Brilliant Green

Are plants intelligent? Can they solve problems, communicate, and navigate their surroundings? Or are they passive, incapable of independent action or social behavior? Philosophers and scientists have pondered these questions since ancient Greece, most often concluding that plants are unthinking and inert: they are too silent, too sedentary - just too different from us. Yet discoveries over the past 50 years have challenged these ideas, shedding new light on the extraordinary capabilities and complex interior lives of plants.

In Shattered to Shining, nine women and one male domestic violence survivor describe how they were shattered, as their home became a place where physical and sexual violence, emotional and psychological control dominated their lives. Through persistence and courage, they have risen above their situation and come out the other side shining with positivity, strength, commitment, and empathy for others.

People who have high emotional intelligence enjoy more success in every area of life: social, emotional, physical, and financial. Research shows that EQ is one of the strongest indicators of human success and that people with strong emotional intelligence are more likely to succeed than those with high IQs or relevant experience. Higher emotional intelligence helps us to have stronger internal motivators, which can reduce procrastination, increase self-confidence, and improve our ability to focus on a goal.