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Welcome back, everyone! In today's episode, MaryAnn Walker delves into a common struggle experienced by many helpers, healers, and people pleasers—the challenge of navigating emotional maturity gaps in relationships. MaryAnn explores the problems arising from differences in emotional intelligence levels and offers valuable insights on resolution strategies.

Main Ideas:

1. Self-Reflection on Emotional Maturity:
   • You are the only person you can control. Focus on your own ability to show up in emotionally mature ways.
   • Even evolved individuals can exhibit emotional immaturity at times, especially when sick or under stress.
2. Defining Emotional Maturity:
   • Emotional maturity involves understanding, managing, and expressing emotions constructively.
   • Emotional immaturity signifies underdeveloped emotional skills and an inability to name or communicate emotions and/or needs.  
3. Resolving Communication Styles:
   • Emotionally mature partners create safety for open communication.
   • Less emotionally mature individuals practice gradual expression and non-defensive receptivity to feedback.
4. Navigating the Empathy Gap:
   • Emotionally developed partners often assume that because they have an easier time empathizing, that others should, too. This is not always the case. Be patient and accept people where they are on their emotional intelligence journey. 
5. Effective Conflict Resolution:
   • Differences in emotional intelligence are often magnified during conflict.
   • Seek to find common ground, putting both partners on the same team, and focusing on shared goals.
6. Healthy Coping Mechanisms:
   1. Recognize buffers and practice self-regulation to avoid impeding personal and relationship  growth.
7. Understanding Emotional Needs:
   • Recognizing ones own motional needs improves communication as well as relationship quality.
   • Take ownership of your emotions rather than blaming others.
8. Balancing Emotional Styles:
   • Acknowledge that there are differences when it comes to processing emotions . Respect each other's processing styles.
   • Mutual understanding, patience, and learning can create healthy connection.

Remember, emotional intelligence is a journey, and understanding, patience, and a willingness to learn are essential in building healthier connections. If you resonate with the episode, come back next week to learn 10 ways to increase emotional intelligence!

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