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6 Steps to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence | Ramona Hacker | TEDxTUM


[Music]

[Music] I want to start with doing a small

I want to start with doing a small

I want to start with doing a small survey with you for that please put your

survey with you for that please put your

survey with you for that please put your hands into your laps and close your eyes

hands into your laps and close your eyes

hands into your laps and close your eyes I will now pose a couple of questions to

I will now pose a couple of questions to

I will now pose a couple of questions to which I would love to have a very honest

which I would love to have a very honest

which I would love to have a very honest answer just by a show of hands no

answer just by a show of hands no

answer just by a show of hands no worries no one will judge you for it the

worries no one will judge you for it the

worries no one will judge you for it the first question is who of you has thought

first question is who of you has thought

first question is who of you has thought within the past week about whether or

within the past week about whether or

within the past week about whether or not you are an emotionally intelligent

not you are an emotionally intelligent

not you are an emotionally intelligent person now that you think of it would

person now that you think of it would

person now that you think of it would you consider yourself emotionally

you consider yourself emotionally

you consider yourself emotionally intelligent please raise your hand if

intelligent please raise your hand if

intelligent please raise your hand if you do so and who of you has ever worked

you do so and who of you has ever worked

you do so and who of you has ever worked consciously on your emotional skill

thank you for sharing you can now open

thank you for sharing you can now open your eyes again and thank you also for

your eyes again and thank you also for

your eyes again and thank you also for being so very honest with me now I also

being so very honest with me now I also

being so very honest with me now I also want to be honest with you emotional

want to be honest with you emotional

want to be honest with you emotional intelligence is not necessarily my main

intelligence is not necessarily my main

intelligence is not necessarily my main strength when I make decisions I base

strength when I make decisions I base

strength when I make decisions I base them solely on my rationale if friends

them solely on my rationale if friends

them solely on my rationale if friends from school hear me do this talk right

from school hear me do this talk right

from school hear me do this talk right now they will be very surprised because

now they will be very surprised because

now they will be very surprised because back then I didn’t even consider it

back then I didn’t even consider it

back then I didn’t even consider it emotions as something crucial they

emotions as something crucial they

emotions as something crucial they weren’t logical I couldn’t explain them

weren’t logical I couldn’t explain them

weren’t logical I couldn’t explain them very well

very well

very well so why would I care I never even

so why would I care I never even

so why would I care I never even actively thought about the topic until

actively thought about the topic until

actively thought about the topic until five years ago when I dropped out of a

five years ago when I dropped out of a

five years ago when I dropped out of a job because of a burnout it was then

job because of a burnout it was then

job because of a burnout it was then that my very emotional side was revealed

that my very emotional side was revealed

that my very emotional side was revealed and while I rarely cry before especially

and while I rarely cry before especially

and while I rarely cry before especially not in front of people I just couldn’t

not in front of people I just couldn’t

not in front of people I just couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my

stop the tears from streaming down my

stop the tears from streaming down my face at the most inconvenient of times

face at the most inconvenient of times

face at the most inconvenient of times anymore several times a day I went to

anymore several times a day I went to

anymore several times a day I went to the restroom just to hide my suffering

the restroom just to hide my suffering

the restroom just to hide my suffering and that made very clear to me that I

and that made very clear to me that I

and that made very clear to me that I need to work on this issue but now what

need to work on this issue but now what

need to work on this issue but now what is it this mysterious emotional

is it this mysterious emotional

is it this mysterious emotional intelligence when most people think of

intelligence when most people think of

intelligence when most people think of it they stop at the term emotional what

it they stop at the term emotional what

it they stop at the term emotional what do you connect to it I’d say it has a

do you connect to it I’d say it has a

do you connect to it I’d say it has a bad connotation describing a person

bad connotation describing a person

bad connotation describing a person having or expressing strong feelings and

having or expressing strong feelings and

having or expressing strong feelings and this connotation is also then therefore

this connotation is also then therefore

this connotation is also then therefore emotional intelligence a misconception

emotional intelligence a misconception

emotional intelligence a misconception that I had as well however it’s crucial

that I had as well however it’s crucial

that I had as well however it’s crucial to differentiate between emotional and

to differentiate between emotional and

to differentiate between emotional and the value that emotional intelligence

the value that emotional intelligence

the value that emotional intelligence can have because emotional intelligence

can have because emotional intelligence

can have because emotional intelligence is something fundamentally different

is something fundamentally different

is something fundamentally different it’s the ability to identify and manage

it’s the ability to identify and manage

it’s the ability to identify and manage your emotions and those of others and

your emotions and those of others and

your emotions and those of others and it’s set to include three skills first

it’s set to include three skills first

it’s set to include three skills first emotional awareness so empathy towards

emotional awareness so empathy towards

emotional awareness so empathy towards others but also towards the self second

others but also towards the self second

others but also towards the self second the ability to harness emotions and

the ability to harness emotions and

the ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like problem-solving

apply them to tasks like problem-solving

apply them to tasks like problem-solving and third the ability to manage emotions

and third the ability to manage emotions

and third the ability to manage emotions which includes regulating your own

which includes regulating your own

which includes regulating your own emotions but also coming down or

emotions but also coming down or

emotions but also coming down or cheering up other people as you can

cheering up other people as you can

cheering up other people as you can clearly see by this contrast very

clearly see by this contrast very

clearly see by this contrast very emotional people do not necessarily or

emotional people do not necessarily or

emotional people do not necessarily or automatically have a high emotional

automatically have a high emotional

automatically have a high emotional intelligence because they may only

intelligence because they may only

intelligence because they may only display their emotions freely without

display their emotions freely without

display their emotions freely without thinking about or knowing why they have

thinking about or knowing why they have

thinking about or knowing why they have them and maybe not even considering the

them and maybe not even considering the

them and maybe not even considering the appropriateness of showing them in the

appropriateness of showing them in the

appropriateness of showing them in the respective situation now lacking

respective situation now lacking

respective situation now lacking emotional intelligence as

emotional intelligence as

emotional intelligence as kid or teenager meant for me that I

kid or teenager meant for me that I

kid or teenager meant for me that I would channel things like loneliness or

would channel things like loneliness or

would channel things like loneliness or fear sometimes into aggression my family

fear sometimes into aggression my family

fear sometimes into aggression my family background well let’s say is improvable

background well let’s say is improvable

background well let’s say is improvable so instead of finding the support that

so instead of finding the support that

so instead of finding the support that I’d need I’d rather get it on the basis

I’d need I’d rather get it on the basis

I’d need I’d rather get it on the basis of oh don’t be such a crybaby than

of oh don’t be such a crybaby than

of oh don’t be such a crybaby than anything else

anything else

anything else my parents didn’t teach me the value of

my parents didn’t teach me the value of

my parents didn’t teach me the value of emotions therefore losing friends or

emotions therefore losing friends or

emotions therefore losing friends or breakups would hit me harder than many

breakups would hit me harder than many

breakups would hit me harder than many others because I could neither fully

others because I could neither fully

others because I could neither fully understand my emotions nor those of the

understand my emotions nor those of the

understand my emotions nor those of the others they just didn’t make sense I

others they just didn’t make sense I

others they just didn’t make sense I thought I’m not supposed to feel that

thought I’m not supposed to feel that

thought I’m not supposed to feel that way because I’ve never learned how to

way because I’ve never learned how to

way because I’ve never learned how to deal with emotions and with time passing

deal with emotions and with time passing

deal with emotions and with time passing I realized I’m just one of many people

I realized I’m just one of many people

I realized I’m just one of many people having this issue have you ever thought

having this issue have you ever thought

having this issue have you ever thought about why people judge or bully each

about why people judge or bully each

about why people judge or bully each other beat kids or at work or even in

other beat kids or at work or even in

other beat kids or at work or even in toxic friendships or relationships and

toxic friendships or relationships and

toxic friendships or relationships and it can be anything ranging from sexism

it can be anything ranging from sexism

it can be anything ranging from sexism to racism it’s because of insecurity due

to racism it’s because of insecurity due

to racism it’s because of insecurity due to a lack of emotional intelligence

to a lack of emotional intelligence

to a lack of emotional intelligence because it’s hard to understand the

because it’s hard to understand the

because it’s hard to understand the difference between yourself and someone

difference between yourself and someone

difference between yourself and someone else and it’s even harder to connect on

else and it’s even harder to connect on

else and it’s even harder to connect on an emotional level to truly comprehend

an emotional level to truly comprehend

an emotional level to truly comprehend where someone else is coming from and in

where someone else is coming from and in

where someone else is coming from and in order to change that we first of all

order to change that we first of all

order to change that we first of all need to consider emotional intelligence

need to consider emotional intelligence

need to consider emotional intelligence as a crucial skill in our society and

as a crucial skill in our society and

as a crucial skill in our society and then also take the time to consciously

then also take the time to consciously

then also take the time to consciously work on it currently we do neither and

work on it currently we do neither and

work on it currently we do neither and we also don’t give our kids for example

we also don’t give our kids for example

we also don’t give our kids for example the space to learn the skill kids

the space to learn the skill kids

the space to learn the skill kids nowadays they are supposed to be good in

nowadays they are supposed to be good in

nowadays they are supposed to be good in school do sports play an instrument

school do sports play an instrument

school do sports play an instrument learn a foreign language and may

learn a foreign language and may

learn a foreign language and may even some additional things they don’t

even some additional things they don’t

even some additional things they don’t get the chance to get to know who they

get the chance to get to know who they

get the chance to get to know who they are connect to themselves and to their

are connect to themselves and to their

are connect to themselves and to their emotions and a fundamental part of being

emotions and a fundamental part of being

emotions and a fundamental part of being emotionally intelligent means knowing

emotionally intelligent means knowing

emotionally intelligent means knowing who you are and for them to learn we

who you are and for them to learn we

who you are and for them to learn we also need to learn it ourselves to be

also need to learn it ourselves to be

also need to learn it ourselves to be the role model that they need now you

the role model that they need now you

the role model that they need now you might be thinking yeah sure but how do

might be thinking yeah sure but how do

might be thinking yeah sure but how do we approach this topic individually but

we approach this topic individually but

we approach this topic individually but also as a society and basically it comes

also as a society and basically it comes

also as a society and basically it comes down to what everything comes down to we

down to what everything comes down to we

down to what everything comes down to we need to learn a new skill so when you

need to learn a new skill so when you

need to learn a new skill so when you learn a new skill you first of all need

learn a new skill you first of all need

learn a new skill you first of all need to become aware of your incompetence in

to become aware of your incompetence in

to become aware of your incompetence in the field so I got there with my burnout

the field so I got there with my burnout

the field so I got there with my burnout I’m pretty sure that you can manage that

I’m pretty sure that you can manage that

I’m pretty sure that you can manage that more easily and then you work on the

more easily and then you work on the

more easily and then you work on the skill until you manage it to the level

skill until you manage it to the level

skill until you manage it to the level that we want and after a while you will

that we want and after a while you will

that we want and after a while you will even be able to apply it without

even be able to apply it without

even be able to apply it without actively thinking about it

actively thinking about it

actively thinking about it take for example you driver’s license

take for example you driver’s license

take for example you driver’s license after a while you stop thinking oh I

after a while you stop thinking oh I

after a while you stop thinking oh I need to put in the next gear you just do

need to put in the next gear you just do

need to put in the next gear you just do so unconscious competence achieved now

so unconscious competence achieved now

so unconscious competence achieved now the tricky thing though is to get from

the tricky thing though is to get from

the tricky thing though is to get from conscious incompetence to conscious

conscious incompetence to conscious

conscious incompetence to conscious competence and we do that by learning

competence and we do that by learning

competence and we do that by learning the basics of how a car works and by

the basics of how a car works and by

the basics of how a car works and by practicing so in the beginning it’s may

practicing so in the beginning it’s may

practicing so in the beginning it’s may be difficult to steer the wheel at the

be difficult to steer the wheel at the

be difficult to steer the wheel at the same time as putting in the next gear

same time as putting in the next gear

same time as putting in the next gear but after a while it gets easier and

but after a while it gets easier and

but after a while it gets easier and with emotional intelligence it’s

with emotional intelligence it’s

with emotional intelligence it’s basically the same thing so I try to

basically the same thing so I try to

basically the same thing so I try to compile my experiences and came up with

compile my experiences and came up with

compile my experiences and came up with a six step guide that hopefully helps

a six step guide that hopefully helps

a six step guide that hopefully helps people to get more emotionally

people to get more emotionally

people to get more emotionally intelligent and the first thing that we

intelligent and the first thing that we

intelligent and the first thing that we need to do is we need to acknowledge our

need to do is we need to acknowledge our

need to do is we need to acknowledge our emotions but not only as such but it’s

emotions but not only as such but it’s

emotions but not only as such but it’s something valuable because that’s what

something valuable because that’s what

something valuable because that’s what they are according to research by

they are according to research by

they are according to research by Antonio Damasio Pia

Antonio Damasio Pia

Antonio Damasio Pia whose brain parts that are responsible

whose brain parts that are responsible

whose brain parts that are responsible for emotions have been damaged found

for emotions have been damaged found

for emotions have been damaged found themselves even having a harder time

themselves even having a harder time

themselves even having a harder time taking rational decisions that’s how

taking rational decisions that’s how

taking rational decisions that’s how valuable they are and the very first

valuable they are and the very first

valuable they are and the very first small but simple thing that you can do

small but simple thing that you can do

small but simple thing that you can do is you can ask people with genuine

is you can ask people with genuine

is you can ask people with genuine interest how they are feeling and when

interest how they are feeling and when

interest how they are feeling and when you’re asked answer with authenticity

you’re asked answer with authenticity

you’re asked answer with authenticity when you feel good but also when you

when you feel good but also when you

when you feel good but also when you feel bad

feel bad

feel bad so no I’m fine but also no complaining

so no I’m fine but also no complaining

so no I’m fine but also no complaining instead of complaining about your

instead of complaining about your

instead of complaining about your colleagues say I don’t feel appreciated

colleagues say I don’t feel appreciated

colleagues say I don’t feel appreciated at work or whatever it comes down to

at work or whatever it comes down to

at work or whatever it comes down to make it an iMessage and when people show

make it an iMessage and when people show

make it an iMessage and when people show emotions tell them that it’s okay to

emotions tell them that it’s okay to

emotions tell them that it’s okay to have those talk about them erase the

have those talk about them erase the

have those talk about them erase the taboo that I feel exists in our society

taboo that I feel exists in our society

taboo that I feel exists in our society of talking about emotions because that’s

of talking about emotions because that’s

of talking about emotions because that’s more often than not the one thing that

more often than not the one thing that

more often than not the one thing that keeps us from making the next step and

keeps us from making the next step and

keeps us from making the next step and the next step is differentiating and

the next step is differentiating and

the next step is differentiating and analyzing emotions so sometimes when we

analyzing emotions so sometimes when we

analyzing emotions so sometimes when we talk about or express a feeling we

talk about or express a feeling we

talk about or express a feeling we substitute the original one with one

substitute the original one with one

substitute the original one with one that we think we know better or are

that we think we know better or are

that we think we know better or are better at handling but there are

better at handling but there are

better at handling but there are actually a lot of different emotions and

actually a lot of different emotions and

actually a lot of different emotions and all of them have their functions and all

all of them have their functions and all

all of them have their functions and all of them might also need you to handle

of them might also need you to handle

of them might also need you to handle them differently therefore it’s

them differently therefore it’s

them differently therefore it’s important to get down to the core and

important to get down to the core and

important to get down to the core and then you also need to accept and

then you also need to accept and

then you also need to accept and appreciate all those emotions because

appreciate all those emotions because

appreciate all those emotions because emotions are neither good nor bad

emotions are neither good nor bad

emotions are neither good nor bad they just gain connotation through

they just gain connotation through

they just gain connotation through society take for example grieving or

society take for example grieving or

society take for example grieving or sadness why do we so desperately try to

sadness why do we so desperately try to

sadness why do we so desperately try to cut it out of our lives because actually

cut it out of our lives because actually

cut it out of our lives because actually it’s just a very beautiful illustration

it’s just a very beautiful illustration

it’s just a very beautiful illustration of the appreciation that we have for

of the appreciation that we have for

of the appreciation that we have for someone or something

someone or something

someone or something now I approach all three steps by

now I approach all three steps by

now I approach all three steps by writing my emotions down in a journal

writing my emotions down in a journal

writing my emotions down in a journal just for that I need basis so not

just for that I need basis so not

just for that I need basis so not necessarily daily but sometimes only

necessarily daily but sometimes only

necessarily daily but sometimes only every few weeks or maybe even only every

every few weeks or maybe even only every

every few weeks or maybe even only every few months friends of mine do similar

few months friends of mine do similar

few months friends of mine do similar things with apps if you want to be more

things with apps if you want to be more

things with apps if you want to be more modern and then there is the next step

modern and then there is the next step

modern and then there is the next step reflecting on your emotions and their

reflecting on your emotions and their

reflecting on your emotions and their origin because sometimes just knowing

origin because sometimes just knowing

origin because sometimes just knowing why we feel the way you do already helps

why we feel the way you do already helps

why we feel the way you do already helps us handle the feeling again for me

us handle the feeling again for me

us handle the feeling again for me covered when I write them down because

covered when I write them down because

covered when I write them down because it gives me time to actively think about

it gives me time to actively think about

it gives me time to actively think about them and then you get to handling your

them and then you get to handling your

them and then you get to handling your emotions because that’s what it’s all

emotions because that’s what it’s all

emotions because that’s what it’s all about isn’t it and as sad reflecting

about isn’t it and as sad reflecting

about isn’t it and as sad reflecting might already suffice but it might not

might already suffice but it might not

might already suffice but it might not and you may still need to find your way

and you may still need to find your way

and you may still need to find your way on how to handle your emotions because

on how to handle your emotions because

on how to handle your emotions because there is more than one way to skin a cat

there is more than one way to skin a cat

there is more than one way to skin a cat and I can only give you a few examples

and I can only give you a few examples

and I can only give you a few examples of what I did and what helped me if not

of what I did and what helped me if not

of what I did and what helped me if not handled emotion but at least find out

handled emotion but at least find out

handled emotion but at least find out how to handle it was writing it down

how to handle it was writing it down

how to handle it was writing it down because it put distance between me and

because it put distance between me and

because it put distance between me and my emotions there has even been a study

my emotions there has even been a study

my emotions there has even been a study conducted on the positive effects of

conducted on the positive effects of

conducted on the positive effects of written expression of emotions by

written expression of emotions by

written expression of emotions by Pennebaker and Smith and they published

Pennebaker and Smith and they published

Pennebaker and Smith and they published it in their book opening up by writing

it in their book opening up by writing

it in their book opening up by writing it down if you want to check it out

it down if you want to check it out

it down if you want to check it out because that’s actually another thing

because that’s actually another thing

because that’s actually another thing that I do I read on the topic currently

that I do I read on the topic currently

that I do I read on the topic currently I’m reading language of emotions by

I’m reading language of emotions by

I’m reading language of emotions by Carla McLaren literally any book by

Carla McLaren literally any book by

Carla McLaren literally any book by Brenda Brown is good to go but there are

Brenda Brown is good to go but there are

Brenda Brown is good to go but there are so many more and I talk to friends I ask

so many more and I talk to friends I ask

so many more and I talk to friends I ask them how do you approach this situation

them how do you approach this situation

them how do you approach this situation how do you approach that topic or this

how do you approach that topic or this

how do you approach that topic or this emotion and then it’s more or less a

emotion and then it’s more or less a

emotion and then it’s more or less a trial and error principle sometimes it

trial and error principle sometimes it

trial and error principle sometimes it may be sports sometimes it may be

may be sports sometimes it may be

may be sports sometimes it may be meditation it’s just important that you

meditation it’s just important that you

meditation it’s just important that you find your individual way

find your individual way

find your individual way and then handling the emotions of others

and then handling the emotions of others

and then handling the emotions of others and I’d say as soon as you master your

and I’d say as soon as you master your

and I’d say as soon as you master your emotions but also in the process of

emotions but also in the process of

emotions but also in the process of getting better at it

getting better at it

getting better at it you will find it easier and easier to

you will find it easier and easier to

you will find it easier and easier to also handle the emotions of others

also handle the emotions of others

also handle the emotions of others because you have a different

because you have a different

because you have a different understanding and understanding and

understanding and understanding and

understanding and understanding and awareness are the keys

awareness are the keys

awareness are the keys it gets even easier because you can

it gets even easier because you can

it gets even easier because you can simply ask the other person how you can

simply ask the other person how you can

simply ask the other person how you can support them because they might know or

support them because they might know or

support them because they might know or you can also ask them how they can

you can also ask them how they can

you can also ask them how they can support themselves because that way you

support themselves because that way you

support themselves because that way you not only help them in the acute

not only help them in the acute

not only help them in the acute situation but you actually help them

situation but you actually help them

situation but you actually help them develop their emotional intelligence and

develop their emotional intelligence and

develop their emotional intelligence and then when we have a few people being

then when we have a few people being

then when we have a few people being emotionally intelligent we also need to

emotionally intelligent we also need to

emotionally intelligent we also need to think about how can we teach our next

think about how can we teach our next

think about how can we teach our next generation and as a society I feel the

generation and as a society I feel the

generation and as a society I feel the most important thing that we need to do

most important thing that we need to do

most important thing that we need to do is implement emotional education in

is implement emotional education in

is implement emotional education in school teach children about the

school teach children about the

school teach children about the different emotions and their functions

different emotions and their functions

different emotions and their functions give them a space to openly talk about

give them a space to openly talk about

give them a space to openly talk about them so that they can acknowledge their

them so that they can acknowledge their

them so that they can acknowledge their emotions help them to accept and

emotions help them to accept and

emotions help them to accept and appreciate them to be honest it’s not

appreciate them to be honest it’s not

appreciate them to be honest it’s not that difficult most of the things that I

that difficult most of the things that I

that difficult most of the things that I mentioned can be easily put into

mentioned can be easily put into

mentioned can be easily put into practice in schools I mean how many

practice in schools I mean how many

practice in schools I mean how many books have you read in school why not

books have you read in school why not

books have you read in school why not make some of them about emotional

make some of them about emotional

make some of them about emotional intelligence or make kids work on case

intelligence or make kids work on case

intelligence or make kids work on case studies together so that they can

studies together so that they can

studies together so that they can exchange their ideas on how to approach

exchange their ideas on how to approach

exchange their ideas on how to approach topics and if we’re lucky they get out

topics and if we’re lucky they get out

topics and if we’re lucky they get out of school having learned this

of school having learned this

of school having learned this fundamental and crucial skill of

fundamental and crucial skill of

fundamental and crucial skill of emotional intelligence imagine the world

emotional intelligence imagine the world

emotional intelligence imagine the world that we would be living in if every one

that we would be living in if every one

that we would be living in if every one of us was emotionally intelligent what

of us was emotionally intelligent what

of us was emotionally intelligent what do you think would change being

do you think would change being

do you think would change being emotionally intelligent means knowing

emotionally intelligent means knowing

emotionally intelligent means knowing and understanding yourself thus it helps

and understanding yourself thus it helps

and understanding yourself thus it helps you make better decisions

you make better decisions

you make better decisions it would spare us from emotional

it would spare us from emotional

it would spare us from emotional suffering because we know where it comes

suffering because we know where it comes

suffering because we know where it comes from and we know how to handle it and

from and we know how to handle it and

from and we know how to handle it and maybe not even impose it upon others it

maybe not even impose it upon others it

maybe not even impose it upon others it would help us deal with interpersonal

would help us deal with interpersonal

would help us deal with interpersonal relationships because we also connect on

relationships because we also connect on

relationships because we also connect on a different level and interpersonal

a different level and interpersonal

a different level and interpersonal relationships are everywhere just think

relationships are everywhere just think

relationships are everywhere just think about it what would it mean to have an

about it what would it mean to have an

about it what would it mean to have an emotionally intelligent boss or what

emotionally intelligent boss or what

emotionally intelligent boss or what would it mean to have an emotionally

would it mean to have an emotionally

would it mean to have an emotionally intelligent parent if we were all

intelligent parent if we were all

intelligent parent if we were all emotionally intelligent how would we

emotionally intelligent how would we

emotionally intelligent how would we approach differences or how would we

approach differences or how would we

approach differences or how would we approach topics like mental health or

approach topics like mental health or

approach topics like mental health or how would we approach conflicts just

imagine in the world that we will be

imagine in the world that we will be living in a world full of mutual

living in a world full of mutual

living in a world full of mutual understanding acceptance tolerance and

understanding acceptance tolerance and

understanding acceptance tolerance and connection a truly inclusive world how

connection a truly inclusive world how

connection a truly inclusive world how awesome would that be

awesome would that be

awesome would that be thank you

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