In a world that’s constantly changing, the ability to understand and manage emotions is no longer a “nice-to-have”— it is essential. Whether in schools, workplaces, or at home, emotional intelligence (EQ) is at the heart of effective communication, strong relationships, and meaningful decisions.
One of the most impactful tools for building EQ in an accessible, playful, and profound way is the Think Feel Act Cards from Six Seconds, the global nonprofit dedicated to emotional intelligence.
I have found the cards a very powerful tool in both counselling and coaching. In the workplace, employees may not wish to talk through a difficult situation or confrontation that they have had with a colleague or manager.
The TFA cards are a brilliant tool to allow someone to work through a situation to determine how they really feel about the scenario. Did they respond or did they simply react? They can examine their feelings, thoughts and actions in the cold light of day. What is even more powerful is the ability to work through how the client can handle a future scenario more effectively.
Additionally naming emotions is the first step toward managing them. Neuroscience supports this: labelling feeling helps reduce their intensity and makes it easier to choose a productive response.
The Think Feel Act (TFA) Cards are a hands-on resource designed to help people of all ages explore how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact. Each card features a word and image representing a specific thought, feeling, or action. The deck is divided into three color-coded categories:
Think – Logical, belief-based or interpretation-focused words (e.g., “I’m not good enough” or “It’s going to be okay”).
❤️ Feel – Emotional states ranging from joy to fear to sadness (e.g., “Excited,” “Anxious,” “Grateful”).
Act – Behaviours or impulses resulting from our inner experiences (e.g., “Shut down,” “Speak up,” “Help someone”).
The beauty of this tool is how it reveals the dynamic interplay between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and how awareness of this cycle empowers change.
The cards are grounded in the TFA model of emotional intelligence, which illustrates a simple but transformative truth. Emotions drive people and people drive performance.
I have witnessed first-hand, how clients have used the cards and had a light bulb moment as they have worked through a situation that has troubled them. You witness the moment that they accept responsibility for their words, thoughts and actions. Moving forward they know that they have a choice on how they can think, feel and act in the future.
It’s equally of value to use the cards when a client doesn’t want to talk through a situation, because it helps them to process their actions by discussing the cards they have chosen and why.
One of 6Seconds, philosophies is “no way is the way” so there is no right or wrong way to use the cards. It is owned by the user.
A great tool for HR, Leaders and Business Owners,
# emotional intelligence #EQ #Leadership # 6seconds #conflict
