I studied Social Work at the University of the Free State. My first employment was at the Department of Welfare and later at the Child Welfare Society in Bloemfontein. During 1991 I relocated to Gauteng where I worked at the South African Society for Child and Family Welfare, mainly doing research. I received my doctorate in Social Work at the same university during 1995 and thereafter I started my private practice.
Emotional Intelligence for me was and still is the best way of doing preventative work and guide people to learn the skills so much needed in life. I did intensive research on the topic (and various others) to have a holistic course available. Clients who made use of this course include teachers, ministers, house wives, psychologists, managers of various companies, counsellors, etc. Companies where I and in some instances with Dr. Rina de Klerk facilitated this course were ABSA, De Beers (Musina), Goldfields (Virginia), Strong Foundation (Cape Town), The Pretoria Water Board, Wes Bank, Kumba-Resources, Beaufort Institute, Hot-Dogz, Kellogg's, Krygkor, Barlow World and others. Various public courses were facilitated in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Upington. I attended an International Conference on Emotional Intelligence in Chicago during 1999 and was a speaker (with Rina) at The First African Conference on the same topic in Durban during 2002.
After years of facilitating EQ courses for groups and individuals (since 1998), it was natural for me to grow spiritually. I was restless as if something was missing and I struggled with the questions, "Why am I here? Do I have a special task?" This exploration was not always easy or plain sailing, but with the help of a mentor (Dr.Heinrich Kleinschmidt) I received my "I am" on the 20th of April 2007. "I am Compassion!" --- What a wonderful realisation that fortunately and quite unknowingly I was already following my life purpose in my work with people, facilitating courses and doing therapy. What I needed was further growth and it was logical for me to become interested in the next step - spiritual wellbeing.
My movement in this direction was undeniably confirmed to me when I recently read the definition of spiritual intelligence which Cindy Wigglesworth formulated. She is of the opinion that spiritual intelligence is all about unconditional love - love for yourself and others. However she felt that the word "love" is not really workable in a formal definition. This led her to the definition of love that is being used in the East where the saying is: "Love is a bird with two wings: one wing is Compassion, the other wing is Wisdom... if either wing is missing the bird cannot fly." Her definition of spiritual intelligence is: "the ability to behave with Compassion and Wisdom while maintaining inner and outer peace (equanimity) regardless of the circumstances". According to her, people with spiritual intelligence behave with love - now defined as Wisdom and Compassion. She sees Wisdom as the most elevated stage of development of the intellect (head - IQ) and Compassion as the most elevated stage of Emotional Intelligence (heart - EQ).
If you look at it in this way, it is clear that we need both IQ and EQ to become SQ. And this is also why I (as an "expert" on EQ) am convinced that I was led to lead others to spiritual growth.
"As you begin to live in the present moment, you will experience a subtle but profound change. A deep peace will enfold you, a peace that says, 'All is well'. Everything is unfolding according to plan and you are being guided each step along the way." Mary M. Morrissey
