Not All Emotions are Panic. So, Why Do So Many Talk Like They Are?

Returning intelligence to emotional intelligence

Photo by César Couto on Unsplash

Stay Silent at All Costs

It’s subtle, but it’s there—the minimizing of emotions is quietly working its way into much of our public discourse.

All hail the supremacy of rationality.

If you read my Substacks, you might notice that emotional intelligence (EQ) has been on my mind lately. Today’s society tends to separate EQ from IQ. There seems to be some sort of cultural need to separate rationality from emotions, as though the two dare not intersect at any point. And emotions are frequently treated as the inferior of the two. But let’s set the record straight — EQ is every bit as badass as IQ. EQ often takes more courage, which, in my book, gives it a bit of an edge when it comes to badassery.

Take today, for example. I came across a meme entitled: “10 places you should stay silent at all costs.” It starts with a numbered list, each line beginning with “Be silent if…” The list suggests ten times people need to shut up.

In my experience, when it comes to not l…