During infancy we begin to understand our existence, also referred to as "self", when someone literally hears our cries and physically takes the time to determine what our needs are. It is in those critical and beautiful moments that we learn trust, that there is a balance, a system at play, and we are an important part of it. Our first experiences of communication along with our environment greatly influence our perception of those experiences and future opportunities. That perception determines if, when, and how we choose to cultivate our relationships. I propose because this is the period of life where we learn how important it is to express ourselves in order to get a desired outcome, this is the beginning of emotional intelligence. As we age, we practice managing those skills - as a child and teen to get what we want, and later as an adult to determine what it is we want and and how we are going to work to get and maintain it. In my view, this is the most significant of the five components of emotional intelligence because it helps to explain why we operate the way we do.

Recommended website that includes links to her books:

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