For many of us, this is a special time of the year. So much so that we think of it as a season of joy because joy involves changing how we engage in the world. Find out how this feeling of joy is related to Maslow’s 1964 concept of peak experiences in this week’s blog.

Recent research in the neuroscience of learning has revealed a linkage between overall well-being and the learning process. Educators understand this linkage and have become increasingly concerned about the high level of stress and anxiety in today’s learning environment. That's because they know learning is maximized when it occurs in a positive, healthy, efficient, and effective manner. So, what can we do about it?

Many organizations understand that in today’s business environment, employees need more than traditional technical skills for the organization to not only be successful but to avoid becoming extinct. And, emotional intelligence (EI) is one of the most common ways they are attempting to assess their employees’ ability to grow and adapt. But, can EI be taught and developed?

When you think of the benefits of mindfulness, what comes to mind? Being present? Reducing stress? Quieting your thoughts? Yes, yes and yes. And now we have evidence that mindfulness puts learners in an optimal engagement and retention zone.