It's time, people. Can we please stop calling them negative emotions?! 🙏 Whether you're a EQ thought leader, or someone just starting out to understand what is happening from our neck down and what feeling exist, this applies to you.

Hear the case on why we need to stop calling the uncomfortable feelings 'negative.' This is not a new idea. I heard it for years from my mentors, Drs. Bob and Judith Wright where I studied emotional intelligence along with Transformational Leadership & Coaching, for well over a decade.

The old way: Anything that isn't 'pleasant' = negative.

The new way: Anger, fear, frustration, sadness or anything that doesn't feel "positive" aren’t negative. They’re uncomfortable.

For us tech leaders trained to stay composed and table our emotions, the word “negative” carries a hidden message: something is broken.

This judgment stacks shame on top of the feeling, and suppression only makes emotions fester and get louder, and naming what you feel actually calms the brain. 🧠

So, let's change up how we use our words, in service to how we can show up more resilient, regulated, and ready for what's next.

We'll dicuss the neuroscience of emotion and the data each uncomfortable emotion carries, and then leads you through a practice you can use in your very next tense meeting.

In this episode:

• 💬 Why “uncomfortable” is a sensation and “negative” is the verdict that stays, and adds up
• 🔍 What anger, fear, frustration, sadness, envy and anxiety are trying to tell you
• 🚨 How muting an emotion is like muting an alert while the incident keeps running
• 🧠 The science behind “name it to tame it”
• 🤝 Why emotions are part of the machinery of good decisions, trust and psychological safety
• ⏸️ The 90 second Seat at the Table practice: Pause, Name it, Ask what it’s telling you, Express it, Choose

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  Watch on YouTube instead:

  https://youtu.be/yMnY8E-2vEM

Your invitation this week: 🔄 Every time you catch yourself saying “negative emotion,” swap it for “uncomfortable.” Notice what shifts.

Ready for rooted confidence? 🌱 This is exactly the work we do inside the Confident Tech Exec Mastermind (CTEM).

If you’re a tech leader ready to stop white knuckling it and start leading from a grounded place, book a call: https://calendly.com/rachaelomeara/30mins

What if a pause isn’t about taking time off, but about changing how you show up?

In this solo episode, I reflect on a series of experiences that took me from San Francisco to Ireland to India, each offering a different lesson about how we navigate life and leadership. 🌍

A wedding reminded me that connection is a form of wealth.

Unpredictable weather in Donegal became an unexpected perspective pause.

A device free mindfulness retreat showed me what happens when we step away from the constant stream of input.

And traveling through India challenged me to loosen my grip on control. 🙏

Together, these experiences reinforced something I see again and again with high achieving leaders: we can spend so much energy trying to plan, optimize, anticipate, and control what happens next that we lose touch with what’s happening right now.

Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is step away from the inputs.

In this episode, I explore presence, perspective, gratitude, connection, and letting go of control, and why these aren’t just wellness practices. They are leadership skills for navigating uncertainty with greater clarity and self trust. ✨

Digital Detox Retreat Reference & info: Timelessness.com

What if the thing missing from your leadership isn't another framework... but your body? 🌺

I reconnect with fellow former Googler Elise Birkhofer, who led Google's Women's Initiative for nine years, supporting 60,000 people across 120 countries. After losing her brother, Elise paused, got radically honest about what felt aligned, and built a new life as a love and leadership coach leading immersive retreats in Kauai.

If you're a tech leader who is crushing it on paper but running on fumes inside, this one's for you. 💛

In this episode:

🫀 A guided pause you can use before your next big meeting
🧠 Why emotional intelligence is the leadership skill nobody taught you
🌊 How stored stress lives in the body (and how to release it)
💃 Why dancing in your kitchen counts as professional development
🔥 Burnout and perfectionism inside big tech
🚀 Rebuilding confidence after leaving a stable corporate role

Don't miss:

⏱️ (02:31) A guided pause: breath, heart connection, and gratitude
⏱️ (12:15) Emotional intelligence as a teachable skill for leaders
⏱️ (22:53) Rebuilding confidence after leaving a stable role

"The heart and body are the access points to our truest selves." ✨

Your nervous system doesn't care about your title. Press play, take the pause, and come back to the leader you actually are. 🙏