The Smarter Kind of Smart
Reflections: Years ago, I thought “being smart” was mostly about what you knew.
Facts, skills, problem-solving — if you could think fast, recall details, and analyze a situation, you were ahead of the game. That’s the way I worked for most of my law enforcement career.
But then life knocked me sideways. And suddenly, the things that mattered most weren’t the ones I could solve with a quick calculation or a rule book.
When I was in pain, frustrated, and unsure of my next step, I didn’t need a higher IQ.
I needed to understand my own emotions before they drove my decisions.
I needed to hear what people were really saying — and what they weren’t.
I needed to connect with people so they would want to help me, not just because they could.
That’s when I learned the value of Emotional Intelligence, or EQ.
What EQ Really Is
EQ isn’t about knowing more. It’s about knowing yourself — your triggers, your patterns, your strengths — and understanding others enough to navigate the messy, unpredictable parts of life.
Where IQ might help you pass a test, EQ helps you read a room.
Where IQ can solve a problem, EQ can prevent a misunderstanding from becoming one.
And here’s the good news — EQ isn’t fixed.
Just like neuroplasticity lets us rewire our brains for new habits and skills, you can train yourself to:
Respond with patience instead of irritation
Ask a question instead of making an assumption
Stay calm in the middle of chaos
Choose curiosity over judgment
Why It Matters to You — the Hero
If you’re still on the road, still working to rebuild or move forward, EQ is one of the most powerful tools you can carry inside what I call The Energy Base.
The Energy Base is your personal zone of stability where safety meets forward motion. It’s where you gather strength, focus your energy, and move forward with purpose. EQ is part of that — it’s what helps you keep your footing when emotions start shifting the ground beneath you.
Every time you pause instead of react, listen instead of argue, or offer understanding instead of defensiveness, you’re pushing the edges of The Energy Base outward. And when you do that, you’re not just making progress — you’re making your safe space bigger and stronger for the next challenge ahead.
Some of the biggest turning points in your journey won’t happen because you had the perfect answer.
They’ll happen because you handled the moment in a way that kept the door open to your next opportunity, your next ally, your next step forward.
—Thumper