The Best Fruit
How Raising Your Emotional Intelligence Helps Spiritual Development
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
The Best Fruit is about how high emotional intelligence augments what the Christian Bible calls the fruit of the spirit. The goal of this book is to highlight how increasing one's emotional intelligence actually augments the work of God in the individual. The author emphasizes character traits and mental habits that can lead to successful living, greater leadership ability, and relationship building as they relate to the fruit of the spirit. Christians believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is at work to cultivate behavior and characteristics that are pleasing to God and that add not only to the individual's quality of life but to their community engagement. The text gives several examples, from the author's life experience, from history, and from the Bible, of how emotions can highjack a person's cognitive ability. Yet this book also extolls the virtues of high emotional intelligence and gives examples of its effect on a person's ability to successfully navigate life's challenges. The author concludes with suggestions and resources to start increasing emotional intelligence.
Jacquelyn M. Ragin is a recently retired senior pastor, published author, and podcaster. Ragin authored the bestseller Stepping in: The Art of Leading a Church Through Transition, a book about transitional ministry. Her podcast Ready to Go with Pastor Jacqui encourages prophetic women in ministry. She created the Northeast Ohio Symposium on D.Min Project Research to encourage seminary education and to build relationships between the seminary, churches, and communities. She hold a Masters in nonprofit organizations and two seminary degrees, including a DMin. Ragin serves as a board member of the McCreary Center for African American Religious Studies, is a mother of three children, and currently calls Ohio home.
“Emotional Intelligence could be labeled a buzzword, but that is not the case in this informative book that ties together EI and spiritual life. The author brings the reader to a basic understanding of how EI informs and transforms our spiritual development. This is an enjoyable and practical read, yet educational with definitions and categories explained. Jacquelyn Ragin takes the reader on a journey to discover greater spiritual life through the lens of EI.”
—Dawn Morton, director of advanced degree programs and assessment, Ashland Theological Seminary
“The Best Fruit is a must-read for leaders, professionals, and those striving to fulfill their God-given purpose in life. The author does an excellent job of weaving the spiritual and natural process of developing emotional intelligence. This book gives outstanding illustrations and practical tools for understanding the importance of developing emotional intelligence in one’s life, and it gives a great understanding of how those who lack emotional intelligence can impact relationships and ultimately leave one not fulfilling their God-given purpose in their life.”
—Martina Moore, president and CEO, Moore Counseling & Mediation Services