A photo frame sits on the guest bed, unplugged and facing the wrong way. It takes thirty seconds to move it to a drawer. No conversation needed. The person who does this has forgiven the gift-giver—not by feeling warmth toward them, but by no longer expecting them to be different. The work continues because the … Continue reading When Forgiveness Doesn’t Look Finished
Tag: emotional intelligence
Affective Presence
"Throughout the day, one experiences emotional “blips” as Elfenbein puts it—blips of annoyance or excitement or sadness. The question is, “Can you regulate yourself so those blips don’t infect other people?” she asks. “Can you smooth over the noise in your life so other people aren’t affected by it?” This “smoothing over”—or emotional regulation—could take … Continue reading Affective Presence
