PQ vs EQ Against Hurricanes

PQ vs EQ Against Hurricanes

Many in our community and surrounding states are suffering from hurricane fatigue. It’s a REAL thing and I can attest to the drain it’s had on my mental and emotional stamina. I’m thankful that my clients were so gracious in the cancellation of last week’s appointments because I was certainly not at my best to serve. And now as we begin to move beyond the trauma and attempt to return to some sense of normalcy, we know it will be a long road ahead for many.

So how does Positive Intelligence (PQ) and Emotional Intelligence (EQ) come into play during times like this? Empathy is a superpower we must extend to both ourselves and others. It’s one of the key skills of Emotional Intelligence, but empathy is only sustainable when we first address the root cause of our negative emotions.

In my case, I’ve become well aware that my Judge and Controller saboteurs have reared their ugly heads and have caused me at times to spiral in negative emotions. These nasties have also caused me to react poorly to interactions with my husband as we’ve discussed our future in Southwest Florida. Fear has gotten the best of us and that’s completely normal after what we’ve been through. However, for empathy to be effective, we first need to intercept and weaken these saboteurs. As I often remind myself; when you can name it, you can tame it!

Here’s how that process looks:

Step 1: Recognize the negative emotions
When fear, anger, or frustration surface, my foundation in PQ helps me recognize that my Judge and Controller saboteurs are in overdrive. Simply naming these ‘nasties’ allows me to move forward and begin taming them. 

Step 2: Engage in grounding exercises
I do PQ reps or another grounding exercise to shift out of my head and stop the destructive spiral. Some of my go-to practices include walking, listening to music, petting my dog or using the “perfect breath” technique. These simple actions help disrupt the saboteurs and bring me back to center. 

Step 3: Apply empathy—for myself and others
Once I’ve interrupted the negative patterns, I double down on empathy. It’s essential to show myself compassion and extend that same grace to others. Recovery and next steps take time, and in moments like these, the paradox of ‘slowing down to speed up’ couldn’t be more true. 

There’s so much more to it, and we’re here to support you in making a greater impact in every area of your life. To those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we send our heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery, along with strength and love during this challenging time.