Emily Kitazawa

Emily found her love of reading and writing at a young age, learning to enjoy these activities thanks to being taught them by her mom—Goodnight Moon will forever be a favorite. As a young adult, Emily graduated with her English degree, specializing in Creative Writing and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), from the University of Central Florida. She later earned her master’s degree in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University. Emily loves reading fiction, especially modern Japanese, historical, crime, and philosophical fiction. Her personal writing is inspired by observations of people and nature.

ChatGPT and Education: The Benefits & Dangers Explained

How can ChatGPT and education work together? What are the potential benefits or dangers of AI tools to education? When it comes to ChatGPT and education, the biggest fear of educators is that it will kill critical thinking. While some believe AI software will jeopardize the thinking and writing skills of students, others are more optimistic, arguing that ChatGPT could be used in education as a learning tool. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of ChatGPT in education, based on the educators’ perspective.

The Importance of Being Polite for Better Communication

What’s the importance of being polite? How does being polite improve the quality of communication? The authors of The School of Life claim that many of us have come to associate being polite with being condescending. However, they say the importance of politeness has been lost due to this inaccurate view. Communicating with politeness, they say, can improve your relationships in many ways. Read on to learn about the importance of being polite in communication, according to the authors.

How to Build Trust With Employees as a Leader

What are some good ways to build trust with employees? How can leaders connect better with their employees? To build trust with employees, performance consultant Sir John Whitmore suggests that leaders learn coaching skills to empower their employees and make the most of their potential. In Coaching for Performance, he provides coaching strategies for leaders hoping to build trust in the workplace. Read on to learn how to build trust with employees as a leader, according to Whitmore’s advice.

The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler: Book Overview

What’s The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler about? What is a flow state? How does flow impact your brain and life? In recent decades, athletes have been shattering performance barriers at a faster rate than ever before. In The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler, he argues that mastering flow is the secret to these, and other, seemingly superhuman feats. Read on to learn about mastering flow in our brief overview of The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler.

5 Ways to Improve Emotional Intelligence in Communication

Want to know how to connect authentically with others? How can improving emotional intelligence in communication help? Emotional intelligence in communication means the ability to intelligently bond with someone by understanding the emotions behind their words or actions. If this sounds desirable, The School of Life offers several methods for strengthening your emotional intelligence in communication. Read on to learn five ways to strengthen your emotional intelligence in communication, according to The School of Life.

What Is the GROW Model in Coaching & How Do You Use It?

What is the GROW model in coaching? When should you use it? What are the four stages of the GROW model? The GROW model in coaching was developed by Sir John Whitmore and his colleagues as a way to help employees set goals, maximize their potential, and improve performance. The GROW model has four stages and focuses on having the employee take ownership of their work to improve self-reliance. Read on to learn more about the GROW model in coaching and how to use it, according to Whitmore.

How to Get Into a Flow State: Steven Kotler’s 4 Steps

Want to know how to get into a flow state? What does Steven Kotler recommend? What are the stages of flow? According to journalist Steven Kotler, you can’t enter a flow state, or a state of deep focus, on command. In his book The Rise of Superman, he explains how to get into a flow state, based on following the four stages of flow. Read on to learn how to get into a flow state, according to Kotler’s advice.

Why Emotional Intelligence Is Missing in Most Relationships

Why is there a lack of emotional intelligence in relationships? What is Romanticism and how does it affect relationships? According to The School of Life, emotional intelligence is missing in most modern relationships because we’ve developed an unhealthy view of love and marriage. The authors argue that, rather than focusing on emotional intelligence, most relationships focus on Romanticism, which is unrealistic and unhealthy. Read on to learn more about the lack of emotional intelligence in relationships, according to the authors.

How a Flow State Affects Brain Waves & Performance

What’s the relationship between a flow state and brain waves? How do your brain waves change when you enter a flow state? According to Steven Kotler’s book The Rise of Superman, in a flow state, the brain waves you produce temporarily change, allowing you to perform at your best. He specifically describes five of the brain waves that are positively affected by entering a flow state. Read on to learn more about how achieving a flow state affects brain waves, according to Kotler.

4 Healthy Relationship Habits to Improve Emotional Intimacy

Looking to learn some healthy relationship habits? How can you improve your emotional intimacy with your partner? The authors of The School of Life argue that most healthy relationship habits have a foundation in emotional intelligence, which means your ability to understand how your and others’ emotions work. In the book, they explain four habits to learn for a healthy relationship, based on this principle. Read on to discover these four habits for a healthy relationship, according to the advice in The School of Life.