Emotional intelligence doesn’t grow in dramatic moments — it grows in small, intentional choices repeated every day. Today, I want to invite you to do one simple practice that can profoundly strengthen your emotional awareness: ✨ The One-Minute Pause At least once today — right when you feel a reaction rising — take 60 seconds to pause. During that pause: - Notice what emotion is showing up - Put a name to it (even if it’s imperfect) - Take one slow breath in… and one slow breath out - Then choose a response instead of reacting That’s it. One minute. But here’s the truth: This tiny practice rewires emotional patterns, sharpens self-awareness, and quietly builds the emotional strength we all want. Little things become big things. Small choices become strong habits. Daily pauses become emotional power. I’m proud of the work you’re doing — not because it’s perfect, but because it’s intentional. Let me know in the comments if you’re taking on today’s One-Minute Pause. I’d love to hear how it impacts you. — Mike Lafrance Stronger on the Inside

Today, I realized something that hadn't really crossed my mind before. My mom was asking me about something and I gave her the information. Since it required her to do something on the internet she asked me if I could do it for her. Before she even opened her mouth to ask, I had prematurely decided that I would tell her to do it herself. But since she asked politely, before I answered I asked myself, "how hard could this be for me?", and I said Yes. As I ponder this it occurs to me how small habits we have like being patient, non-combative and using a soft tone really can help us out. My mom couldn't have read my mind but she responded the right way and got a favorable response.

I was wondering why the written lessons dont show up as done when I clicked next after going through the material. I realized that in order for the course to mark it as finished I had to press the check mark button on the top right of my screen.

I’m truly grateful you’re here. This space was created for one purpose: to grow together. Emotional intelligence isn’t just a skill — it’s a journey inward that strengthens every part of our lives. My book Stronger on the Inside was written to help people understand themselves more deeply, communicate with clarity, and navigate emotions with confidence. But this community is where that growth becomes shared. As we begin, I’d love to hear from you: 👉 What does “being strong on the inside” mean to you? There’s no right or wrong answer — just your honest voice. Whether it’s resilience, self-awareness, faith, compassion, or learning to respond instead of react… your perspective matters here. Let’s build a place where we lift each other, learn together, and become stronger from the inside out. 💛 Drop your thoughts below — I can’t wait to read them.