Jacob Lynn King
Orientation to Adult Learning MOD 300
Successful Adult
Mrs. Jan Latimer December 1, 2011

Abstract
In this paper, we will discuss the essentials of a successful adult. A discussion on how past experience's effect who an adult is (Myers, 2007). Bad and good qualities well be looked at and how the individual's past help develop these qualities. In addition, we will look at what an adult can do further develop these bad and good qualities improving themselves (Myers, 2007). In all, a successful adult must “self-reliant” with a well developed “emotional intelligence”, good communication skills, and good personality skills and traits (Ridley, 2008).

Nineteenth century American humorist Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) stated that “Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well” (Billings). This statement has a lot of truth to it in that every adult has their own set of good and bad qualities. It is up to the individual to develop and mold these qualities. Every adult's personality was developed from past experiences (Myers, 2007). To address, these negative and positive qualities in adults we must first define what it means to be an adult. The psychological definition of personality “is one who has arrived at a self-concept of being responsible for one’s own life, of being self-directing” (Myers, 2007). In accordance to psychology, we must learn to be self-reliant of one's life in every aspect to be considered a happy successful adult (Myers, 2007). To be self-reliant successful adult one must have an “emotional awareness” of themselves and individuals around them, good communication skills, and good personality skills and traits (Ridley, 2008).For one to be truly happy one, must have “personal fulfillment” in life (Ridley, 2008). In the textbook, “Orientation to Adult Learning”, “personal fulfillment” defines success in ones life (Ridley, 2008). One must find worth and purpose in one's life at work and home to be a happy successful adult (Ridley, 2008). The individual must learn that he or she must be their own best friend in motivating, setting goals, disciplining themselves to ensure their goals are for-filled (Ridley, 2008).Once the individual has “personal fulfillment” in life one must develop a sense of themselves emotionally (Myers, 2007). A person must develop a strong “emotional intelligence” in which is “the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth” (Mayer, Salovey & Caruso). Essential component to successful organizations and relationships is “emotional intelligence” (Mayer, Salovey & Caruso). Identifying emotions is key to being successful in everything one does by being able to recognize and deal with one's emotion by responding to it accordingly to produce the best outcome for individuals or organization (Mayer, Salovey & Caruso).To master emotional intelligence an individual must learn how to “perceive emotions, understand emotions, manage emotions, and to use emotions to enable adaptive or creative thinking” (Ridley, 2008). “Emotional intelligence” is one of the most important skills one can develop in life (Myers, 2007). “Emotional intelligence”, will give an individual the upper hand in life by giving them the skills to solve life's problems through varying social scenarios (Ridley, 2008). Individual's with a high “emotional intelligence” will have more long lasting relationships with friends of both genders and are less likely to ever surfer from “depression, anxiety, or anger” (Myers, 2007). Happiness and success in life, work, friendships, and marriage all depend on the individual's “emotional intelligence” level (Myers, 2007).Actress Emma Thompson is quoted in saying that “Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with