Motivation aside, if people get better at these life skills, everyone benefits: The brain doesn't distinguish between being a more empathic manager and a more empathic father.

The emotional brain responds to an event more quickly than the thinking brain.

There is zero correlation between IQ and emotional empathy... They're controlled by different parts of the brain.

Empathy and social skills are social intelligence, the interpersonal part of emotional intelligence. That's why they look alike.

Some children naturally have more cognitive control than others, and in all kids this essential skill is being compromised by the usual suspects: smartphones, TV, etc. But there are many ways that adults can help kids learn better cognitive control.

Brain studies of mental workouts in which you sustain a single, chosen focus show that the more you detach from what's distracting you and refocus on what you should be paying attention to, the stronger this brain circuitry becomes.