Intelligence: Creating Space for What’s Next

Leaders—be kind to yourselves. 💗
Sadness is a form of loss.
Change is loss.
Even growth can feel like loss—because we’re letting go of what we once hoped would be.

In my coaching work and personal journey, I’ve seen this again and again: whenever we experience a shift—whether it’s in our work, relationships, health, or identity—there is a part of us that must grieve. Not necessarily a dramatic, falling-to-your-knees kind of grief, but a quieter acknowledgment. A subtle “goodbye” to the dreams, expectations, and familiar patterns we thought we needed to hold on to.

It’s human to resist loss.
But when we make space for our feelings instead of pushing them down, we allow healing to happen. And when we release emotion, we also begin to release the patterns that keep us stuck—those unconscious loops that drive how we show up in relationships, in leadership, and in our own minds.

Here's what I’ve learned:

Emotions that go unfelt become patterns that repeat.
But when we let the emotion move through us, it no longer controls us.

Most of us were never taught how to do this. We were taught to “keep it together,” “suck it up,” or “stay positive.” But emotional intelligence isn’t about being positive all the time. It’s about being present—with all of it. With sadness. With fear. With anger. With longing. And yes, eventually, with joy.

As a leader, giving yourself permission to feel creates space not just for healing—but for something new to emerge. New ideas. New connections. New ways of leading that are more connected, more intentional, more aligned.

So how do we do this?

1. Notice the feeling when it arises.
   Don’t push it away. Don’t label it as wrong. Just notice it.

2. Breathe and allow it.
   Let the emotion move through your body. Often, that’s all it needs—acknowledgment.

3. Get curious.
   Ask yourself: What might this feeling be here to teach me? What is ready to be let go?

4. Create stillness.
   Even just 60 seconds of silence can open up the space you need to hear what’s underneath the noise.

5. Trust the process.
   Emotions are like waves. They rise. They peak. And if we don’t resist them—they pass.

This is how we break cycles.
This is how we lead differently.
This is how we come home to ourselves.

If you're ready to shift the way you lead—starting from the inside out—listen in for more insights on how emotional intelligence can become your greatest asset.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation here.