I wish this was something I would have learned earlier on, like high school or college. All of my academic years were spent trying to increase my IQ. Reading and memorizing facts in textbooks. I got nearly straight A’s all through school and was naïve thinking because of this I was destined for success. And I couldn’t have been more wrong.

If you’re around my age or younger than I’m sure you can relate. Going from college into the real world is a wake up call. I wish I would have learned more about communication and persuasion. I wished I knew how to control self-doubt. I wish I would have learned how to have more confidence. I wish I would have been offered a class on Insecurity 101 or Procrastination 101 or better yet, Stress & Overwhelm 101.

And I can’t blame the colleges, it’s not their fault. You know, there really isn’t anyone to blame. I’m just taking this wisdom and passing it on to my two daughters and you if you’re a parent with young children, and I am going to focus heavily on teaching them EQ skills in junior high and high school.

I use the mindfulness app Calm and I will make them use daily as well. Just like brushing their teeth. I also use an app called Intellect, which provides learning sessions on habits and behaviors. Very cool app and free. Check it out.

I definitely won’t be so obsessed with my kids’ academics. I will be more focused on their communication skills and how well do they handle pressure. Because now I know, EQ training will set them up for genuine success, not memorizing facts in a book.