Choices Quote by Daniel Goleman
“Emotional self-control is NOT the same as overcontrol, the stifling of all feeling and spontaneity…when such emotional suppression is chronic, it can impair thinking, hamper intellectual performance and interfere with smooth social interaction. By contrast, emotional competence implies we have a choice as to how we express our feelings.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Emotional Intelligence, 1995
Emotional self‑control differs from over‑control; healthy competence means choosing how to express feelings without suppressing them.
In simple terms: Self‑control isn’t the same as repressing emotions.
Practice emotional competence, not just suppression.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- workplace communication
- personal relationships
- stress management
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide when to express or hold back feelings?
- What strategies help balance emotion and reason?
Over‑control can stifle creativity and social connection.