Have you ever been asked to do something that highlights your insecurities?
What is your first reaction? Fear? Anger? Avoidance? Determination? Courage?
Recently, my team asked me to write a blog on the Six Seconds Think, Feel, Act model and how we can use it to move toward our goals. Seems simple enough, right? I’m an EQ coach.
But here’s the truth: I didn’t want to write the blog. My first reaction was fear and avoidance (disguised as delegation).
I didn’t want to write it because I care – and that caring made me feel vulnerable. What if I waste my time? What if the content isn’t useful? What if I write something bad?
And there it is — emotional data. As an EQ professional, I know that emotions aren’t random; they’re information. Fear tells me something is at risk. What is at risk? My credibility, client satisfaction, and timeliness all come to mind. That's a lot to hold, but it's also an invitation to apply the tools I coach others to use.
Let’s take a moment to zoom out.
Fear originates in a part of the brain responsible for detecting threats and triggering our fight-flight-freeze response. It’s fast, reactive, and deeply protective. When something feels like it is risky — like writing a blog that others might judge — your brain doesn’t distinguish between a lion chasing you or an imagined threat to your reputation.
With emotional intelligence, we learn to recognize the emotion and consciously evaluate the threat to understand, am I truly unsafe or is this a perceived threat? This is critical for both personal development and for building organizational culture where people are engaged and are able to innovate and grow.
The Think, Feel, Act model from Six Seconds gives us a powerful framework to respond with intention instead of reactivity. It invites us to pause and ask:
Yes, the Think, Feel, Act cycle can start at any point.
Here’s how I processed my moment of resistance:
That cycle makes sense. It’s protective. But it also keeps me stuck. So what happens if I shift one part of the model?
New thought: “I’m not confident yet, but I’m willing to try.”
New action: “I write the blog anyway, despite the fear.”
“Emotions Drive People. People Drive Performance.” - Six Seconds
In my career as a dietitian, personal trainer, HR professional, and an EQ coach, I’ve seen this truth again and again: our emotions fuel our performance.
When individuals develop emotional intelligence, they become more resilient, focused, and aligned with their purpose.
And when those individuals bring that emotional intelligence into their organizations – practicing and modeling it – they help shape cultures aligned with mission and values.
These are cultures built on clarity, courage, resilience and growth.
Imagine if your organization:
These aren’t just personal aspirations — they’re evidence-based, strategic business goals.
That’s why at Step Up, we integrate emotional intelligence across the spectrum of our work — with individuals, teams, and organizations. Because when people understand, include, and act on emotional data — especially across diverse teams — we build cultures of courage, connection, and growth that move missions forward and strengthen business results.
What are you working on today?
The Think, Feel, Act model gives you a way to navigate any of these with greater clarity and emotional agility. Your emotions are data. The question is: What will you do with it?
Curious how the Think, Feel, Act model can support your personal growth — or help your team or culture evolve?
Let’s talk. If you're working to shape a values-driven organization, emotional intelligence is the foundation for sustainable change.
Jeannine Bindl is a certified EQ Practitioner and Assessor through Six Seconds. For more information on Think Feel Act, visit www.6seconds.org/tfa. The Think Feel Act model is copyright of Six Seconds, used with permission.
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