Permission to Feel
Author: Marc Brackett, Ph.D.
What is the book about as a whole?
Emotional intelligence is essential for success in life, academically, socially, and in the workplace. Understanding the importance of emotional intelligence and becoming an emotion scientist allows one to access one’s emotions and help someone else regulate them.
What is being said in detail, and how?
The book first emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence and then introduced the “RULER” tool:
• Recognize Emotion
• Understand Emotion
• Label Emotion
• Express Emotion
• Regulate Emotion
The book took the ruler tool and shared how it can be applied at home, at school, and at work.
Is the book true, in whole or in part?
The book is true that it is rooted in research. The book referenced much research conducted by Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence and around the world. From personal experience, school that implemented Social Emotional Learning program also has fewer behavior issues and better academic achievement. So, all in all, I think there is true what the author claims.
Why does the author think it is important to know these things?
Emotional health impacts decision-making, culture, and just about anything you can think of, so having the skills to explore and express emotions are incredibly important.
Impressions
The book is a bit denser and challenging to access, mainly because it contains more research than other books I have read in the past. It is also a topic that is harder to comprehend, given that I have fewer experiences reading about emotional intelligence. I have some basic understanding, but it took me more effort than normal to get through the book.
However, the book is extremely applicable and practical. It contained examples in different settings. It is also helpful to see a book with a school component.
Who Should Read It?
Parents, educators, pastors, and anyone who wants to learn how emotion impacts lives.
How the Book changed me (thoughts, ideas, behavior)
It helped me understand the importance of emotional intelligence. I want to spend more time reading and studying this topic, specifically how it applies to my work with adults and children. It also made me wonder about its correlation with biblical principles that have to do with emotion, regulation, and behavior.
My Top 3 Quotes
1. Emotional intelligence doesn’t allow feelings to get in the way—it does just the opposite. It restores balance to our thought processes; it prevents emotions from having undue influence over our actions; and it helps us to realize that we might be feeling a certain way for a reason.
2. If children are to develop emotion skills, all the adults around them need these skills too.
3. The most effective educators recognize that social, emotional, and academic learning are intertwined.
Resources
