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Hello Reader,

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As December rolls around, we see many news articles and posts about the "Year in Review". Depending on your reading habits and media consumption, I'm guessing you have seen at least one such article. Spotify has even made a whole marketing campaign out of it. Since 2016, #SpotifyWrapped dissects our listening choices for the entire year. What started as a rudimentary list of our favorite songs has now evolved into a slick presentation with brightly colored graphics and multiple data points that tell us - what does our music say about us.

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Wouldn't it be helpful if we got a similar presentation about our life choices? An in-depth and objective analysis of our work? Some algorithm telling us about what we felt - our highs and lows, where we excelled and what needs improvement. I would read that summary. As you look back at 2022, you may have mixed emotions about everything that transpired in this year. As you celebrate your accomplishments, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what went wrong. How did you feel about your missteps? What could you have done differently? What would you change the next time around?

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In the past few volumes of #EQrated we have delved into Brené Brown's work on #courage and #vulnerability and how we can lean into our values to inform our leadership choices. We have talked about the stories we tell ourselves and how they impact our ability to #trust and to #lead. A final aspect of the workshop that inspired this series of newsletters was learning to rise. We all have our moments of failure. It is then that we grow and learn from our mistakes. And for that I'd like to circle back to recognizing and naming our EMOTIONS. What we feel is a big part of who we are, how we think and behave. Therefore, it is crucial that we understand our emotions and why we feel the way we do, and how do they influence our actions.

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It is natural to make plans for the coming year. We all want to focus our energy on the year to come and the goals we want to accomplish. But an important part of that planning is looking back and taking stock. I request that you don't skip that step, no matter how difficult the emotions you may have to confront. Remember, you are the author of your story. Own your story. Embrace it. Change it to reflect who you want to be in the coming year. You have all the resources that you need.

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On a final note, if you would like to browse through the previous volumes of this series of EQrated, please click below:

- EQrated volume 41 - on Courage, Vulnerability & Leadership

- EQrated volume 42 - what is Vulnerability and what it is not

- EQrated volume 43 - on Trust and why is it important in the workplace

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As always you can follow us on our social media channels by clicking on the links below.

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This month we are doing something different. Instead of news articles to read, we have a selection of short videos for you. Here's our suggested watchlist on EMOTIONS:

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​Why your critics aren't the ones who count by Brené Brown - Source: 99U

Quick Take: "I see you, I hear you, but I'm going to do this anyway." Masterclass by Brené Brown in how to lean into your values, embrace the vulnerability and silence the inner critic.

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​How to embrace emotions at work by Liz Fosslien - Source: TED - The Way We Work Series

Quick Take: "You can't just flip a switch when you step into the office and turn your emotions off. Feeling feelings is part of being human," says author and illustrator Liz Fosslien. She shares why selective vulnerability is the key to bringing your authentic self to work.

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​The gift and power of emotional courage by Susan David - Source: TEDWomen

Quick Take: Psychologist Susan David shares how the way we deal with our emotions shapes everything that matters: our actions, careers, relationships, health and happiness. In this potentially life-changing talk, she challenges a culture that prizes positivity over emotional truth and discusses the powerful strategies of emotional agility.

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​You aren't at the mercy of your emotions -- your brain creates them by Lisa Feldman Barrett - Source: TED@IBM

Quick Take: For the past 25 years, psychology professor Lisa Feldman Barrett has mapped facial expressions, scanned brains and analyzed hundreds of physiology studies to understand what emotions really are. She shares the results of her exhaustive research -- and explains how we may have more control over our emotions than we think.

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If there is a topic that you would like to see featured, please do let us know. Please share this newsletter with people you know who might find value in it. They can also subscribe to the EQrated by clicking the button below.

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On a personal note, 2022 was a year of great change for me and my family. We moved continents, again! There is a sense of upheaval with all that such a move entails, but there is also a sense of homecoming. Dubai is familiar territory and as I reconnect with friends and acquaintances, it's as if we never left. I am looking forward to a fresh start in the brand new year, with the quiet confidence of being in a city that I love. Have a great holiday. See you next year.

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Ciao,

Stef