For leaders, coaches, and anyone driven by personal growth, emotional intelligence is more than just a skill—it’s a powerful tool for resilience and authentic connection. For Eric Pennington, EQ became the difference between reacting on impulse and making intentional, purpose-driven choices. In this article, he shares how understanding his emotions helped him overcome setbacks, connect with others, and find meaning even in the toughest times. His story offers a roadmap for anyone looking to harness the power of emotions for better decision-making and meaningful change.

From Enemy to Ally: How Eric Pennington Changed His Relationship with His Own Emotions – and Found His Life’s Purpose

by Maddalena Campitelli

“Why don’t you give your emotions the mic? You might find the emotions are not trying to mess up your life. They’re not trying to harm you. They just want to say something to you.”
– Eric Pennington

Eric’s First Emotional Intelligence Lesson: An Impulsive Decision from Hurt Feelings

Eric discovered Emotional Intelligence (EQ) out of necessity, describing it as “a bit of a hard lesson” when he was a young man climbing the corporate ladder – or more accurately, not climbing it as quickly as he expected to. Reading about emotional intelligence piqued his interest, but the practical implications hadn’t yet hit home. Then, a pivotal moment changed everything: he lost a big promotion he felt sure he’d land.
Reflecting on this experience years later, Eric recognizes how valuable EQ tools would have been in that moment. “Having the competencies of EQ at that time in my life, I think I would have made a better decision than what I made at that time. And I don’t say that out of regret, because that’s a part of my story,” he shares. It would have allowed him to avoid the result of that painful disappointment which resulted in a surge of complex emotions he hadn’t learned to handle, from anger to feelings of betrayal. Amidst these swirling feelings, he impulsively made a bad financial decision he would later regret—a sort of “I’ll show them” act, driven by a mix of hurt pride and frustration.
This moment, rooted in emotional impulse, ultimately planted the seed that led him to pursue a deeper understanding of EQ—a skill he now teaches others.

Meeting Spirit of EQ: Eric’s EQ Interest Takes Flight 

As a panelist at a conference on employee engagement, Eric met Jim and Lynette Vaive, founders of Spirit of EQ, a coaching and consulting company based in Ohio, USA, that assists individuals and organizations to reach their full potential by developing emotional and spiritual intelligence. Their mission is to be a force for human breakthrough that leads to change that is felt across the spectrum of business and personal domains. Spirit of EQ is also part of Six Seconds’ Preferred Partner Network–organizations with certification and expertise to effectively use Six Seconds methods in organizational transformation, and this is how he started his EQ journey and slowly got connected to Six Seconds. Eric didn’t know that meeting would mark the beginning of his next adventure, but he could feel something had just happened: “It was as if God grabbed me and said, you’re not going anywhere. This is your next chapter,” Eric recalls.
Soon after, he began consulting with Spirit of EQ, eventually joining as managing partner in 2019. Since then, Eric’s involvement has only deepened, including earning certifications from Six Seconds – Unlocking EQ (UEQ); EQ Assessor (EQAC); Brain Profiler Certification (BPC); EQ Practitioner (EQPC); Advanced EQ Facilitator (EQAF); EQ Performance Metrics Cert (EQPM) – that allow him to bring scientifically-backed tools to his clients. “It was life-changing because of the content and the tools,” he says. “I was helping clients with it, but at the same time, I was also helping myself.” This dual benefit cemented his dedication to EQ, and he now sees it as an integral part of his personal and professional mission. 

Unpacking Emotions in the Workplace: ‘Just Another Form of Data’

In his role at Spirit of EQ, Eric wears many hats, from handling operations to leading client outreach and managing finances. But his true passion lies in his coaching work, where he guides individuals and teams in learning the language of emotions. Among his clients are engineers and other analytically-minded professionals, who often greet the idea of EQ with some skepticism. “Engineers are typically very analytical, so they’re a bit more skeptical. They wonder if this is going to be some ‘touchy-feely’ session”, so instead of trying to convince clients to leave their analytical strengths behind, Eric reframes EQ as a way of balancing those strengths with the emotional brain—a resource just as vital for personal and professional growth. His method is to keep it scientific and practical. Eric explains to clients that no one is asking them to abandon logic, but instead to explore how understanding emotions can enrich decision-making. He introduces EQ as an addition to their toolkit, providing insights that are just as powerful as any technical skill. His goal? To help clients realize that “emotions are just another form of data.” For many, this simple reframe opens up a whole new understanding of their own mental processes and interactions, allowing both sides of the brain to work together in harmony.

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Meet Eric Pennington Website + LinkedIn →

Professional achievements: Eric Pennington is the managing partner at Spirit of EQ and a certified practitioner in varied emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and neuroscience tools. He has designed and delivered learning experiences for organizations across the spectrum of public and private domains. The experiences include coaching, group workshops and ongoing learning cohorts. Eric has over 15 years of practical entrepreneurship and leadership experience inside of small and large organizations. He has advised multiple entrepreneurs and senior leaders through coaching and group facilitation. He is the author of the eye-opening book, “The Well-Being Guide: Making the Most of Life and Work” based on personal experiences and as a follow-up to his book, “Waking Up in Corporate America”.

Favorite Six Seconds Learning Philosophy: “Wisdom Lives Within”

Learn about Six Seconds Learning Philosophy →

Noble Goal: “To pour out what God has poured into me”

Learn about Six Seconds Noble Goals →  

Her “Don’t Miss This” Six Seconds tools & courses: The SEI and SEQ Dev Reports.

‘Why Don’t You Give Your Emotions the Mic?’

One of Eric’s most memorable coaching moments came with a client dealing with a challenging home life. During a group training session, this person opened up about how she dreaded going home, often pausing in her car before stepping inside, overcome by anxiety. It turned out her mother-in-law lived with her, often bombarding her with complaints the moment she walked in. Eric encouraged her to consider what her frustration was really trying to communicate. After a long pause, she finally realized, “I don’t think I want her to live with us.” Through this breakthrough, she understood her frustration was pointing her toward a change she needed to make. She felt instant relief and clarity.
Moments like this reinforce Eric’s belief that emotions are signals, guiding us toward better choices if we listen. He emphasizes that EQ is not about ignoring uncomfortable emotions but instead acknowledging and understanding them. The Six Second Pause—a technique to help people let strong emotions settle before reacting—is one tool he frequently shares with clients. “The chemicals of emotion inside our brains and bodies only last about six seconds,” he explains. Pausing allows clients to calm down, take stock, and consider a more intentional response. “Why don’t you give your emotions the mic?” he often asks clients. “They’re not trying to mess up your life. They just want to say something to you.”.

Rediscovering Purpose Through Loss and Change

On a personal level, EQ has been invaluable to Eric, especially in navigating profound loss. Recently, he went through a period marked by the deaths of several loved ones, an experience that might once have sent him into a tailspin. “Well, there are two things that have sustained me: one, my relationship with Jesus Christ, and two, that I no longer run from my emotions and I no longer see them as my enemy. Actually, now I see them as my ally,” he reflects. He explains that EQ has allowed him to build a practice of being present with his emotions, even during painful times. “I can now walk through life with a level of ease versus franticness… Don’t misunderstand me; it’s really tough and it really sucks at times, but that’s okay, too, because that’s a part of the story.” This practice has shifted his perspective entirely, allowing him to embrace life’s challenges with more resilience and insight. If he were still in his old corporate role, he muses, he likely would have coped by burying himself in work, never allowing himself the space to truly process his emotions. But now, with the EQ tools he’s cultivated, he approaches each day with an openness that he hopes to pass along to others.

From Acceptance to Growth: Navigating Emotional Awareness

Beyond merely “accepting” emotions, Eric sees EQ as a path to continuous self-discovery.
The essence of EQ is especially evident in times of uncertainty. Eric reflects on the chaos of the pandemic, which he feels revealed our over-reliance on logic and external success. “We were so focused on the analytical brain—on making money, acquiring things, adulation, and power,” he says, “but the pandemic pulled the rug out from underneath us, and all of a sudden, all these emotions were raging and we didn’t know what to do.”
With EQ, Eric believes individuals and organizations alike can find tools to not only survive but thrive, even amidst chaos. “The beautiful part is that we’re able to help people discover there are tools,” he says. “It’s not rocket science; it’s accessible to everyone.” and he looks forward to working with more and more clients to expose as many as possible to emotional intelligence. For Eric, EQ remains a lifelong practice, one that he hopes will continue to grow and transform lives, just as it has transformed his own

Thank you Eric for sharing your EQ journey with us!

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Want more resources on how to use emotional intelligence to build resilience and navigate workplace and life challenges?

Navigating Emotions to Increase Personal Connection 
Emotional Intelligence at Work
Nurture Employees with EQ
Increase Resilience: Three Key Neuroscience Facts + Strategies from Emotional Intelligence