Most leaders think they’re self-aware — but they’re often just self-critical. The truth is, you can’t lead what you don’t feel. When emotions go unnamed, they run the show from behind the scenes, shaping decisions, reactions, and team dynamics. In this episode of Badass Softie, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Tera Wages to unpack why emotional fluency is the missing link between burnout and breakthrough. Tera introduces the Core Emotion Wheel — a simple but transformative framework for identifying and naming emotions that can completely change how you lead, parent, and communicate. By learning to spot what’s really happening beneath the surface, you stop reacting out of fear or frustration and start responding with clarity, empathy, and control. It’s a tool that gives you language for what you feel so your emotions become data, not drama — and that shift changes everything about how you lead others and yourself. In this episode you’ll take away: -Why most leaders misread their emotions — and how to change that -How to use the Core Emotion Wheel to navigate tough conversations -The difference between “fixing” emotions and actually feeling them -How emotional clarity turns reaction into intentional leadership -Practical ways to bring calm, confidence, and connection into your day Get the Core Emotion Wheel at ConnectionCodes.co/BadassSoftie — the exact tool Tera shares to help you name what you’re feeling before it turns into burnout or conflict. 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube @BadassSoftie 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify When you stop running from emotion and start naming it, you unlock your ability to lead with both clarity and compassion — the essence of being a Badass Softie. www.BadassSoftie.com